Report of the Committee of Arrangements.

3

On December 12, 1867, a copy of the following notice was received by each of the officers named therein :

Louisville, Ky., December 9, 1867.

With a view to the meeting in Cincinnati, called in the inclosed circular, it is respectfully requested that the following named gentlemen constitute a committec to make the necessary arrangements therefor, viz:

GENERAL ELI LONG,

GENERAL DURBIN WARD,

GENERAL HENRY M. CIST,

COLONEL STANLEY MATTHEWS,

COLONEL N. L. ANDERSON,

COLONEL L. A. HARRIS,

COLONEL HUNTER BROOKE.

Respectfully, etc.,

GEO. H. THOMAS, Major General.

WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brevet Major General.

R. W. JOHNSON, Major General.

In accordance therewith, and pursuant to the call of GENERAL LONG, the senior officer, the committee thus appointed, and acting under such authority, met at the Burnet House, Cincinnati, on the morning of December 13, and organized by the election of GENERAL LONG as Chairman, GENERAL CIST, Corresponding Secretary, and COLONEL ANDERSON, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That an address be prepared and published, giving a history of the appointment of this committee, and inviting all officers of the old Army of the Cumberland to assemble in Cincinnati on the 6th of February next.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That the corresponding secretary be instructed to write personal letters to some of the most prominent officers in other cities, and ask them to establish sub-committees for the furtherance of the general object.

The following motions were made and adopted with reference to extending invitations on behalf of the committee:

That the corresponding secretary be instructed to write to the various general officers of the Army of the Cumberland, calling their attention to the proposed meeting, and requesting their presence, assistance, and coöperation.

That special invitations be extended to the President, and to the commanding generals of our other armies, requesting them to be present.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That COLONEL STANLEY MATTHEWS be invited to deliver the address of welcome on behalf of the committee.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That GENERAL R. W. JOHNSON be invited to deliver the oration.

It was also

Resolved, That the corresponding secretary be authorized and instructed to write to Mr. J. E. Murdoch, requesting him to be present and enhance the interest of the occasion by his eloquence.

The committee then adjourned.

Report of the Committee of Arrangements.

5

The following is a copy of the Address of Invitation issued in accordance with the first resolution passed at this meeting:

SIR:

Cincinnati, December 27, 1867.

A call has been issued for a meeting of the officers who served in the late Army of the Cumberland, for the purpose of effecting an organization to be known as the "SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND," to meet in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 6, 1868.

The committee appointed to make the necessary arrangements for that occasion-of which the undersigned is corresponding secretary—direct me to extend to you a cordial invitation to meet with us at that time, and request you to notify me by letter as to the probabilities of your being present on that occasion, to aid in forming the organization.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

HENRY M. CIST,

Cor. Sec. of Committee of Arrangements.

The committee subsequently met eleven times to hear the reports of various sub-committees which were appointed on hall, banquet, etc., and transact all current business tending to the success of the convention.

GENERAL B. D. FEARING was added to the committee, and made Chairman of the Sub-committee on Decorations.

Hopkins' Hall was engaged for headquarters and for business meetings, and Mozart Hall for the delivery of the oration. Arrangements were made with Messrs. Joslyn, Menefee & Co. for the banquet at the Burnet House on the evening of the 7th.

The committee met for the last time on the afternoon of February 5, and received reports from various sub-committees announcing that matters were generally in readiness for the meeting on the following day.

Adjourned to meet at Hopkins' Hall on the morning of the 6th, at 11 o'clock A. M.

N. L. ANDERSON, Secretary Committee of Arrangements.

Minutes.

MORNING SESSION.

Hopkins' Hall, Thursday, February 6, 1868.

Pursuant to a call issued in a circular address by GENERALS WHIPPLE, JOHNSON, and others, for a meeting of the officers of the late Army of the Cumberland, for the purpose of effecting an organization to be known as the "SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND," the ex-officers of that command met at 11 o'clock A. M., February 6, 1868, at Hopkins' Hall, on the south-west corner of Fourth and Elm streets.

The meeting was called to order by GENERAL ELI Long, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, who stated the objects of the meeting to be

First. To form a permanent organization to be known as the "SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND," having annual reunions.

Second. To have a social reunion among ourselves, meeting as a band of brothers, cherishing the past, cementing army friendship, and strengthening, in the future, the ties that knit us together in the hour of our country's peril.

On motion of GENERAL LONG, GENERAL WILLIAM GROSE, of Indiana, was elected temporary Chairman by acclamation.