mittee might confer with resident officers of different cities in which it would be desirable to hold the meeting. On motion: Resolved, That the report of the committee appointed to select the locality for holding the next annual meeting be accepted, and the committee is granted further time, according to the necessities of the faithful performance of their duties in making such selection; and, when made, will report the same at once to the President, General John A. Rawlins. The committee appointed to report a design for a Society badge was called on for a report. The chairman of the committee, Colonel Joel, not being present, and not having made any report, Colonel Dayton, next in order of the committee, stated that so far as he knew, the committee had never been called together for deliberation, and he had been unable to learn that anything had been done, and presumed there had not; and therefore asked, by reason of there being no probability that the committee appointed would do anything, that the committee be discharged. By resolution of the Society the committee was discharged. On motion of General Dodge: Resolved, That Generals Force, Hickenlooper and Yorke, the committee appointed to select and adopt a device for seal and certificate of membership, shall constitute a committee to adopt and report a device for a badge of the Society, and are instructed to incorporate in such device a representation of the corps badge of each corps that served in the Army of the Tennessee. General Hickenlooper, on behalf of the McPherson Monument Committee, was granted leave to read and file his report of transactions for the past year, as follows: REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON MCPHERSON MONUMENT. CHICAGO, December 15, 1868. GENERAL JOHN A. RAWLINS, President Society of the Army of the Tennessee. SIR:-On behalf of the Committee on McPherson Monument, I have the honor to submit for the information of the Society the following report: The balance remaining in my hands Nov. 14, 1867, as per report submitted at our last annual meeting, Amount reported by General Leggett. Amount reported by McPherson Monument Association of Clyde, Total reported on hand Nov. 14, 1867, Since that date I have received the following subscriptions: Nov. 18, 1867-Lieutenant Chas. E. Griffin, $3,121 11 1.934 32 2,000 00 $7.955 43 25925 5 00 5 00 1,000 00 56.00 300 00 100 00 35 00 18 00 33 00 276 74—$1,853 99 $8.909 42 $4.975 10 There having been no expenditures from this fund during the year, leaves balance in my hands, at this time, of I have received no information either from General Leggett or the McPherson Monument Association at Clyde, Ohio, which will enable me to give any definite information in regard to the funds. in their hands. Supposing it has increased by accumulating interest only, (six per cent.), it will amount to not less than, in the hands of General Leggett, 2,060 04 And in the hands of McPherson Monument Association of Clyde, 2,130 00 Making the aggregate of $9,165 14 At our last meeting considerable enthusiasm was manifested by our members upon the subject of raising a sufficient sum to enable the committee to proceed with the erection of the monument. Various sums were pledged, and subscription blanks were given to twenty-two persons making such pledges, but only three of them have reported collections, viz: General W. E. Strong. Colonel Thomas Reynolds, and Colonel L. M. Dayton. In reply to my letters requesting information as to progress made in this matter, five of those persons answered, assigning various reasons for having neglected to carry out the good intentions expressed at St Louis-the remainder are unheard from. In conclusion, I can not too earnestly urge upon you the necessity of further and more energetic exertion, and remind you that we, as a Society, have pledged ourselves to the erection of this monument. As the Army of the Tennessee has never yet failed in anything it has undertaken, let us not do so in this, but put forth renewed efforts, and the result will add one more to the many achievements which we are proud to look back upon. A. HICKENLOoper, Secretary. At the conclusion of reading the report of General Hickenlooper, he desired General Logan to express his views in regard to this subject, which he did in the most interesting and feeling manner, eliciting the commendation of the members present. The mention of McPherson's name and that the Society proposed to assist in the erection of a monument over his grave, was sufficient to claim the earnest attention of all. Colonel McMillan also made some remarks, approving the efforts of the Society, and thought if a committee were appointed to solicit subscriptions in New York City, money might be obtained there. On motion of General Hickenlooper: Resolved, That Colonel Charles R. McMillan, Colonel S. M. Bowman, and Colonel G. G. Pride, be appointed a special committee to solicit subscriptions in the City of New York, on behalf of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, in aid of the McPherson Monument Association. On motion of General Noyes: Resolved, That the most earnest thanks of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee are accorded to Mr. Francis Skiddy of New York, for his liberal contribution of one thousand dollars in aid of the McPherson monument fund. At this point Lieutenant-General Sherman entered the hall, and was received, on presentation, with many cheers and rapturous applause. Learning what the point of business was that the Society was discussing, he stated that he had something referring to it and which he would at once engage in, if in order. Specially stating to the reporters present, that he had to speak of the private affairs of General McPherson and a young lady to whom he was engaged to be married, when killed, he requested the reporters to omit this subject in their reports, he said: FELLOW-SOLDIERS:-I understand that the subject now commanding your attention is that of the McPherson Monument. You recollect at the time McPherson was killed, he was engaged to a young lady whom he met at the house of Mr. Louis McLean. It was my good fortune to become acquainted with Mr. McLean in California, in 1846, and we both remained in that country until we became the respective heads of banking houses. Mr. McLean was a good Union man. The lady was very accomplished, and now considered herself the widow of McPherson, and was generally so recognized by Mr. McLean, with whom she lived in California. The other day, at St. Louis, I was called upon by Mr. McLean, who had come there on a visit, and during the course of our conversation he told me that he had collected four thousand three hundred and fifty dollars ($4,350) in California, as contribution to the McPherson Monument fund, but that his widow wished that the monument should be erected at West Point. Nevertheless, that if I could procure her consent, the amount should be forwarded for the Clyde monument. I immediately wrote the young lady a long letter, in which I stated the claims that Clyde, where the hero was born, had in the premises, and I have since received her consent that the money collected by Mr. McLean shall go toward the monument now erecting over the grave of McPherson. Mr. McLean has signified this fact to me in a telegram which I received on Saturday last, and will now read to you: GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, St. Louis, Mo.: NEW YORK, December 12, 1868. You can rely on the California subscription in my hands for monument to General J. B. McPherson, amounting to some four thousand three hundred and fifty dollars, ($4,350.) LOUIS MCLEAN. I now pledge to your association, for the use as named, that sum of money, and in doing so I will suggest that the selection of the monument and its erection be accomplished as soon as possible. [Cheers.] I need not tell you of McPherson's claims upon us, or how much I honored him and appreciated his nobleness as a gentleman, a soldier, and your commander, but I do think if a modest memorial is erected over his grave now, with the money we have, it will do him more honor than if we defer until years hence and erect one more costly. General Sherman desired further to say a few words in connection with letters he had, though not regarding the matter under immediate consideration, he asked it as a privilege because he had some engagements that would prevent his remaining during the regular course of business. He spoke of the lamented General Ransom in the strongest terms of approbation as a soldier and gentleman, and also read a letter from a Mr. Bridgeman of New York, in which he hopes the matter of erecting a monument to General Ransom will be looked to at this meeting. He submitted the letters for consideration of the Society, and asked its members to do what they could in furtherance of the object. The letter reads: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN: NEW YORK, December 8, 1868. DEAR SIR:-The remains of my friend General Ransom, who died at Rome, Ga., more than four years ago, were taken to Chicago for interment, by his request. The city that he loved, honored him as one so gallant should be honored at his burial, but if I mistake not, there is not a stone to mark the spot where he sleeps, and no movement on foot to place one there. It has occurred to me that some word might be said by some of the speakers at the reunion next week, that would incite to action the generous people of Chicago, who are going ahead so fast that they forget the past and need to have their memory jogged. Certainly that city should build a monument to one so brave and noble, who has laid down his life in their service. I am sure you will sympathize with what I have written. I hope you will excuse the liberty a stranger takes. I will only add, I am a friend of Mr. Healy, the artist. Very respectfully, W. H. BRIDGEMAN. General Sherman here spoke of Admiral Farragut and ViceAdmiral D. D. Porter, presenting letters from them explaining why they could not accept his invitations and attend this reunion. Admiral Porter was at one time in command of the Mississippi Squadron, and worked in perfect harmony with the commanders of the Army of the Tennessee. His letter was wholly private, and but few extracts could be read from it, these, however, elicited much applause from the hearers. Admiral Farragut's letter was read in full, as follows: |