Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi, on the 17th and 18th instant, I am compelled by the pressure of my public duties here to decline. Very respectfully, GEO. S. BOUTWELL, Secretary. NEW YORK, November 6, 1869. COLONEL JOHN M. HARLAN, Chairman, etc.: COLONEL:-Admiral Farragut, being still confined to his room by the recent severe illness contracted in Chicago, requests me to acknowledge the receipt of your favor, inviting him "to attend the anniversary reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi,” to be held in your city on the 17th and 18th instant. For this reason, he regrets exceedingly that it will not be in his power to be present on that most pleasant occasion, but he expresses the hope that your reunion may be, in all respects, most happy and auspicious, and promotive of that congeniality of fellowship which should always exist between those so long associated together on the field of battle and in the trials of campaign life. I am sir, very truly and respectfully, GENERAL JOHN M. HARLAN, JAMES E. MONTGOMERY, Secretary, etc.. for Admiral Farragut. ST. LOUIS, Mo., November 10, 1869. Chairman Committee on Invitations, Louisville, Ky.: GENERAL:—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of invitation to the annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi at Louisville, November 17th and 18th instant. I regret exceedingly my inability to attend and the deprivation in not meeting at this reunion the officers of that grand old army whose past deeds fill us with so much respect and admiration. With many thanks for the compliment you pay me, JOHN W. TURNER, BROOKLYN, N. Y., November 6, 1869. ་་ COLONEL J. M. HARLAN, Louisville: DEAR SIR:-Your favor of the 25th ultimo, inviting me to attend the annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, etc., has been received. I regret that my engagements are of such a nature as to prevent me from accepting the kind invitation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. SLOCUM, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD., November 8, 1869. GENERAL JOHN M. HARLAN, Chairman Committee on Invitations: DEAR GENERAL:-I am deeply grateful for the honor done me by the invitation you communicated on the 25th ultimo, to attend the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of Mississippi on the 17th and 18th instant. I had hoped till to-day that my engagements here would have permitted me to witness this reunion; but I am disappointed. I am sure it will be a most interesting occasion. The gathering of so many of those who were so long associated in peril and in toil to preserve the Union founded and consecrated by the blood of our revolutionary sires is an occasion which must revive and aid in perpetuating the best feelings of our nature. I should be glad also to revisit my native State, where I have still many friends, and though some of them were lately arrayed against us, I should hope to meet all of them now as my friends and friends among themselves again. I am, very truly yours, JOHN M. HARLAN, ESQ., M. BLAIR, FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY, November 10, 1869. Chairman Committee on Invitations, Society Army Tenn., Louisville: SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation "to attend the annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi,” held in Louisville, on the 17th and 18th instant, and to accept the same with much pleasure. With great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN M. HARLAN, ESQ.: J. C. WATSON, Lieutenant Commander U. S. Navy. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., November 4, 1869. DEAR SIR:-The Postmaster General had the honor of receiving your invitation to attend the "annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee," and the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi." Mr. Creswell directs me to thank you for the courtesy extended to him, and to assure you that it would be a great gratification to him to be with you on the 17th and 18th, but important public duties render it necessary for him to remain in Washington. Yours very respectfully, GEO. E. GAMBRILL, Secretary to Postmaster General. CINCINNATI, November 10, 1869. GENERAL JOHN M. HARLAN: DEAR SIR:-Your kind invitation to the reunion at Louisville has been received; but I think I can not spare time to go. It would give me great pleasure, but I am too busy. Present my kindest wishes to the brethren. Very truly, DURBIN WARD. DECORATIONS. The Executive Committee of Arrangements provided ample hall room for the Society in all its needs. The Galt House having been selected as headquarters, and the spacious gentlemen's parlor assigned as the business and committee room, and the banquet was given in the dining hall. Both of these rooms are so well embellished that but little decoration was needed. In the former were a few paintings of our distinguished Generals, and a few flags tastefully arranged; in the latter there were only flags. Weisiger Hall was secured in which to hold the business meetings of the Society, and any other meetings that should be necessary. This hall was superbly and beautifully decorated. Suspended from the ceiling and gallery was a profusion of our national colors, interspersed with regimental, brigade, division and corps flags. On the walls and space of the gallery of the auditorium were hung the names of Belmont, Pea Ridge, Island 10, Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Corinth, Iuka, Atlanta, and many others marked in history as places where our army vindicated the nation's honor and were crowned with victory. There were other names, C. F. Smith, W. H. L. Wallace, Crocker, Fairchild, Bowers, Ransom, wreathed in evergreen, indicative of their lasting fame, and that they are always first in the memory of their comrades of the Army of the Tennessee. The stage was also handsomely adorned. At the rear was a military camp on canvas, in front stacks of guns and flags. On the sides were the names, Grant, Sherman, McPherson, Howard and Logan, in evergreen; to the right a portrait of President Lincoln, and left, one of General Rawlins, draped in mourning. The President's chair was draped in mourning, and immediately above it was suspended on a banner, “Let us meet together and have a good time," the words of our late and lamented Rawlins. Flags were hung in festoons throughout the hall, the whole decoration producing a most beautiful effect the evening when the orators delivered their addresses, difficult to properly describe, and suffice it to say, that all who attended the meeting were pleased and very much gratified with the appearance. Many were the compliments bestowed upon the work of the decorating committee. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Our late President, General Rawlins, after selecting Louisville as the place of holding this reunion, also selected the Executive Committee to conduct the same, and through the Corresponding Secretary announced it to the members, on the 31st day of July, 1869, to consist of the following members: Colonel B. H. Bristow, Colonel A. H. Markland, General E. H. Murray, General W. Q. Gresham, Colonel J. T. McQuiddy, Surgeon D. W. Voyles, Colonel James Keigwyn, General A. Hickenlooper, General D. W. Lindsay, Colonel R. Kelley, Captain Harry Gile, Colonel Thomas E. Bramlette, General W. T. Ward, Colonel M. C. Garber, General McGinnis, General Ben. Spooner, General W. J. Landrum, Colonel L. M. Dayton, General J. T. Croxton, Colonel J. Mason Brown. Subsequently General James B. Fry and Major J. M. Wright were added to the committee. So many of the members of the committee as could be present held a meeting on the 1st of September, and organized by the selection of Colonel Thomas E. Bramlette as chairman of the committee, and General Landrum as secretary. The object of organizing the committee being to arrange for its work, the chairman selected, in view of that purpose, as follows: General Eli H. Murray, Chairman of the Committee on Finance. General J. B. Fry, Chairman of the Committee on Reception. Colonel B. H. Bristow, Chairman of the Committee of Arrange ments. Colonel A. H. Markland, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Printing. Colonel Schoonmaker, Chairman of the Committee on Decorations. Colonel G. C. Wharton, Chairman of the Committee on Banquet. These gentlemen were delegated to make their own selections of assistants to complete the various committees of arrangements. On the 22d of September the Executive Committee was again convened by special call, and at this meeting the sub-committees were announced as follows: Committee on Finance:-Generals E. H. Murray and E. H. Hobson; Colonels E. L. Motley, John P. Hulce, R. M. Kelley, John T. McQuiddy and Shuler; Major J. A. P. Glore, and Captains Lewis Buckner and Thomas Speed. Committee of Reception:-General J. B. Fry, General D. W. Lindsay, General R. O. Tyler, General John T. Croxton, Colonel W. E. Hobson, Colonel R. V. Scott, Major J. M. Wright, Major J. P. Martin and Captain C. A. Whittier. Committee of General Arrangements:-Colonel B. H. Bristow, General A. Hickenlooper, General E. H. Murray, Colonel John H. Ward, General D. W. Lindsay, Colonel J. P. Martin, Major J. M. Wright, W. A. Meriwether and Captain E. M. Johnstone. Committee of Transportation and Printing:-Colonel A. H. Markland, Colonel Frank Harris and Captain A. M. Sherley, of Louisville: General Joseph F. Boyd, of Memphis, Tennessee; General W. E. Strong, of Chicago, Illinois; Colonel E. M. Joel, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Major J. D. Walker, of Nashville, Tennessee. Committee of Decoration:-Colonel J. M. Schoonmaker, Colonel G. C. Wharton, Colonel Andrew Cowan, Colonel Cherr Major C. H. J. Allen, Major Butler, Captain Lewis Buckner, Captain Thomas Speed, Captain E. P. Wilson and Captain C. C. Adams. Banquet Committee:-Colonel G. C. Wharton, Colonel R. M. Kelley, Colonel John Mason Brown, Colonel J. M. Schoonmaker, Colonel Thomas B. Fairleigh, Colonel Andrew Cowan, Colonel Robert Scott, Major Charles H. J. Allen and Captains E. P. Wilson and C. C. Adams. These constituted all the committees, and they were fully empowered to conduct their different charges. |