On motion of Major-General Leggett: Resolved, That the report of the Committee be accepted, and that part of it, to include Sections one and two, be adopted as amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws for the government of the Society. Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary write to every member of the Society, requesting a contribution of five dollars toward creating a permanent fund. Resolved, That the Treasurer purchase books necessary for keeping the records and accounts of the Society. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the President, to report at the annual meeting a device for a seal and for a certificate of membership. Major-General Belknap asked leave to report, as Chairman of the Committee of Nomination of Officers for the ensuing year. Permission granted, and he reported as follows: (Signed, For President. Major-General John A. Rawlins. For Vice-Presidents. Major-General John A. Logan, Major-General Giles A. Smith, For Recording Secretary. For Corresponding Secretary, For Treasurer. Major-General M. F. Force. W. W. Belknap, Major-General, M. C. Garber, Colonel, James Peckham, Colonel. On motion of Major-General G. A. Smith: Committee. Resolved. That the Society proceed to an election of Officers, President. Major-General John A. Rawlins. Vice-Presidents. Major-General John A. Logan, Major-General F. P. Blair, Jr., Major-General R. J. Oglesby, Major-General Giles A. Smith, Major-General W. W. Belknap, Brigadier-General Cassius Fairchild. Recording Secretary. Lieutenant-Colonel L. M. Dayton. Corresponding, Secretary. Brigadier-General A. Hickenlooper. Treasurer. Major-General M. F. Force. On motion of General Hickenlooper: Resolved, That the Treasurer is hereby authorized to appropriate so much of the general fund of the Society remaining in his hands as he may consider proper, to assist in defraying the contingent expenses of this meeting. General Hickenlooper asked leave of the Society to present for its consideration the report of the Committee of the "McPherson Monument Association." Permission was granted, when he read the following report and letters bearing on the subject, and made explanations of the same, remarking that he brought the subject before the Society trusting they would take definite action in the matter. Major-General Osterhaus, and other officers at Vicksburg, 215 00 MY DEAR GENERAL:-As the remaining member of McPherson's class in the Corps of Engineers, I have been requested to receive, (and have done so), certain subscriptions to a monument which it is proposed to erect to his memory at West Point, N. Y. If the Army or Corps he commanded conclude to erect their monument at the same place, our subscriptions will be thrown with theirs. If they build elsewhere, we propose to erect a separate monument at West Point, to be subscribed to as follows: Ist. By his classmates. 2nd. By the members of the Corps of Engineers. 3rd. By his special friends (in and out of the Army) in New York and San Francisco, where his official life before the war was chiefly spent. I shall be glad if you will communicate these facts to the subscribers out your way, and I shall be glad to hear from you on the subject at once. I shall immediately take steps to procure subscriptions from the several classes of persons mentioned above, with the understanding as stated to you. MAJOR W. P. GRAIGHILL, Truly yours, W. P. CRAIGHILL, Major of Engineers, U. S. A. MURFREESBORO, December 11, 1865. U. S. Engineer, Baltimore, Md.: MAJOR:-Your note of the 30th ult., suggesting that the subscriptions made by the Army of the Tennessee to build a monument to McPherson, be joined to those received by yourself, to be made up by the Engineer Corps, members of his class, and his friends in New York and San Francisco, and that the monument be built at West Point, and if we build elsewhere you propose to build a separate monument, is received. I will at once place before the other members of the Committee of the Army of the Tennessee, and those most interested, copies of your letter, asking their wishes. Subscriptions already made were with a view to building this monument at his home in Ohio, and in my opinion that is the appropriate place for it. The building of two monuments would seem to me to involve a sort of absurdity that I prefer being no party to. I will pledge myself to be governed by the weight of reason. I may be wrong, but am nevertheless opposed to grouping the monuments of our soldiers at West Point, and believe it not only opposed to republicanism, but detrimental to the Academy, by exclusively absorbing even the memories of its glories. Nothing can speak more eloquently for the Academy and its great usefulness, than to build up their monuments throughout the land, upon the spots that produced and furnished these unknown men for the Academy, to be returned, honored, venerated, and beloved by a nation. I would have McPherson's monument in Ohio, Reynold's in Pennsylvania, Sedgwick's in Connecticut, where their remains are, and where all these great States would be constantly reminded of, and recognize, through the works of these men, the merits of their own National Academy. By placing them all at West Point, the only apparently true grounds for opposition to the Academy ever raised, "exclusiveness," would be established, and thus remove it to a greater distance from the people. The simple entablatures in the chapel are highly appropriate and ample to keep always before the military students illustrious examples. It appears to me, the true friends of this Academy, while fostering every element of intellectual culture, should rather discourage an aggregation about it of splendor out of proportion to the national advancement, which cannot fail to incite envy, and thus alienate the friendship of the people, without which the Academy cannot exist. These monuments have a meaning far beyond the gratification of those who wish to do homage to the men they commemorate. I shall, however, be gov. erned by those making donations, and trust we may unite our efforts, and shall hope to hear further from you. In the meantime subscriptions should be secured by both. W. B. HAZEN, MAJOR-GENERAL W. B. HAZEN, CINCINNATI, December 30, 1865. Murfreesboro, Tenn. Dear General:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication (with accompanying letter from Major Craighill) in relation to the McPherson Monument. I am most decidedly opposed to any change in the proposed location of the monument, for the following reasons, viz: The subscriptions thus far received have been almost entirely from the rank and file of the army which McPherson commanded-probably two-thirds from his own Corps-with the distinct understanding (so published) that the monument would be erected over his remains at Clyde. The feeling which prompted this action upon the part of his officers and men was not such as usually actuates men to subscribe to such an object; it was not so much for the purpose of perpetuating his military success and renown, but as a testimonial of their love and affection for the man. The feelings of the mother who gave such a son to her country, together with the remaining members of the family, should be consulted, and they are decidedly opposed to the removal of his remains to the Point, if a monument can be erected at Clyde. It appears very absurd to erect a monument at West Point, and leave the place where he was born and raised, and where his remains now lie, unmarked and uncared for. Very respectfully, A. HICKEN LOOPER. Generals Leggett, Buckland, Spooner, and others, volunteered remarks commendatory of the subject, and urging action on the part of the Society. Mr. T. Buchanan Read offered to give reading entertainments throughout the State, to assist in raising the required funds. On motion of General Hickenlooper : Resolved, That we, the members of "The Society of the Army of the Tennessee," pledge ourselves to the erection of a monument to the memory of Major-General James B. McPherson, to be placed over his remains at Clyde, Ohio, and that we will act harmoniously with any other society or association acting for the |