ST. LOUIS, Mo., November 13, 1867. The Society of the Army of the Tennessee assembled for its second annual meeting at 12 M., in Mercantile Library Hall, which had been secured for the purpose by the Local Committee of Arrangements, appointed at the last annual meeting, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was called to order by Vice-President MajorGeneral Giles A. Smith, in the chair as President pro tem. As indicative of the objects of the present meeting, the Secretary, upon request of the President, read the following call: WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., September 5, 1867. Officers of the Army of the Tennessee: You are respectfully notified that the second annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 13th day of November, 1867, at 10 o'clock A. M. Every officer who has at any time served with honor in the Army of the Tennessee is entitled to membership, and to all such an earnest invitation is extended to be present, to assist in perpetuating its history, and to keep alive that kindly, cordial and social feeling which was one of the chief characteristics of that army during its glorious and eventful career. All necessary arrangements for the meeting will be made by the Local Committee, resident in St. Louis, of which due notice will be given through the press. [Signed] MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. RAWLINS. Recording Secretary. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL L. M. DAYTON, A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, O. There were present Vice-Presidents Generals Giles A. Smith, W. W. Belknap, and C. Fairchild; Secretary Colonel L. M. Dayton; Corresponding Secretary General Hickenlooper; and about two hundred members. Following an eloquent prayer by the Rev. H. C. McCook, late Chaplain of U. S. volunteers, the President announced the Society as ready for the transaction of such business as might be brought for its consideration. The records of the last annual meeting were read by the Secretary, and by the Society adopted without amendment. The rules of business were suspended for the purpose of giving the Corresponding Secretary an opportunity to read the following correspondence from absent members: LETTERS. CINCINNATI, November 10, 1867. GENERAL J. S. CAVENDER, Chairman Committee of Arrangements: GENERAL:-I must relinquish the hope of being at the meeting this year. I am now holding court, with jury present, and cases pressing for trial. General Hickenlooper will take on my report as Treasurer, and my division colors. The meeting of comrades, the renewing of old ties, the presence of the old chiefs, the warm welcome of St. Louis, will make the hours smile as they fleet away. And we who are absent will glow as we hear of the meeting, and remember with pride that we, too, belong to the Army of the Tennessee. Very truly yours, COLONEL L. M. DAYTON. M. F. FORCE. COLUMBUS, O., November 9, 1867. Secretary Army of the Tennessee! MY DEAR COLONEL:-I have long been congratulating myself in anticipating the pleasure I should have in meeting with my old comrades of the Army of the Tennessee this Fall, but fate now seems to have decided against it. It will be impossible for me to be with you, which I regret exceedingly. Hoping that I may be remembered kindly by my old friends, I am, Colonel, sincerely yours, CHAS, W, WALCUTT. DAVENPORT, Iowa, November 5, 1867. MY DEAR COLONEL: I had hoped, till to-day, that I should be able to attend the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, but I find I must forego that pleasure in spite of my wishes. Please enter my name among the members, and be assured of my hearty sympathy for the objects of the Society, as well as of my good will and friendly feeling for the comrades present and absent. With the kindest regard, I am truly yours, J. H. WILSON. Secretary Society Army of the Tennessee, St. Louis, Mo. COLONEL L. M. DAYTON, FORT PHILIP KEARNEY, D. T., November 21, 1867. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, O.: GENERAL: Your notice and invitation to attend the second annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee at St. Louis, Mo., November 13th, 1867, was received on the 16th instant. I regret that upon this occasion, as well as the first meeting, I am and was so far from the place of meeting as to make it impossible for me to attend. I earnestly desire, however, to be remembered by the Society, and to assure you of my best wishes for its success and prosperity. I shall at all times be glad to co-operate for that end, and to that purpose would be under obligations for copy of proceedings of both meetings, if published. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Late Bvt. Maj. Gen. Commanding 3rd Div., 15th A. C., Army of Tennessee, STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COLONEL J. S. CAVENDER: MY DEAR SIR:-General Brown will explain to you why it is impossible for me to accept the complimentary and honored invitation you sent me to join the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. I wish I could; am sorry I can not; but it will not do for me to leave my sick wife even one day. A noble Society, for a noble purpose, composed of noble men who knew how to love and serve their country in the hour of its peril: May it be perpetual, and its members spared to long and happy lives. R. J. OGLESBY. SELMA, ALA., November 10, 1867. GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper, Corresponding Secretary Society Army of the Tennessee: DEAR GENERAL:-I am very sorry that it is impossible for me to be present at the Society meeting this year. I can only extend through you to those of my friends who are present a cordial greeting and a promise to be with you next year. I appreciate fully what I lose by my absence, but I shall try to console myself by imagining on the 13th inst. that I am with my many field-made friends, talking with them of "times that tried men's souls." DEAR SIR:-Enclosed find fifty cents, contribution toward defraying expenses of printing proceedings of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, of which a copy has been sent me. Shall take pleasure at an early day in becoming a member of your honorable body, and, if possible, attend its next annual meeting, Yours respectfully, C. H. MATHEWS, Formerly Major 80th O. V. I. WASHINGTON CITY, GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, No. 148 G STREET, October 6, 1867. Cincinnati, O.: GENERAL:-I have had the pleasure of receiving your notice of the intended second annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and regret that my engagements will prevent my being present. Permit me, through you, to suggest, for the consideration of the meeting, a proposition that I thought worthy of the attention of the Society. It is that a design for a badge-to be worn by such of the members of the Society as may choose to do so-be prepared and adopted by the Society as its insignia, and that suitable provision be made to enable members to secure such badge at a reasonable cost. As time rolls on, we shall find that the brightest recollections of our lives are those that connect us with the history of the Army of the Tennessee, and it would not be a bold prophecy to make, that in future time the insignia of our Society (should we have one) would be prized as highly as that of the Cincinnati, now the cherished inheritance of sons whose fathers had served with Washington and Lafayette. Very respectfully and truly yours, MAX. WOODHULL, Late Assistant Adjutant-General Army of the Tennessee. CHICAGO, November 12, 1867. DEAR COLONEL:-The circular reached me last evening too late to send copies to the morning papers, but it was published in this evening's Post and Fournal, and will appear in the Tribune, Republican and Times to-morrow, the 13th. I have been looking forward for months to this meeting, expecting and fully intending to be present, and now at the last moment am compelled to forego the pleasure, and instead of seeing my old friends and comrades, can only send my greeting, and say to each and every member of the Society, "may God bless and prosper you." Next year I hope that we of Chicago, like our brothers of Cincinnati and St. Louis, may have the opportunity of bidding the Society "thrice welcome to the hearts and homes of our people." With kindest regards for yourself, Cadle and any others of those whom I know best. Corresponding Secretary Society of Army of Tennessee, Cincinnati, O.: DEAR SIR:-Your circular, notifying me of the time and place of the second annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, came to hand and was read with pleasure, for it is gratifying to know that there is still that fraternal feeling existing which, under trials numerous and severe, we all found in our army life. I regret my inability to attend the approaching reunion, and can only wish you "God-speed." Respectfully, your obedient servant, WILLIAM E. FAY, Formerly Captain Company “K,” 22nd O. V. I. NEW YORK, October 30, 1867. DEAR COLONEL:-I have just received a letter from General Sherman, inviting me to attend the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and presuming that the General has left for the Plains, I write you in reply. I am not entirely master of my own time, and can not say positively that I can leave here, but I shall try to do so. If I can be present, I will write you again. Please remember me to any of my old friends who may be with you. Yours truly, COLONEL L. M. DAYTON. H. W. SLOCUM. |