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annual reports, of the Treasurer, the Corresponding Secretary and the Recording Secretary. I first call for the reading of the report of the Treasurer. Our Treasurer, General Force, is unavoidably absent. He expected to come until yesterday. He has always been as punctual as a clock, almost, but he has been kept away by sickness in his family. He sends his report to you by Colone Dayton, and requests that he will read it. The Secretary ther read the report.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
TREASURER'S OFFICE,

CINCINNATI, August 10, 1884.

In my report made to the last meeting of the Society, I mentioned the dilapidated condition of the fence enclosing the monument which marks the place where McPherson was killed; which monument and enclosure were several years ago conveyed to and accepted by the Society. Thereupon, a resolution offered by Colonel Dayton, that a committee be appointed to ascertain the condition of the monument and fencing surrounding it, and make such renewal or repairs as may be deemed expedient, and draw on the Treasurer for the expense incurred-who is directed to pay the same on presentation -was adopted, and the President appointed me as the committee.

I became satisfied that it would be necessary for me to go to Atlanta in person, in order to determine intelligently what repairs should be made and to contract for the work. Before an opportunity of going could be found, I received from General Sherman a letter written to him by General Holabird, Quartermaster-General of the Army, stating that the fence, enclosing the gun which constitutes the monument, was all gone but a fragment, which was damaged beyond repair, and offering to have this fragment removed, the gun painted and the ground policed.

I wrote to General Holabird and was put in communication with Major C. A. Reynolds, Quartermaster at Atlanta, who readily undertook to see done whatever might be determined upon. I proposed to enclose the monument with a low wall of stone, two feet high, as offering the least temptation and opportunity to marauding tourists. Major Reynolds wrote that the officers at Atlanta all agreed that it would be an improvement to fill in the enclosure to the height of this low wall and cover the earth with sod; so that the gun or monument would stand on a sodded terrace faced with stone. I accepted the suggestion. I wrote that I supposed the work could be done for $150; and if so, I would make a contract with any person approved by Major Reynolds, and pay the bill on presentation, if certified by him. Major Reynolds asked for bids, received six and forwarded them to me. The best bid was that of the Stone Mountain Granite Co., and was $450.

This being materially larger than I had supposed would be sufficient, I consulted General Sherman, President of the Society, and General Hickenlooper,

Corresponding Secretary. Colonel Dayton, Recording Secretary, was absent from Cincinnati at the time and I was unable to consult him. General Sherman and General Hickenlooper disapproved of such expenditure and advised a simple fence. I wrote to Major Reynolds accordingly, who received bids for both wood and iron fence. The best bid was that of A. F. Lee, of Atlanta, an iron fence, for $150. I contracted for the work. It was done to the acceptance of Major Reynolds, and the bill has been paid. I submit, with this report, the entire correspondence.

General S. B. Holabird, Quartermaster-General of the Army, and Major C. A. Reynolds, Quartermaster U. S. A., deserve the acknowledgments of the Society for the interest which they have taken in the matter and for the assistance which they have so courteously given.

On the day that the work was completed, Major Reynolds reported the fact to the Quartermaster-General, and his letter stated that vandals or relic hunters had chipped off bits of the granite base of the monument within a week or two previous, and requested that a man be employed at five dollars per month to act as custodian and guard. The letter has been referred to me, and I lay it before the Society. Possibly it would be the wisest course for the Society to transfer the monument to the United States, together with the lot in which it stands, if the government will accept the gift.

In consequence of my reluctance to purchase bonds at the rate at which they were held, and of my holding money in reserve to meet the cost of publishing another volume of consolidated reports, I had cash on hand on the 1st April, 1883, more than $2500, which had to be reported for taxation. The tax was $56.42, one-half of which was paid in December, 1883, the other half in June, 1884.

Before April, 1884 arrived, I bought two U. S. 4 per cent. bonds for $1000 each;-one, registered and payable to Treasurer Society of the Army of the Tennessee, for the Permanent Fund; the other coupon bond, a temporary investment of the General Fund, to be sold when needed to pay for the expected volumes of consolidated reports

In my report to the first meeting of the Society held in Chicago, I proposed the accumulation of a permanent fund of $10,000, which would produce an income of $600, to meet the expenses of the Society by the time its reunions should lose the character of public demonstrations and subside into simple friendly gatherings of comrades. Careful nursing has brought the Permanent Fund up to $10,000 of bonds sooner than was expected; but, interest being reduced to four per cent, it will require $15,000 of bonds to produce the proposed income of $600. Careful nursing must still be continued. I have accordingly paid into the Permanent Fund, not only the interest of its own bonds, but also the interest of the bond bought for temporary investment of the General Fund.

PERMANENT FUND

At the last annual report there were in the Permanent Fund nine U. S. 4 per cent bonds for $1000 each. Since then another such bond has been pur

chased, making $10,000 of bonds. All these are, as has been stated in former reports, registered bonds, payable to Treasurer Society of the Army of the Tennessee.

There was also in this fund at last report $1,518.89 cash. This has been increased by $310.00, interest on bonds; $442, received from Colonel L. M. Dayton, Recording Secretary; $15. received from General Hickenlooper, proceeds of sale of first two volumes of consolidated reports; making total cash $2,285.89. From this has been paid $1,243.75 for one bond. There remains cash $1042,14.

GENERAL FUND.

At the last annual report there was in the general fund $1,513.13 in cash. There has been received since from Colonel L. M. Dayton, Recording Secretary, $350; making a total of $1,863.13.

The expenditure has been: Expenses of the office of the Corresponding Secretary for the years 1882 and 1883, $75.50. Expenses of the office of the Recording Secretary for postage, telegrams and ribbon, $69.15. Paid F. W. Freeman, for printing report of last meeting, $325; for wrapping reports for mailing, $2.80; electrotyping, $92.40; printing note heads, $1.75; total of F. W. Freeman's account, $421.95. Paid taxes, $56.42. Replacing iron fence about the monument upon the spot where McPherson was killed, $150. Paid for one government bond, $1,243-75- Total expenditure, $2,016.77. The cash of this fund is overdrawn $153.64.

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Cash in bank to credit of M. F. Force, Treasurer of Society of the Army of the Tennessee, $888.50.

On motion of Captain Everest,

M. F. FORCE,

Treasurer.

Resolved, That the report of the Treasurer be accepted and

spread upon the records of the Society.

Note: The correspondence submitted by the Treasurer, in reference to the McPherson Monument at Atlanta, is given complete below.

GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,

WAR DEPARTMENT,

QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 5, 1884.

United States Army, 912 Garrison Avenue, St. Louis, Mo.:

DEAR GENERAL:-With reference to the McPherson Monument, of which I wrote you under date of the 15th ultimo, in reply to your note of a few days previous, it is suggested by Major Reynolds that the fence now only remaining in part, and that beyond repair, be wholly removed, and the ground about the gun cleared and policed.

Probably this would be the best course-taking away all that can be easily destroyed, leaving less for marauders to prey upon-but without your sanction I do not feel authorized to give instructions to that effect.

The gun needs painting, which I will have attended to, and the superintendent of the Marietta National Cemetery will be directed to make occasional visits to the grounds and keep them in order.

I will defer the instructions in the matter, however, until advised of your wishes concerning the removal of the remnants of the railing. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER,

S. B. HOLABIRD, Quartermaster-General, U. S. Army.

(ENDORSED.)

Cincinnati, Ohio:

St. Louis, Mo., April 7, 1884.

DEAR A.:-Some time ago I had a letter from somebody, describing the constant desecration of the McPherson Monument at Atlanta. I referred it to the Quartermaster-General to know if he could not have the Superientendent of the Marietta National Cemetery to keep some sort of a watch on it.

He now advises the removal of the fence, and I advise it on the theory that relic hunters cannot carry off the 32-pounder and granite block in which it is inserted. We cannot protect the fence, which is being carried away piecemeal. Yours truly,

(ENDORSED.)

W. T. SHERMAN. CINCINNATI, April 8, 1884.

GENERAL M. F. FORCE,

West Eighth Street:

DEAR GENERAL:-If I remember rightly, you was entrusted by the Society with making arrangements for the care of this monument, and therefore the order, which General Sherman recommends, should properly come from you. Will you be kind enough to attend to it.

Respectfully,

A. HICKENLOoper,

Corresponding Secretary.

SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
TREASURER'S OFFICE,

CINCINNATI, April 9, 1884.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL S. B. HOLABIRD,

Quartermaster General U. S. A.›

GENERAL: I have just received your letter to General Sherman, making suggestions about the condition of the monument to General McPherson, near Atlanta, together with General Sherman's endorsement.

I reported the condition of the monument to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee at the meeting in Cleveland last October, and was authorized by resolution to determine upon and make repairs. The difficulty in doing anything as yet, has been the difficulty of finding a person both competent and trusty, without going myself to Atlanta.

Your letter to General Sherman makes it clear that an iron railing is only a continued temptation to relic hunters. If Major Reynolds would be willing, and would be allowed, to employ some one to put a low stone wall or coping, say two feet high, around the enclosure, I would pay the bill when authorized by Major Reynolds.

Whether this can be done or not, at all events the Society of the Army of the Tennessee gratefully accepts your offer to have the railing removed, the ground policed and the gun painted. Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

M. F. FORCE,

Treasurer Society Army of the Tennessee.

GENERAL M. F. FORCE,

WAR DEPARTMENT,

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 17, 1884.

Treasurer Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio: GENERAL:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, with reference to the McPherson monument, and in accordance with your request, instructions have been given for the removal of the remnants of the railing, the police of the grounds, and the painting of the gun.

The superintendent of the Marietta National Cemetery will also be directed to give the monument and surroundings the necessary attention to keep them in order, so far as he can by occasional visits.

Concerning the proposed enclosure of the monument with a stone wall, Major Reynolds has been requested to communicate with you, and will, I doubt not, take pleasure in carrying out the wishes of the Society in the matter. Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

S. B. HOLABIRD,

Quartermaster-General U. S. Army.

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