SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, CINCINNATI, July 17, 1884. MAJOR C. A. REYNOLDS, Quartermaster U. S. A.: DEAR SIR:-I received this morning your letter, inclosing Mr. A. F. Lee's receipted bill for putting up the iron railing about the McPherson monument, and enclose a draft on New York for one hundred and fifty dollars endorsed to his order in payment, Please accept my thanks for the active interest you have taken in the matter, and the valuable assistance you have given. I have no doubt the Society, at its approaching meeting, will express their thanks. Very truly yours, M. F. FORCE, Treasurer Society of the Army of the Tennessee. QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, TO THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C.: SIR:--In connection with endorsement of the 5th inst. from this office, and a letter of M. A. Pledger of Atlanta, Ga., dated June 20, 1884, I have the honor to inform you, that the new iron railing enclosing the McPherson monument near this city, was completed and accepted to-day. It consists of 5% inch iron, with posts at the four corners, and also at the gate. enclosure is twelve feet square. The If it is desired to keep this monument and railing in their present good condition, it is, in my opinion, absolutely necessary to have some one to look after them all the time. Even within the past week or two, more evidence of the spirit of vandalism, or almost as bad, relic hunting, has shown itself, several pieces of the granite base having been broken off and carried away. If the same agency should be at work in the future that has been in the past, the railing which now surrounds the monument, although of a good and substantial character, will surely share the same fate as the old one. I would recommend therefore that some one be appointed to look after the monument and railing. There is a colored man living in the immediate vicinity who is willing to undertake the task at a compensation of $5.00 per month. He is a good, reliable man from all I can learn, and being in such close proximity to the monument, either he or some member of his family would be present all the time to prevent any defacement that might be contemplated. If the Quartermaster's Department cannot defray such expense, probably a recommendation from the Quartermaster-General to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee would accomplish the desired object. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. A. REYNOLDS, Quartermaster U. S. Army. [ENDORSED.] Respectfully returned by direction of the Quartermaster-General, to Major C. A. Reynolds, Quartermaster U. S. A., Atlanta, Ga., who will please correspond with the Secretary and Treasurer of the Army of the Tennessee on this matter. As the monument in question is not under the charge of the Quartermaster's Department, or its appropriations, its funds cannot be devoted therefor. $5.00 per month is considered too great an expenditure for uncertain results. Respectfully referred to General M. F. Force, Secretary and Treasurer Society Army of the Tennessee, with the suggestion that some action be taken upon the subject stated within. C. A. REYNOLDS, Quartermaster U. S. Army. SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, POMEROY, OHIO, July 29, 1884. MAJOR C. A. REYNOLDS, Quartermaster U. S. A.: DEAR SIR: I have just received, forwarded to this place, your letter to the Quartermaster-General of the Army, with the endorsements thereon, regarding the injuries already begun to be inflicted anew on the McPherson monument, and the suggestion to employ a man residing near, as custodian, to prevent such injuries. I thank you for your continued interest, and will bring the matter before the Society at the approaching meeting in Minnesota. Very respectfully and truly M. F. FORCE, Treasurer Society of the Army of the Tennessee. The President:-The next report is that of the Recording Secretary. General Hamilton:-Mr. President, I move, if it is in order, that the reading of the Secretary's report be dispensed with, as it will be published in the annual report of the proceedings. The President:-The report is short, and contains matters of importance that the members should hear. The Secretary then read his report. RECORDING SECRETARY'S REPORT. GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, President Society of the Army of the Tennessee: Complying with the authority given me, I had the proceedings of the last annual meeting, held at Cleveland, compiled and published in the usual pamphlet form, and distributed four hundred and fifty copies to the members. If any member failed receiving a copy, it must have been because his correct address is not known to the Secretary. Since my last report, members have paid me as follows: On account of permanent fund, On account of general fund, 442.00 350.00 which has been turned over to the Treasurer and accounted for, as his report has stated. For the money paid me, I have mailed a receipt to each member for amount he may have paid, and the amount each has paid was also given in the annual report. The amount of work falling upon your Secretary, in the matter of preparing and publishing the annual report, in keeping the accounts of the members, and various other duties pertaining to his office, including correspondence, is much larger than is generally supposed, and quite a burden, taking a quantity of his time that often he cannot spare, except at considerable inconvenience and sacrifice of his own affairs. While he must have careful supervision of all, there is a portion that is only clerical work, which might be delegated, and I, therefore, make the suggestion to the Society, that it should authorize their Secretary, whoever he may be, to employ such help to do this work of the Society, as he may think necessary, and his voucher for the expense shall be a draft upon the Treasurer. L. M. DAYTON, The President:-You have heard the report of your Recording Secretary. What is the pleasure of the Society? Major Perkins:-I move its adoption. The President:-Does the adoption carry with it the recommendation? Same member:-Yes, sir. Captain Heafford:-Mr. President, I think there should be a limit to the expenses. The Secretary may wish to hire clerical help, but there ought to be something said as to the amount of expense attendant upon the same. The Secretary:-The matter of what that work may cost is of course indefinite; no one can tell. I may explain that what I want, mainly, is that you shall authorize the Secretary to have the work that he has not got time to do, done by some other party. So far as I am concerned, I shall simply put in the bill, and if the Society do not see fit to pay it, they can do as they choose. I will pay it. The President:-We'll see to that. The motion to adopt the report was carried. NOTE. The discussion upon this question is left out, as per Colonel Oliver's motion, which is referred to. The Secretary gives herewith, as an appendix to his report, an abstract from his books showing amount of money paid him by each member for dues and fees from Nov. 9th, 1883 to Oct. 1st, 1884. |