VIRGINIA CITY, MONTANA, August 18, 1884. GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper, Corresponding Secretary Society of the Army of the Tennessee: DEAR GENERAL:-I received the several notices from yourself and the committee of arrangements of the seventeenth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee in due season. The number of the reunion is so suggestive, being that of our dear old 17th Corps, and of its grand commander, General J. B. McPherson, also our own army commander. I had hoped that circumstances would have permitted me to attend, but at the last moment business prevented. I so much regret the meeting with my old brother officers of the Tennessee, and particularly regret to be absent from the listening to the address of our old commander, General U. S. Grant, who is so much endeared to the Army of the Tennessee that no political aspersions or financial misfortunes can ever asperse or belittle the grand reputation of the great soldier and an honest man. Hoping that the Grand Commander above may permit me to be present at the next reunion at Chicago, and with kindest fraternal greetings from me to all the comrades of the Tennessee whom you may meet, I remain, very truly yours, F. C. DEIMLING, Late Colonel 10th Missouri Vol. Infantry. ST. LOUIS, July 26, 1884. COLONEL L. M. DAYTON, Secretary Society Army of the Tennessee, Cincinnati: DEAR GENERAL:-Please advise me of the amount of dues I am delinquent as a member of the Society of Army of the Tennessee. I will remit at once. Being health officer of city, I shall not be able to be with you in person this year, but am always with you in spirit. Hoping the reunion may be as in the past, a joyous assemblage of what is left of the grand old organization, I shall feel that I am denying myself a great pleasure in not being present. Truly yours, JOHN D. STEVenson. MILWAUKEE, August 9, 1884. GENERAL JNO. B. SANBORN, Chairman Local Executive Committee, St. Paul: GENERAL:-Your kind invitation to attend our Society meeting August 13th and 14th came duly to hand. I regret exceedingly to be compelled to write that business engagements prevent my attendance. I trust you will have a full meeting and a pleasant time. Very respectfully, F. H. MAGDEBURG. LAFAYETTE, IND., August 11, 1884. COLONEL L. M. DAYTON, Secretary, Hotel Lafayette, Lake Minnetonka, Minn: DEAR COLONEL:—Until today I expected to get my business arranged so that I could be with you on the 13th and 14th inst., but at dinner hour, 6 P. M., I find I shall not be able to leave here in time to get there. It was my intention to say something to the comrades of the life and services of our brother, Dr. W. F. Cady, who died in this city last winter, but this must be deferred until a future occasion. Please convey my brotherly regard to the comrades and wishes for a pleasant anniversary. Sincerely yours, J. M. DRESSEr, GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Secretary, Cincinnati, Ohio: NEWTON, KANSAS, August 9, 1884. DEAR GENERAL:-I am out here trying to steer some of this "Kansas Wheat," to Toledo and Chicago, and find I am not going to be able to be at Minneapolis on the 14th, as both my wife and I have been planning for the past year. I enclose $1.00 to pay my dues, and desire to be remembered to all my old comrades who may be present, and hoping the meeting may be as pleasant and enjoyable as usual, I am, very truly yours, GEO. E. Welles, Late Colonel 68th Ohio and Brevet Brigadier-General. ELGIN, ILL., August 9, 1884. GENERAL H. H. SIBLEY, Chairman Committee on Invitations, Society of Army of the Tennessee, St. Paul, Minn.: DEAR GENERAL:-I deeply regret my inability to attend the seventeenth reunion of our honored Society. The joy and inspiration of our meetings increases with each passing year. I regret to forego its pleasures, but other duties compel. With most cordial greeting to my honored comrades of "the glorious days," Very sincerely yours, I am, JOHN S. WILCOX, Late Colonet 52d Ill. Vol. Infantry. CHICAGO, ILL., August 9, 1884. GENERAL H. H. SIBLEY, GENERAL L. F. HUBBARD, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE ON INVITATION: DEAR SIRS:-I regret very much that my business engagements are such as to prevent my attendance at the seventeenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Lake Minnetonka. I know you will have a good time and my heart will be with you all while you are recalling in peace the memories of the war that made these gatherings of battle-scared comrades possible. Yours very sincerely, J. THOMPSON Moss. First Lieutenant, “I” Co., 53d Ills., Vols., 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee. CINCINNATI, August 8, 1884. GENERAL H. H. SIBLEY, HON. W. D. WASHBURN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE: MY DEAR SIRS:-Your cordial invitation to be present at the seventeenth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee is at hand, and I sincerely thank you for the courtesy. I regret exceedingly that I will not be able to attend, business preventing. This is the first reunion of the grand old Army of the Tennessee that I have missed for years, and I assure you that my disappointment is very great. Hoping that the reunion will be a success, and that we may all live to attend many, in years to come, of these soldiers' lovefeasts, I have the honor to be, yours very truly, A. H. MATTOX. CARBONDALE, ILL., August 9, 1884. GENERAL H. H. SIBLEY AND OTHERS, Committee on Invitation, etc., St. Paul, Minn.: GENTLEMEN:-I am just in receipt of your esteemed invitation to attend the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Lake Minnetonka, on the 13th and 14th inst., and very much regret that it is not convenient for me to avail of the favor. Matters beyond my control keep me at home. This is more painful, when I call to mind the exceedingly pleasant meeting we so much enjoyed at St. Paul, on a similar occasion a few years since. Trusting, gentlemen, and not doubting, that you, with all others, who do attend, will have a most joyous gathering of comrades, I remain, very respectfully, etc., D. H. BRUSH, Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. Vols. LEADVILLE, COLO., August 3, 1884. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOper, Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, O.: DEAR COMRADE:-The official notification of the time and place of our next reunion thankfully received. That comfort-destroying disease, the Asthma, has driven me up into the mountains, where the pure, wholesome air of this altitude-10.200-furnishes some relief. I must forego the pleasure of participating with you in this, our seventeenth, annual reunion, only promising myself to be on hand the next time. My wish is that all members of our association, who join hands this season at Lake Minnetonka, may have a royal good time; may good health, long life and prosperity prevail as an epidemic among you, and when the "good old bugle" sounds the tattoo we will be prepared to settle all of our accounts here below and muster out with a clean record. PARKERSBURG, W. VA., August 6, 1884. MY DEAR GENERAL:-The notice of the time and place of our next reunion, addressed to me at Lebanon, Tenn., has after visiting Washington, etc, reached me. Our revered relative, Uncle Sam, has, for some time had me employed in examining the claims made by citizens in the Border States, who think they should be paid for the horses, mules, forage, etc., which our comrades of the armies of "The Potomac," or of "West Virginia." or of "The Cumberland," or some other, borrowed from them during the late unpleasant ness. Was on the same work two to four years ago in Tennessee. I do not mention the "Army of the Tennessee" in the list, because it never borrowed-it always took for keeps. We ("The Tennessee") did not work much on the border anyway-were not content until we had thrust ourselves into the heart of the matter. If among your guests, there are any guilty consciences on this question of borrowing, or taking, please suppress this letter, which otherwise is intended as a memorandum from a comrade, who desires that his old brothers in arms should know that he is still on hand. I wish I could be with you but cannot. At the dates of the meeting shall be at Charleston, West Virginia and be with you in spirit only, (neither corn nor rye.) Kind regards to all. Yours truly, O. D. KINSMAN, Late Brevet Lieut.-Colonel U. S. V., and A. A. General. GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper, Cincinnati, Ohio. NEW ORLEANS, July 31, 1884. GENERAL AND. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary Society of the Army of the Tennessee: DEAR GENERAL:-I had fully intended being present at the "reunion" on the 13th and 14th of August, but circumstances have arisen that in all proba-; bility will debar me from that anticipated pleasure, so please present my greetings to old comrades, with warmest wishes for their health, happiness and prosperity. Yours, E. JONAS. SAVANNAH, GA., July 31, 1884. GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper, Secretary Army of Tennessee: MY DEAR GENERAL:-To the present time I had hoped to attend this year's meeting of our Society. Circumstances preclude the possibility, a deprivation I deeply deplore. As years pass over us, our friends scatter, and we stand near the threshold of eternity, how dearer becomes our old comrades. Please convey to each the regards and best wishes of. Sincerely yours, GRANTHAM I. TAGGART. COLUMBUS, O., July 31, 1884. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary Army of the Tennessee: MY DEAR SIR:—I have delayed answering yours of the 10th, giving official notice of the seventeenth annual reunion of the "Army of the Tennessee," thinking I might be able to attend that meeting, but business engagements will prevent my attending the annual meeting this year. As time passes away I find my affections drawn more and more towards these annual meetings, and to the individual membership of the Society. Especially do I feel a desire to be present this season, when we are to meet our old commander, "U. S. Grant." Wishing the Society success, and the members a happy meeting, I remain, Yours truly, P. PEASE. SAN BUENA VENTURA, CAL., July 25, 1884. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary Society Army of Tennessee, Cincinnati, O.: DEAR GENERAL:-It is with extreme regret that I announce my inability to be present at the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Lake Minnetonka, Minn., in August. Having recently transferred to California, my address will be at this place for some time to come. I herewith tender my cordial greetings to the companions of the Society, trusting that this seventeenth reunion may prove one of the happiest of the many enjoyable gatherings of our organization, and that the President, our former glorious commander, may long be spared to preside at its meetings. Very cordially and respectfully, GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper, WM. VANDEVER. LA MOILLE, ILLINOIS, July 28, 1884. Secretary of the Army of the Tennessee, Cincinnati, O.: DEAR SIR:-Again I am officially reminded of the time of reunion (17th) of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Duty seems to call me in an oppo |