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As the shadows lengthen, and as one by one our ranks are depleted by death, we who survive should cling the closer, keeping green in our own hearts and in the hearts of our children the memory of the days when we stood shoulder to shoulder fighting for the noblest cause that ever inspired men to warfare. Hoping and believing that this reunion will be one of the most enthusiastic and enjoyable, I remain,

Fraternally yours,

GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper:

EDWIN S. JOHNSON.

NEENAH, Wis., September 5, 1887.

MY DEAR GENERAL:-I write to inform you that it will be impossible for me to attend the annual meeting of our Society, to be held at Detroit, Mich., September 14th and 15th next. My official duty here, and my health is not very good; this compels my absence. Hope you may have the usual glorious good time.

May God bless every member of the grand old Army of the Tennessee. Pray remember me to our honored President, General Sherman, and the officers present. I remain,

Very truly yours,

WM. ZICKERICK,

Late Captain 12th Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery.

GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper,

HAVANA, ILLS., September 12, 1887.

Corresponding Secretary Army of the Tennessee:

DEAR SIR:-I had hoped and expected to meet again with you this year, but find that I cannot. As my place in the Society has always been an humble one, I do not suppose the vacant seat will be seriously missed, and think you can get along very well in my absence. However that may be, I find myself more and more dearly attached to the members of the old Army of the Tennessee as the years go by.

With kindest regards for all present, and hoping you will have a very good time of it, I remain,

Yours truly,

JAMES M. RUGGLES.

MALCOM, IOWA, September 13, 1887.

GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPEr,

Corresponding Secretary Army of the Tennessee, Detroit, Mich. : DEAR GENERAL:-I was in hopes to meet you all in Detroit, but at this late hour must abandon the hope. You may well know the disappointment I trust the meeting may be an enjoyable one to all comrades. Say hello to all for me. Hoping to meet you next year, and with my best wishes, will say good bye.

to me.

Truly yours,

A. C. BLIZZARD,

17 Army Corps.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., September 12, 1887.

GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper,

Secretary:

DEAR GENERAL:-As the time approaches for reunion at Detroit, I am pretty well satisfied that I cannot “get there,” but may put in an appearance on the morning of the 15th. Whether there or not, I know you will have the

usual good time just the same.

Please mail to me, Detroit Free Press.
Very truly,

EDWARD SPEAR.

DECATUR, ILLS., September 13, 1887.

GENERAL HICKENLOOPER,

Corresponding Secretary Society of the Army of the Tennessee,

Detroit, Mich. :

DEAR GENERAL:-I desired very much to meet my comrades of the Army of the Tennessee this year at Detroit, and sincerely regret that I find it impossible for me to do so. Remember me to all the "old boys." I hope to meet many, if not all of you, at the grand encampment at St. Louis, Mo., 26th to 30th instant. I enclose $5.00 to apply on annual dues. Tell Dayton to let me know how I stand.

Wishing you all a happy, joyous time, I am,

Fraternally yours,

GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER,

GEO. R. STEELE.

LOS ANGELES, CAL., September 6, 1887.

Corresponding Secretary Society of the Army of the Tennessee: DEAR GENERAL:-As the years go by, and our members grow less at each meeting by reason of transfer to the ever increasing society beyond the "dark river," I feel the more anxious to be present at each reunion, but fate has decreed otherwise, and I can only send loyal and hearty greetings to my comrades and friends who may attend the twentieth annual reunion. Very truly and sincerely yours,

GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
Detroit, Mich. :

GEO. B. HOGIN.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., September 12, 1887.

MY DEAR GENERAL:-I have been ready to go to Detroit to attend the reunion for a week-engaged room at the Russell House-but at the last minute I am compelled, by business engagements, to give up the trip. This I exceedingly regret, for I understand a number of our old escort will be there to see you and will ask where I am, as I promised to be there. To such as ask you this question, say I was necessarily detained. With my best wishes, I am,

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., September 13, 1887.

GENERAL W. W. BELKNAP,

Detroit, Mich. :

MY DEAR BELKNAP:-At the last moment I am compelled to give up going to the reunion—a disappointment I can't express. May the “lamp,” though fed with many trembling hands, still burn and fill the lives of the remaining boys with light and joy. Ever yours,

GENERAL A. HICKENLOoper,

W. MCCRORY.

CHICAGO, ILLS., September 13, 1887.

Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, O.:

DEAR GENERAL:-Again, as last year, poor health prevents my attending the reunion of the Army of the Tennessee. I have recently visited the beautiful city where you are to assemble, and know how much it has to offer for the entertainment of its guests. The reunion, I am sure, will be one of the most enjoyable of the many held, only shadowed, as was the last one held here, by the death of one dear to us all—one, of whom we cannot yet speak without emotion. We still mourn for our first great commander, General Grant. With fresher grief we sorrow for our brilliant leader, our loved and trusted friend, General John A. Logan. With a tribute of affection to his memory, and the hope that you may have all possible happiness in social greetings and in banquet hall, I am,

Sincerely yours,

WILEY S. SCRIBNER,

Late 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

COLONEL L. M. DAYTON,

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., September 12, 1887.

Society Army Tennessee, Detroit, Mich. :

COURTEOUS COMRADE:-I am in receipt of your circular relating to our annual meeting of Army Tennessee, and regret my inability to be present. Accept for yourself and all comrades my sincere wishes.

COLONEL L. M. DAYTON,

Very truly yours,

C. L. PRATT,

1st Regiment, Illinois Artillery.

LANCASTER, KY., September 12, 1887:

Recording Secretary Society of the Army of the Tennessee:

DEAR COLONEL:-I enclose one dollar to be credited upon my dues.

I regret that business engagements prevent my attending the reunion this year. Please present my greetings and love for each member of the great army of the West, that never knew defeat. With kind regards, as ever,

Yours truly,

W. J. LANDRUM.

COLONEL L. M. DAYTON,

KANSAS CITY, Mo., September 12, 1887.

Russell House, Detroit, Mich.:

DEAR SIR:-Enclosed please find two dollars. If my arrears of dues are more than that, let me know and I will remit.

I had hoped to be present at roll-call this week, in Detroit, but fate has decreed otherwise. My disappointment is only relieved by the anticipation of being able to attend next year.

By the way, let me suggest Kansas City as the next place of meeting. What more appropriate place for those who "caught the buffets of war" under the stars and stripes to assemble, than this most marvelous illustration of the right and justice of the cause for which they fought?

Wishing all present a happy and enjoyable time, I remain,

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CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW YORK, SURVEYOR'S OFFICE, September 6, 1887.

DEAR DAYTON:-Will you please express to the members of the Society who are present, how sorry I am to write this instead of being present in person. My notice from the local committee shows they have prepared a glorious reception for all, and as I know something of the ability of some for forageing in 1862-3, have not a doubt the table will be well supplied. With love to each and all,

Your old comrade,

AD. WARE,

Late Brevet Lieut.-Col. and A. A. G. U. S. Vols.

TO COLONEL L. M. DAYTON,

Recording Secretary Army of the Tennessee, Detroit, Mich.

Regrets from members of the Society in response to "Citizens' (local committee) Invitation."

FRED. E. FARNSWORTH, Esq.,

ST. PAUL, MINN., September 1, 1887.

Secretary Local Executive Committee, etc., Detroit, Mich. :

DEAR SIR:-I have to thank you for card of invitation to the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. I had promised myself the pleasure of attending, but a reunion of Minnesota veterans is to be held during the week of our state fair, which embraces the very days of the meeting in your city. My own regiment, the 7th Minnesota, has, of course, the stronger claims on me. I am very sorry I cannot be with you.

Yours truly,

WM. R. MARSHALL.

FRED. E. FARNSWORTH,

ST. LOUIS, August 31, 1887.

Secretary Executive Committee Reunion Army of the Tennessee: DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt of your invitation to attend the reunion to be held in your city on 14th and 15th of September, and am sorry that I shall be unable to be present. The national encampment of the G. A. R. commences here on the 26th of September, and as I am very busy attending to my duties on our committee who have that in charge, it will be impossible for me to be present in your city. I know you will have a good time, and regret very much that I cannot be with you.

Yours truly,

GENERAL O. M. POE,

D. P. GRIER.

WASHINGTON CITY, September 1, 1887.

Chairman Local Committee, etc.:

MY DEAR GENERAL:-The invitation to the twentieth meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee came to-day. For many reasons I would like to be in Detroit at that time. I like Detroit and would like all the fellows of '61-'65 who will be at the meeting. It will be a success without me. I have promised to be in Davenport, Iowa, a few days later than your meeting, and 'tho I am yet young, too much travel vexes me. I know what a meeting of the Army of the Tennessee is, and it takes much to enable me to resist its hospitality-you know what that is, however much you may run with prohibitionists in your old days,

We tried prohibition in the army, but some how or other it failed, as it will fail wherever good fellows meet, and even General Howard's headquarters was not a dreary waste. It is pleasant to me to hear from comrades the odds and ends of their army life. Such stories resurrect forgotten things and tell of comrades whose companionship made army life enjoyable. I have in my mind as I write, those young officers and genial fellows, Buell and Reese, who used to ring the cow bell that good fellows might come and enjoy the hospitality of their quarters in Savannah. Every officer's quarters then had a welcome. You and I and some other fellows lived a quiet life in family quarters on Bull street; I would like to talk with you about those days. With Dr. John Moore, now surgeon-general of the army, I sometimes talk of the silver linings the cloudy days of the war had. War has a humorous side, 'tho grim it be, and that is the side to look upon when war alarms are gone. May the twentieth meeting of the Society be an enjoyable success in

every way.

Please give my kind remembrances to General F. W. Swift, of your committee. He kept a post office once, which, I hope, added to his happiness-I know it did to his experience; and also to Mr. Chittenden, who I remember pleasantly as mine host of the Russell House years ago.

Your friend and obedient servant,

A. H. MARKLAND.

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