REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON MCPHERSON MONUMENT. DES MOINES, Iowa, September 29, 1875. Mr. President, and Members of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee: GENTLEMEN:-On behalf of the Committee on McPherson Monument, I have the honor to submit, for the information of the Society, the following report: Balance in my hands October 14, 1874, Since which date the following subscriptions have been received: General William H. Terrell, $6,072 52 $ 5 00 It will be observed that the sum of $1,500 pledged by the Clyde Association has been dropped from our report, for the reason that after making every effort in our power, we have utterly failed in having this sum paid over, or placed in any available shape. While this failure still leaves us enough to complete the statue as originally contemplated, it seemed to render hopeless the task of raising the additional sum necessary for the base, which, to be in keeping with the character of the statue, should be granite, costing between $15,000 and $20,000. At this juncture General W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War, expressed the opinion that upon a proper presentation of the facts, Congress might be induced to set aside a public square and erect a suitable base, providing we would place the statue thereon. The extensive changes and improvements made in Washington during the past few years, have undoubtedly made it the most beautiful city in the country, and it stands to-day, as it properly should, the representative city of America, and as such, appears to be the most appropriate place for a monument to McPherson. While this is a radical change in our original programme, it is one which appeared to be fully justified by the facts above recited, and which we hope will meet with the hearty approval of the members of the Society. Through the efforts of General Belknap, assisted by Major Elliot, U. S. Engineers, and General Babcock, Superintendent of Public Buildings, one of the public squares, to be designated "McPherson Square," has been set aside, and an appropriation of $25,000 secured with which to erect the base. We had hoped to be able at this meeting to report the contract for the casting, but the artist, while working steadily, has been unable to make as rapid progress as we anticipated; we now, however, feel confident that nextCentury Year,—the statue will be unveiled and our work completed. A. HICKENLooper. On motion of Colonel Joel: Resolved, That the report of General Hickenlooper regarding the McPherson Monument be received and spread upon the journal of the Society. General Tilson requested that the correspondence of members with the Corresponding Secretary be read, as he would be very glad to hear it, and believed every member present would also be glad to hear what absent members have to say. This was in conformity of the usual custom, and the letters were read, also those of the Committee of Arrangements, as heretofore. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, TELEGRAMS. INDIANAPOLIS, September 29, 1875. Corresponding Secretary Society Army Tennessee: Gresham and Spooner unavoidably detained in Court. Simpson's absence understood. We write in hearty greetings, and are authorized by citizens of Indianapolis to earnestly request that the next reunion be at this place. GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, W. Q. GRESHAM, BENJAMIN SPOONER, JOHN E. SIMPSON. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., September 28, 1875. President Society of the Army of the Tennessee: The members of the Society resident in this State, and the citizens of Indianapolis desire that your next meeting be held in this city. We will guarantee a hearty welcome and good quarters. JOHN E. SIMPSON. IRONTON, O., September 30, 1875. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary: I could not get with you this time. Greet old comrades for me. will have a good time. Hope you OLIVER WOOD, Brigadier-General. CLEVELAND, O., September 30, 1875. GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN: Sickness in my family keeps me from the meeting of our Army Society. My most hearty greeting to old comrades. GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, M. D. LEGGETT. NEW YORK, September 28, 1875. President Army of the Tennessee: Cordial greetings. Kind remembrances to our comrades of the Army of the Tennessee regretting we cannot present them in person. General F. A. STARRING, Surgeon JOHN M. WOODWORTH, ST. LOUIS, September 28, 1875. GOVERNOR T. C. FLETCHER, Care of President Army of the Tennessee: I will start with the rear guard this evening. JOHN MCFALL. GOVERNOR C. C. CARPENTER: CHICAGO, September 28, 1875. Thanks for your kind invitation, but it will be impossible for me to attend. F. W. PALMER. CORRESPONDENCE. STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, HON. C. C. CARPENTER AND OTHERS, Committee on Invitations: SIRS: I am in receipt of your kind invitation to attend the ninth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Des Moines, on the 29th and 30th instant, and enjoy the hospitality of your city. I would like very much to visit your city and State, and meet your people, and greet the gallant men who love the Army of the Tennessee, and I had hoped to be able to do so, but other engagements at that time will prevent. I return to the Committee, to the Society, and to the citizens of Des Moines my sincere thanks for the kind invitation and the honor conferred, and express the hope that the reunion be an occasion of great joy to the soldiers and to the citizens. I am, very respectfully yours, JOHN L. BEVeridge. } STATE OF OHIO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNOR C. C. CARPENTER AND OTHERS, Committee: GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to attend the ninth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, in the city of Des Moines, on the 29th and 30th instant. It would afford me great pleasure, indeed, to be with you, but my engagements in Ohio render it impossible, which I regret exceedingly. Hoping that your highest anticipations of enjoyment will be more than realized, and that the gallant and honored members of your noble Society may live to participate in many more reunions in the years that are to come, I am, very truly yours, W. ALLEN. STATE OF MISSOURI, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MESSRS. C. C. CARPENTER AND OTHERS, Committee on Invitations, Des Moines, Iowa: GENTLEMEN:-Your invitation to be present at the ninth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held in your city September 29th and 30th, is received. I would be very glad to visit your city on that occasion, and to meet the soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee, but a previous engagement for that time will necessarily prevent me from so doing. Thanking you most kindly for the invitation and the proffer of the hospitalities of your city, I am, very truly, your obedient servant, C. H. HARDIN. } STATE OF KENTUCKY, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MESSRS. CARPENTER, TUTTLE AND OTHERS, Des Moines: GENTLEMEN:-Your invitation to be present at the ninth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, accompanied by a tender of the hospitalities of your city, is received. My official duties will prevent me from attending, yet I trust you will accept my sincerest thanks for the courtesy extended to me by the committee, as well as by the citizens who have thus honored me. STATE OF KANSAS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GENTLEMEN:-I have received an invitation to be present at the ninth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held at Des Moines, Iowa, on the 29th and 30th instant, and much regret that official engagements will deny me the pleasure of being present. It would have afforded me great satisfaction to meet, in social intercourse, the brave men to whom the country is so largely indebted for its present unity and prospective perpetuity. Very truly yours, THOMAS A. OSBORN. HIS EXCELLENCY C. C. CARPENTER AND OTHERS, TERRITORY Of Colorado, EXECUTIVE Department, DENVER, September 25, 1875. GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to be present at the ninth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. A press of official duties prevents my absence from the Territory at this time, and I am, therefore, compelled to transmit my regrets that I can not participate in that reunion, and partake of the hospitalities so generously tendered. Thanking you for the honor conferred, I am, very respectfully yours, JOHN S. ROUTT. HIS EXCELLENCY C. C. CARPENTER, GENERAL J. M. TUTTLE AND OTHERS. STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN: DEAR SIR:-The requirements of official duty will deprive me of the pleasure of attending the reunion of the Army of the Tennessee to be held at Des Moines. Were I present I should surely personally urge that the next meeting be at St. Paul, and my main purpose in writing this letter is to cordially invite the association to meet here next year. I am informed that every Northwestern State, excepting Minnesota, have been honored with their meetings. We claim our turn. Our people look with honorable pride upon the share they had in making the Army of the Tennessee the great historic figure that it is. I renew the request hereinbefore made, with an earnest hope that it will be granted. Very respectfully, C. K. DAVIS. |