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DR. WOODWORTH:

NEW YORK CITY, 788 BROADWAY,
Tuesday, October 9, 1876.

MY DEAR SIR:-I feel deeply grateful for your invitation to attend the tenth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee. It is my purpose to be present at the unveiling of the statue of the patriot, soldier, and hero, General McPherson; but I am so situated, with regard to engagements, that I can not now control, that an answer positive is impossible. I congratulate the heroic Army of the Tennessee, that one of its most distinguished martyrs to the cause of the Union will have an appropriate monument at the Nation's Capital. From the roll of this Army must be taken, for all time, the names most conspicuous for rank and service in the great struggle for our national existence.

Most respectfully,

T. B. THORPE.

GEORGETOWN, S. C., October 8, 1876.

To the Com. of Inv. Society Army Tennessee, Washington, D. C.:

GENTLEMEN:-I regret exceedingly my inability to accept your kind invitation to participate in the tenth annual reunion of the Society, and in the ceremonies of unveiling the statue of General McPherson.

It would give me great pleasure to meet with you, and particularly to assist in showing honor to the memory of the brave soldier and spotless gentleman, for whom, while living, I entertained the highest respect and regard; but my duties here render it out of my power to leave home.

With sincere thanks for your invitation, and cordial good wishes for a successful and pleasurable meeting, I remain, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

BENJAMIN ALLSTON.

BLACKSBURG, VA., October 9, 1876.

GENERAL THOS. M. VINCENT, U. S. A.,

Washington, D. C.:

DEAR VINCENT:-It will be impracticable for me to be present at the unveiling of the statue of our esteemed friend, McPherson.

Between him and myself there always existed the warmest personal ties, and, although the civil war threw us naturally on opposite sides, it never for a moment suspended our personal relations and mutual friendship.

Very truly yours,

W. R. BOGGS.

No. 3 WEST TWENTY-FIRST STREET,
NEW YORK, October 14, 1876.

GENTLEMEN:-I regret very much that I can not accept your kind invitation to be present on the 18th and 19th instant, at the ceremony of unveiling the equestrian statue of General McPherson. I am engaged to address a

public meeting here on the first named of those days. It would, otherwise have afforded me great pleasure to unite in the proposed commemoration of that gallant and lamented officer.

Yours very truly,

JOHN A. DIX.

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Governor Hayes presents his compliments to the officers and members of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and regrets that imperative duties will prevent his acceptance of their invitation to attend the reunion on the 18th and 19th instant.

NEW YORK, October 4, 1876.

MY DEAR SIR:-I regret very much to be unable to attend the annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, agreeably to your kind invitation. My time is so much taken up with matters of interest in the approaching election, that I fear to accept of an engagement so long ahead as the 18th; should, however, events permit it, it shall be my greatest pleasure to assist in rendering honor to the memory of General McPherson and the Boys in Blue.

Believe me sincerely grateful for the kind compliment.

Very truly yours,

E. D. MORGAN.

JOHN M. WOODWORTH, M. D.,

Washington, D. C.

STATE OF IOWA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
DES MOINES, October 9, 1876.

DR. WOODWORTH,

Washington, D. C.:

DEAR SIR:—I have just received the invitation of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee to participate in its annual reunion on the 18th and 19th instant, and very much regret that other engagements will not permit me to be present on that occasion.

Very respectfully,

JOHN M. WOODWORTH, M. D.:

S. J. KIRKWOOD. PORTLAND, October 5, 1876.

MY DEAR SIR:-I desire to make my grateful acknowledgements for the honor done me by your committee, in the invitation which I have received from them to participate in the tenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held in the city of Washington, on the 18th and 19th instant.

If the occasion needed, as it does not, any special inducement to be present, it would be afforded by the fact that the equestrian statue of General McPherson,

one of the noblest and bravest of the many noble and brave men, who offered up their lives for the preservation of their country, is to be then and there unveiled with appropriate ceremonies.

I regret, more than I can well express, that my engagements for that week are such as will necessarily deprive me of the very great pleasure, which those who have been honored by your invitation, and whose circumstances are kinder than mine, will enjoy at this interesting reunion.

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TERRITORY OF COLORADO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
DENVER, October 11, 1876.

GENTLEMEN:-Please accept my thanks for your invitation to be present at the tenth annual meeting of the Army of the Tennessee, and to participate in the ceremonies of unveiling the statue of General McPherson.

I regret exceedingly, that by reason of an unwonted pressure of official duties, I am compelled to decline, and that I cannot enjoy a reunion with my old companions-in-arms.

Hoping your meeting may be abundantly joyous, and long to be remembered.

I remain, very respectfully yours,

JOHN L. ROUTT,

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
HARRISBURGH, October 9, 1876.

GENTLEMEN:-I regret that I will not be able to accept your kind invitation to participate in the tenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and witness the unveiling of the equestrian statue of General McPherson.

I should be delighted to accept your hospitality, to meet old comrades, and to testify to my appreciation of the manly and soldierly qualities of the dead hero; but my official and other engagements, already entered into, constrain me to be absent.

You will, therefore, do me the honor to convey to the Society my thanks for its courtesy, and my regrets that I cannot avail myself of it. With respects to you personally,

I remain, yours very truly,

J. F. HARTRANFT.

EVANSVILLE, ILLINOIS, October 15. 1876.

DEAR DR:—I am in receipt of the invitation to attend the tenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and right well would I like to do so, but it is not prudent. I have been sick-and not well yetsuffering with a low malarial fever and do not seem able to throw it off. I have finally quit, and laid up for repairs, and hope, with care and rest, to be myself again in a few weeks.

Yours truly,

JOHN L. BEVERIDGE.

NEW YORK, October 3, 1876.

DEAR SIRS:-I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note, inviting me to be present at the tenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and take part in the unveiling of the statue of General McPherson on the 19th instant.

In reply, permit me to tender you my thanks for your kind invitation; and it is with great regret that my return to California before the date mentioned will deprive me of the pleasure of being with you on that occasion. Nothing would afford me greater pleasure than to meet with the gallant band of patriots, who took such an active and conspicuous part in the struggle for the preservation of the Union. I should also esteem it a great privilege to take part in the ceremonies of inaugurating the statue of the noble, brave and gallant McPherson, in whose military career California took a special interest, and for whose death she sincerely mourned.

Again thanking you for your kind invitation, I remain, dear sirs,
Your obedient servant,

FREDERICK F. Low.

THE RIDGE DOVER PLAINS, N. Y.)
October 7, 1876.

GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to participate with you in the pleasure of the occasion of the tenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, on the 18th and 19th instant of this month. Most gladly and gratefully would I accept the invitation, did not imperative engagements, at that time, deny me the privilege. It would be a great gratification for me to meet with the gallant soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee, an army which never lost a battle.

To be present at the unveiling of the statue of the superb General McPherson, at that time, would be a rare privilege. In April and May, 1866, I traversed the lines of his military career during the late civil war, first under General Grant at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, afterward at Corinth and in Central Mississippi. I followed the line of his marches and conquests between Port Gibson and Jackson-at Raymond and Champion Hills; and, in 1864, under Sherman, from Vicksburg to Meridian. I also followed his course, under the same skillful leader, from Chattanooga to Atlanta, visiting the theatres of striving scenes at Resaca, Alatoona, Dallas, Kulp's House, Kenesaw Mountain and its vicinity, Marietta and Peach Tree Creek. Not far from Atlanta, I stood upon the spot, in the edge of a wood, near the highway, where McPherson fell, pierced by a bullet from a carbine in the hands of Major McPherson, of the Fifth Cavalry Regiment, of Hood's Army, who took deliberate aim and shot the General, as he lay flat upon his horse, in his flight from the sudden peril by which he was surrounded. This statement I had from the lips of Major Chas. W. Gibson, of Forrest's Cavalry, whom I met on a Mississippi steamboat.

I beg you to accept my thanks for your kind invitation, and the assurance of my profound regret because circumstances will not permit me to accept it. With sentiments of high esteem, I am, gentlemen,

Your friend and fellow citizen,

BENSON J. LOSSING.

PHILADELPHIA, October 3, 1876.

MY DEAR DOCTOR:—Thanks for the invitation to participate in the tenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, on the 18th and 19th of October, in the city of Washington, on which occasion the equestrian statue of the illustrious General McPherson will be unveiled, and believe me, my dear friend, that nothing but pressing engagements will keep me away. Two reasons tempt me to be present at this highly interesting occasion: First, my profound love and honor for the great soldier it is to commemorate; and second, my admiration and undiminished attachment to the city of Washington, which I desire to see increasing in prosperity and beauty; and nothing can add more to the latter than the statues of the heroes who died to save the country from rebellion and treason.

DR. WOODWOorth,

Washington, D. C.

Yours truly,

J. W. FORNEY.

ROSLYN, LONG ISLAND, N. Y.,
October 14, 1876.

GENTLEMEN:—I have just received your invitation, on behalf of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be present at the unveiling of the equestrian statue of General McPherson. For various reasons, among which are my engagements for the 18th and 19th of this month, I cannot attend. I shall, however, although at a distance, take part in spirit with those who assemble on that occasion to express their high estimation of the General's military services. I am, gentlemen, yours truly,

W. C. BRYANT.

CAMBRIDGE, October 5, 1876.

DEAR SIR:—I regret to say that my engagements here prevent me from accepting the polite invitation of your committee, to attend the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and witness the unveiling of the statue of General McPherson.

Please accept my thanks for your courtesy, and believe me,

Yours truly,

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

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