KEENE, N. H., September 3, 1889. GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to the twenty-second reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, on the 25th and 26th inst. It would give me great pleasure to accept, and I should do so if it were possible, but distance and other engagements forbid. With sincere regrets, and thanks for your kind remembrance, I am, Very truly yours, S. G. GRIFFIN. To COLONEL L. MARKBREIT, GENERAL E. F. NOYES, COLONEL L. M. L. MARKBREIT, ESQ., HEADQUARTers DepartMENT OF TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, September 10, 1889. Chairman Committee on Invitations, Reunion of the Society of the DEAR SIR:-It would be to me a great treat to join you in Cincinnati on the 25th inst., but distance, nearly three days travel, forbids it. Myself a member of the Army of the Tennessee at Corinth, Iuka, and on the march to Holly Springs; I well remember the reunion we had at Stevenson just before the battle of Missionary Ridge, and I wish you just such good luck with knife, fork and goblet, as you had with bullet, shell and bayonet, when the armies of the Tennessee and Cumberland held their reunion on Missionary Ridge. Very respectfully, D. S. STANLEY, Brigadier-General U. S. Army. TO COLONEL L. MARKBREIT, Chairman, et als., Committee on Invitations: I regret very much that it will be impossible for me to accept your kind invitation to join in the twenty-second reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held at Cincinnati, on September 25th and 26th prox. I would like to share in the "Forty Rounds" with you that you have in store for the companions who will be the recipients of your hospitality on that occasion. Trusting that you will not fail to include the Army of the Potomac in your salute, and wishing you a happy gathering, I remain, Yours very truly, CHARLES B. MERRILL U. S. SENATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, WASHINGTON, August 30, 1889. DEAR COLONEL:-Please accept my thanks for your kind invitation to attend the twenty-second reunion of the Army of the Tennessee. I do not think it will be possible for me to be with you on that occasion, but, as an old Army of the Cumberland man, you have my best wishes for a happy time. Yours very truly, ANSON G. McCook, COLONEL L. MARKBREIT, Chairman, etc. WINTERSET, Iowa, September 5, 1889. COLONEL L. MARKBREIT, Chairman, Cincinnati: DEAR SIR:-With pleasure I acknowledge the receipt of your invitation to me to the twenty-second reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee at your city, September 25th and 26th. I thank you for this courtesy and the honor to me it carries with it. I sincerely regret that I shall be unable to be with you. Though of the Army of the Cumberland, I was so closely associated with the Army of the Tennessee from the battle of Mission Ridge until the close of the war, that I feel toward those of your Society the kinship of truest comradeship. Our army gave you Sherman, you sent us Rosecrans; McPherson was yours, Thomas was ours. From your ranks Grant developed into the Nation's hero. From our ranks Sheridan developed into the most brilliant star in the constellation and became the Nation's idol. Then again Cincinnati loyalty and generosity during the war alone would induce me to come, could I get away. Very respectfully, ELI WILKIN. SANTA CRUZ, CAL., September 4, 1889. MY DEAR MARKBREIT:-I thank you very much for your invitation to the twenty-second reunion of the Army of the Tennessee. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to be with my Cincinnati friends on that festive occasion, and I regret exceedingly my inability to be present. Very sincerely, JOHN J. O'CONNELL, Captain 1st U. S. Infantry. SANDUSKY, O., September 7, 1889. L. MARKBREIT, GENTLEMEN:-Please accept my grateful thanks for your kind invitation to be present and take part in the meeting of the Army of the Tennessee, on the 25th and 26th of this month. It is with extreme regret that I am obliged to inform you that the condition of my health absolutely forbids my acceptance. I can hardly express my sorrow that I am thus denied the deep satisfaction of meeting so many of my old comrades and of taking part in the meeting of an army society to which I am attached by such strong feelings of affection and gratitude. I shall be with you in spirit if I can not be in person, and shall only ask that you cherish the same affection for me that fills my heart for you. I sincerely hope that your meeting may be as satisfactory and enjoyable as it deserves to be, and as a most ardent member of the Society could wish. I am sincerely your friend and comrade, JOHN POPE. NEW YORK, September 4, 1889. L. MARKBREIT, ESQ., Chairman, Cincinnati, O.: MY DEAR SIR:-I beg to thank you for your very kind invitation to be present at the next annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Absence from New York has prevented an earlier acknowledgment, and I regret that accumulated duties will prevent my being present. Wishing you all joy in the renewal of associations which forever grow in interest and value, I remain, Yours very truly, WAGER SWAYNE. CHICAGO, September 1, 1889. COLONEL L. MARKBREIT, Chairman of Committee on Invitations: DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to be present at the twenty-second reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and in reply to state that D. V. I expect to attend. Very respectfully, JNO. E. SMITH, UNIONVILLE, N. Y., September 2, 1889. L. MARKBREIT, ESQ., Chairman, etc., etc. DEAR SIR:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to attend the twenty-second reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Cincinnati, on the 25th and 26th inst. It would give me great pleasure to be able to join you on the occasion, but the state of my health will prevent me. With many thanks for the kindness that prompted the in vitation, I have the honor to be, With great respect, T. W. SWEENY, Brigadier-General U. S. Army. HON. A. HICKENLOOPER, Cincinnati, Ohio: EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, COLUMBUS, O., August 2, 1889. MY DEAR GENERAL:-I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 1st inst. It will give me pleasure to be with you at Music Hall on the evening of September 25th, but I fear I cannot be with you at the banquet, the evening of the 26th. My other engagements are very numerous, as you will understand, but I will do the best I can to be with you both evenings. Many thanks for the kind invitation with which you have honored me. Very truly yours, etc., J. B. FORAKER. POST OFFICE, HON. A. HICKENLOOPER, OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER, Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, Ohio: SIR:-Your kind invitation to the twenty-second annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, September next, received. I regret that other engagements will prevent me from joining you and our comrades in participating in the festivities which will take place on that occasion. I beg to be kindly remembered to the members present, and remain as ever, DEAR SIR AND COMRADE:-I acknowledge with much pleasure the receipt of your notice of the meeting of the members of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 25th and 26th. It will give me pleasure to meet and greet my old comrades once more at this meeting, if it is possible for me to arrange my duties accordingly. Faithfully yours, J. M. RUSK. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, } GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Cin cinnati, Ohio: COMRADE:-I thank you very much for your kind invitation to attend the twenty-second annual reunion of our Society at Cincinnati on September 25th and 26th next. I still cherish with great love the memories and ties of our association, and will be more than ordinarily pleased to join in this last roundabout convention of our members. I will be present, if possible, and I may be West at the time designated; but, whether present or absent, I shall join you all in the "bitter-sweet memories" of the day. Sincerely yours, JOHN W. NOble. CHICAGO, August 13, 1889. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, Ohio: MY DEAR GENERAL HICKENLOOPER:—I am in receipt of the circular of 29th ult., with reference to the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Cincinnati, on the 25th and 26th of September, and it is my intention to be present if I can. I am sure that I must be indebted to the Society for dues, because it seems to me a long while since I paid anything in that direction. Will you do me the favor to have the proper officer send me a memorandum of my obligations, and I promise you that I will remit to him promptly. It is a matter that men who are crowded with business are apt to overlook unless they get a bill, and then it goes on to the file to be paid, and I do not seem to have had any bill for a long time. I hope that time has treated you kindly, my dear General. It seems long since our meetings early in the war, at Corinth, where I had the pleasure of first knowing you, and at the same time admiring you. We lost official sight of each other after the Corinth battle, when I went to the Army of the Cumberland with General Rosecrans, but I never forgot you, nor the old comrades whom I knew during those stirring days in and about Corinth. Please remember me kindly to Colonel Dayton, Frank Jones, et al. Thanks. I fear, however, it will be MY DEAR GENERAL:-Your circular letter advising as to the meeting of our Society, at Cincinnati, is duly at hand. impossible for me to be present this year. meeting is at Council Bluffs, on the 18th and 19th, and I cannot attend both anniversaries. Pray excuse me to our President and the Society, and kindly express my sincere regrets that I cannot come. |
