The very severe illness of my dear wife keeps me at her bedside. God bless you, my dear General, and all comrades of the Army of the Ten nessee. Very respectfully, WM. ZICKERICK. DENVER, COL., October 5, 1891. CAPTAIN. MY DEAR SIR:—I had fondly anticipated being able to attend the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee this year, but circumstances beyond my control prevent me from doing so. I shall consider it a very great favor if the committee will forward to my address any additional notices, and the badge which they will furnish to the members. Wishing you a most enjoyable and successful meeting, I am, Yours truly, A. A. PERKINS. ST. LOUIS, Mo., October 5, 1891. CAPTAIN. JOHN T. MCAULEY, 132 LaSalle St., Chicago, Ill.: MY DEAR SIR:-I regret exceedingly that I shall not be able to do myself the pleasure of attending the twenty-third annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held in your city October 7th and 8th, 1891. While I cannot be with you in person, I shall be with you in spirit. Sincerely yours, CHAS. CHRISTENSEN, Late Major and A. D. C. MADISON, WIS., October 5, 1891. CAPTAIN JOHN MCAULEY, DEAR SIR:-Responding to your circular, I will say that I have long intended to be present at the meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held on the 7th and 8th inst., but as the time is at hand I find myself unable to attend. Regretting this very much, and wishing for the members present a most enjoyable anniversary, I am, Respectfully, WM. G. PITMAN, Late Captain Co. I, 23rd Wis. V. I. CAPTAIN MCAULEY, Chicago: SIDNEY, O., October 5, 1891. DEAR SIR:-I regret to say that Captain E. E. Nutt will not be with you at this reunion. He is absent in Colorado, and will not return before the middle of this month. Very respectfully, MRS. E. E. NUTT. FORT DODGE, IA., October 5, 1891. CAPTAIN JOHN T. MCAULEY: Chicago, Ill.: DEAR SIR:-I have received the invitation to be present at the twenty-third annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. I had delayed answering with the hope that I might be able to answer in person. But affairs, which I can neither avoid nor postpone, will prevent me from availing myself of the pleasure it would afford me, not only to witness the ceremonies in honor of General Grant, but to take old comrades by the hand after these long years during which I have not ceased to hold them in memory. With great respect, Very truly yours, C. C. CARPENTER. CHESTER, ILL., October 7, 1891. CORNELIUS CADLE, Secretary Society Army of the Tennessee, Chicago, Ills.: DEAR SIR: -Up to the last moment, I expected to have gone to and been present at the meeting of our Society to-day and to-morrow at Chicago, but the grand commander has ordered it otherwise. Fraternally yours, etc., R. H. MANN. WATERLOO, Iowa, October 6, 1891. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Secretary Society Army of Tennessee: MY DEAR GENERAL:-The precarious state of my health forbids that I should risk a journey to Chicago at this time. and in sincere and great regret I advise you thereof. It is a severe and grievous disappointment to me. I trust the members of our Society will be present in large numbers, and I beg to send greetings to them. With sincere personal regards to you, I remain, Faithfully your friend, B. R. SHERMAN, Captain 13th Iowa Infantry, and Ex-Governor of Iowa. ST. LOUIS, Mo., October 6, 1891. CAPTAIN JOHN MCAULEY, Chicago, Ills.: MY DEAR CAPTAIN: It is with the deepest regret that I have to forego the pleasure of meeting my old comrades of the Army of the Tennessee. Business keeps me at home. With kind greetings to yourself and all comrades, I remain, Very respectfully yours, CHAS. STIESMEIER, Late Captain Co. D, 3rd Mo. Vols. Infantry. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, October 5, 1891. Corresponding Secretary Society Army Tennessee: My Dear GENERAL —You will perhaps remember that, during the summer I suggested to you the preparation of an administrative history of the Army of the Tennessee, to be published by the Society in its journal of proceedings. My idea is that the Society has reached a period, far enough away from the war, to authorize it to broaden its work and influence, and seek to make its records and publications either history, or the material for history; and that in no line or direction could this be done with better result than in causing to be prepared and published an administrative history of the Army. I am somewhat familiar with the literature of the war. But I confess that I do not know where it would be possible to find such information. The data of course exists; but only I fancy in the rough and undigested form of original orders and documents on file in the War Department, and in such shape it is virtually inaccessible. It is true that in certain memoirs, or in general literature of the war, something of the history of the organization of the Army may be gathered, and rosters of the commands constituting the Army at particular periods be found. But such data does not constitute an administrative history of the Army; it simply indicates what such a history should be. Such a history should show, for instance, the organization, transformation, chronology and innumerable associations of the Army and would be unique, as it would give a complete picture of the constitution of an American volunteer army. It would be the structure for a general history of the Army, and a reference book for future historians of the war. I admit that the tendency might be to gather too much material, and that its publication might be thought to entail too great expense upon the Society. But something might, I think, be safely left to the judgment of those entrusted with the work of preparing the material, and the cost of publication might be made to rest lightly upon the Society by spreading it over several years, bringing out the work in serial form. As a part of this undertaking, I think the orders of the Army should be gathered together and published. Not, of course, at once, but serially, so that a beginning once made, the Society could look forward to the ultimate publication of the complete administrative history of the Army including its general orders. It is true that the carrying out of the idea would, to a certain extent, transform the Society into a historical society, but surely no one could object to that, as it would in no respect lessen the social features of our anuual meetings, while it would insure the preservation in enduring and accessible form, of valuable data either about to be lost for want of proper care, or now inaccessible because covered by the dust of a quarter of a century in the archives of the War Department. If you think well enough of this suggestion to bring it to the attention of the Society at the Chicago meeting, I beg that you will do so in such way as may seem best to you. But as it will be impossible for the Society to give the subject proper attention at the first meeting at which it shall be introduced, I venture to hope that a committee with yourself as chairman may be formed to whom the subject shall be referred, with instructions to report thereon at the meeting of the Society to be held in 1892. Believe me, my dear General, Sincerely yours, MAXWELL WOODHULL. Resolution of condolence transmitted to Companion Geo. W. Colby: The Society of the Army of the Tennessee now in session has instructed me by resolution to extend to you and your family our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy in your present disability, coupled with the expressed hope that returning health may soon enable you to again meet with comrades who so long marched side by side to the music of the Union." To which the following reply was received: SOCIETY ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE: GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary: KENWOOD, October 9, 1891. GENTLEMEN:-Your heartfelt expressions of sympathy have been received and we feel particularly grateful for your kind remembrance. Major Colby lies unconscious, dying. I know it is his wish, as it is ours, that our best thoughts, and warmest sentiments, may find a place in your hearts. Wishing a God speed, every possible and impossible success and happiness to the Army of the Tennessee, I remain, Very respectfully, ANGELIQUE COLBY AND FAMILY. RECORDING SECRETARY'S REPORT. CAPTAIN JAS. A. SEXTON, CINCINNATI, OHIO, October 6, 1891. Vice-President Society of the Army of the Tennessee: SIR: I have the honor to report that on July 3d, 1891, under your appointment, I took charge of the books and papers of Colonel L. M. Dayton, our late Recording Secretary. Since the date of his last report he had transferred to General M. F. Force, Treasurer, the following amounts, for which receipts are on file: I found that there had accumulated after his last illness the following And this amount I transferred to the Treasurer. Colonel Dayton had duly printed and distributed the proceedings of our last meeting. Since my assumption of the duties of Recording Secretary, I have received from members of the Society, funds as follows: And this amount has been duly transferred to the Treasurer. $141 00 Col. Dayton's books were complete to date when I took charge of them, and my transactions have been duly recorded to the date of this report, and the books and papers are ready for transfer to the Recording Secretary to be elected at this meeting. Col. Dayton left by will to this Society the sum of $5,000. The words of his will in regard to this bequest are as follows: "ITEM XI. I will and bequeath to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee the sum of five thousand dollars, the same to be invested and held in trust by the President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, the income thereof to be used by them in behalf of the Society in such manner as they may deem best." I am advised by his executor, Mr. Herron, that he will be prepared to pay over this amount to the officers of the Society between now and January 1st. |
