WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, October 27, 1879. § GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, Chairman: MY DEAR SIR.--I regret very much my inability to be present at your thirteenth reunion, and assist in doing honor to General Grant, the first commander of the Army of the Tennessee. There was another commander of that Army, whose memory is very dear to me, and I have no doubt is also to all of us who served with him. I mean General J. B. McPherson, whose name and memory will doubtless receive many a tribute from those who had the honor of serving under him, or the pleasure of his genial acquaintance. I trust you will have a very pleasant time indeed. The cards of invitation are the most beautiful I have ever seen, and mine will be retained as a grateful souvenir of your kindness in honoring me with an invitation. Very respectfully and truly yours, WM. B. SOMERVILLE. My kind regards to General Whipple. WASHINGTON, D. C., November 4, 1879. GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, Chairman, etc.: DEAR SIR:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your polite invitation to be present at the thirteenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at the Palmer House, Chicago, on the 12th and 13th instant. I sincerely thank the Committee of Invitations for this mark of courtesy and consideration, and would attend with great pleasure, were it practicable. I therefore, with regret, have to respectfully decline. With sentiments of Chairman Committee of Invitations, Palmer House, Chicago, Ill.: Commodore Hopkins has the honor to acknowledge the invitation to the "thirteenth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee," and most profoundly regrets his inability to be present. 65 WEST FORTY-FIFTH STREET, October 28, 1879. Rear Admiral Trenchard thanks the committee of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee for their polite invitation, and regrets that he cannot be present on so interesting an occasion. U. S. NAVAL STATION, PORT ROYAL, S. C., October 28, 1879. S GENTLEMEN:- I regret my inability to accept your polite invitation to attend the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, on the occasion of the reception of General Grant, its first distinguished commander. Respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOMAS PATTISON, Commodore U. S. N., Commanding Naval Station. GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, Committee. NEW YORK, 560 FIFTH AVE., November 1, 1879. Committee of Arrangements Society of Army of Tennessee: GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your kind invitation to be present at the thirteenth reunion of your Society, on the 12th and 13th of November. I regret exceedingly that I shall not be able to be present, as I expect at that time to be in San Francisco, Cal. With high respect, gentlemen, Your obedient servant, CHAS. H. BALDWIN, Commodore U. S. Navy. COMMANDANT'S OFFICE Commodore E. Simpson, U. S. Navy, regrets that he will not be able to attend the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee on the 12th and 13th insts. Committee of Invitations, Society Army of the Tennessee, Palmer House, Chicago, Ill. BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR:—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the committee's invitation to the thirteenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, but absence from the city at that time will prevent my being present at the reunion. GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an invi tation to be present in Chicago at the thirteenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. I beg to express to the committee my appreciation of the honor conferred, and my great regret that official duties will prevent my attendance. I have the honor to be, Yours, most respectfully, D. MCN. FAIRFAX, GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, Chairman of Committee Society Army of the Tennessee, Chicago, Ill. GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Chairman, etc., Chicago: DEAR SIR:—I regret that I can not accept the invitation of your committee to attend the thirteenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Respectfully, your obedient servant, W. M. DUNN. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., October 29, 1879. Committee of Invitations, Society of Army of the Tennessee; GENTLEMEN:-I regret exceedingly that it will not be in my power to attend the meeting of your Society on the 12th and 13th of November, according to your invitation just received. I have the honor to remain, Very truly yours, R. B. MARCY, Inspector-General. COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, U. S. NAVY YARD, LEAGUE ISLAND, PA., October 27, 1879. GENTLEMEN:--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your invitation to be present on the occasion of the thirteenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of Tennessee, at Chicago, on the 12th and 13th of November next, but regret to say that I will be unable to attend. I am, gentlemea, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, PEIRCE CROSBY, Commodore U. S. Navy, TO GENERAL W. E. STRONg, Gen. A. C. DUCAT, MAJ. S. E. BARRETT AND OTHERS. EDGEHILL, PRINCETON, N. J., October 26, 1879. GENTLEMEN:--I am in receipt of your polite invitation to be present with the "Society of the Army of the Tennessee," in Chicago, on the 12th and 13th of next month, to receive and welcome General Grant on his return from foreign travel. It would give me much pleasure to be with you upon this occasion, but my regrets must go instead. History has made us all acquainted with our distinguished countryman whom you will honor on this occasion, and it is very gratifying to know from his late travels that he is appreciated abroad as well as at home. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, GEO. F. EMMONS, Rear Admiral U. S. Navy. TO GENERAL WM. E. STRONG AND OTHERS, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, MESSRS-I have had the honor to receive, this morning, your invitation to be present at the thirteenth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held in Chicago on the 12th and 13th proximo. It would give me much pleasure to meet the members of the Army of the Tennessee and its distinguished first commander, General U. S. Grant, on the occasion referred to, but my engagements are such that the time which would be required will not be at my disposal. Highly appreciating the compliment of the invitation, I am, GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, Chairman; GENERAL A. C. DUCAT, AND OTHERS, Committee, Chicago, Ill.: GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your cordial invitation for the 12th and 13th of November next, to be present on the occasion of the welcome and reception of its illustrious first commander by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. I very much regret that circumstances will not permit me to avail of this privilege, in which I am most gratefully sensible of being highly honored. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, GEO. M. RANSOM, Commodore U. S. Navy. WASHINGTON, D. C., October 27, 1879. GENTLEMEN:--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your very complimentary remembrance, and would take great pleasure in assisting you to welcome your distinguished guest and companion-in-arms, General U. S Grant. Owing, however, to urgent business in this vicinity, about the middle of November, it grieves me to say I will not be able to meet the heroic members of your noble army. Wishing you a pleasant reunion, I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, EARL ENGLISH, Comm, and Chief of Bureau, GENERAL WM. E. STRONG AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. NAVAL OBSERVATORY, WASHINGTON, D. C., October 30, 1879. S GENTLEMEN:-- While regretting extremely that official duties will not permit me to accept the kind invitation of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, to welcome and receive its distinguished guest, General U. S. Grant. I beg leave to express my earnest thanks to the Society for the honor it has done me. Be sure that my best wishes will attend the Society, not only on this distinguished occasion, but on every other one. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN RODGErs, Rear Admiral U. S. Navy. TO GENERAL WM. E. STRONG. STATE OF NEW JERSEY, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, TRENTON, October 31, 1879. GENERAL WM. E. STRONG, Chairman: DEAR SIR:--Governor McClellan desires me to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind invitation to attend the thirteenth annual reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, to be held in the city of Chicago on the 12th and 13th of November next, and to say in reply that he regrets his inability to accept, owing to recent attack of illness, which has caused his absence from the Capitol, and that matters of an official character will require his attention at the time as indicated. Very truly yours, JOHN A. HALL, |