GENERAL M. F. FORCE, CHICAGO, April 4, 1881. Chairman Committee of Invitations Society Army of the Tennessee: Dear GeneraL:-I have waited until the last moment before replying to your invitation to be present at the reunion of our Society on the 6th and 7th instant, hoping that I might be able to so arrange my own matters as to enable me to attend, I am reluctantly compelled to announce my inability to be present. May you have a successful and pleasant meeting, and each and every one enjoy the occasion as I know I would were I present. I am, very truly your friend and comrade, GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, J. MCARTHUR. CAMDEN, CAL., April 2, 1881. Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, O.: MY DEAR GENERAL:-It is with the deepest regret that I am compelled to forego the pleasure of meeting with my comrades of the Army of the Tennessee, on the 6th and 7th instant. It is doubly annoying, as I had promised myself this pleasure long since, but the distance being so great, it will consume more time than I can possibly spare from my business at this particular time. If you will inform me what my dues are, I will remit same by mail. I know you will have a glorious time, and hope nothing may occur to mar your pleasure. Remember me to my old army friends, and believe me, Ever truly your friend, SAMUEL R. ADAMS. CARBONDALE, ILL., April 5, 1881. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Cincinnati: MY DEAR GENERAL:-I regret very much that my business is such that it is impossible for me to meet with my comrades of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee at the fourteenth reunion. Trusting all who are so fortunate as to be present will enjoy meeting old friends, I am, Yours truly, SAM. T. BRUSH, Adjutant 18th Ills. Inf. JACKSONVILLE, FLA., April 5, 1881. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Society of the Army of the Tennessee: Heartfelt greetings to comrades. All greatly disappointed not meeting you. W. T. BARNUM. To the Army of the Tennessee: ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 6, 1881. Our hearts are with the Sherman Bummers, but having captured about thirteeen thousand prisoners we are obliged to remain on guard. JOHN T. CAVENDER. GENERAL M. F. FORCE, Chairman, etc., Cincinnati, O.: ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 23, 1881. Please remember me to DEAR SIR: I regret very much that I will not be able to attend the annual reunion of the Society on the 6th and 7th of April. all my old comrades of the Army of the Tennessee. Yours truly, D. C. COLEMAN, Late Colonel 8th Mo. Inf. UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE, ROSEBUD AGENCY, DAKOTA, March 18, 1881. MY DEAR GENERAL:-I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of invitation to the "fourteenth annual reunion" of our Society, and to thank you for the kind remembrance. It is a common thing, I know, to say, "circumstances over which we have no control, etc." and in many cases such excuses go for nothing. Unfortunately I am just so situated, nevertheless, meaningly. The "fortunes of war" and the "smiles of power," have exiled me from the many social and pleasurable enjoyments we love so well. I am sorry I cannot be with you to share in the jollities and mirth that have made our reunions the envy of all societies, is a pleasure debarred me this time. I am too far away; the boundaries of civilization are too remote for me to reach in time to enjoy the blessed privilege of grasping the loyal hands of the true and gallant men who made so many sacrifices in order that our country might live and these reunions be perpetuated. In heart and soul I am with you, and from the "amen corner" if you hear or think you hear “a shout for freedom,” charge it to me. The "words of the government," "eight thousand strong" decorated in "union colors" wish you and the society we all love so well, a true Indian blessing and a deliciously joyous voyage when life's labor is ended to the "happy hunting grounds." Make my warmest regards to our brave and gallant chief and the comrades assembled, and believe me, Yours very sincerely, JOHN COOK, Late Brig-Gen. and Brevet Maj.-Gen. U. S. Vol., Ills. TO GENERAL M. F. FORCE, Chairman Committee of Receptions, Fourteenth Annual Reunion Army of the Tennessee. HOT SPRINGS, ARK., March 20, 1881. DEAR GENERAL:-Yours of the 17th was received yesterday. Much to my regret I find I shall not be able to attend the reunion of our Society on the 6th and 7th of next month. With kindly greetings to yourself, our President, that superb, grand soldier, (fit to command the Army of the Tennessee or any other army) and all other members of the Society, I am, Very respectfully and truly yours, Corresponding Secretary Society Army Tennessee, Cincinnati, O.; DEAR COMRADE:-I am in receipt of your circular of February 1st, advising me of the meeting of our Society at Cincinnati on the 6th of April next. Please accept my thanks for the invitation, etc. While I would very much like to be present at this gathering of comrades, I am yet constrained to decline being present, mainly because of pressing business engagements, yet I shall be there in thought and spirit, and I know those who will there assemble will have a joyous time, which I hope will tend to cement yet further those ties which usually bind those together who have borne the brunt of battle and siege in the time of our country's peril. With a kindly greeting to yourself and all my comrades, I remain, Yours truly, ROBERT C. CROWELL, Late Maj. 26th Mo. Vol. Inf. NEW YORK, April 4, 1881. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, DEAR GENERAL:-I have deferred writing till the last moment, with the hope and expectation of being present at the meeting of the Society. Owing to pressing business matters, which calls me into another section of the country, I find I must forego the pleasure of meeting with you this year. I regret this exceedingly, as I should like above all things to participate in the glorious time I know you will have, and which I wish you from my heart. With kindest regards to all my old comrades, I remain, DEAR SIR: I have your circular letter of February 28, inviting me to attend the forthcoming annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Ten nessee, at Cincinnati, on the 6th and 7th days of April. I regret that circumstances will prevent me from participating in the pleasures and festivities of the occasion. Whilst I cannot be with you in person, in spirit and sympathy I shall participate in every greeting and hand shake and ceremony of the joyous two days reunion. I enclose you two dollars to cover my dues to the Society. With great respect, Very truly yours, C. C. CARPENTER. VIRGINIA CITY, MONTANA, March 29, 1881. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Corresponding Secretary Army of the Tennessee: DEAR GENERAL:-With much regret I am compelled to be absent from our fourteenth annual reunion, in the grand old loyal, social city of Cincinnati. Closing up my business as postmaster-as I am "de functus officio," -my wife succeeding me, compels my presence here for some time. During the summer I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you and renew army recollections and times. With the kindest and warmest greetings to the comrades assembled and personally to yourself, and trusting, as I know you will have, a grand old "camp-fire," I am, fraternally, Your friend and comrade, F. C. DEIMLING, Late Colonel 10th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry Army of the Tennessee. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER: DENISON, Iowa, April 2, 1881. DEAR SIR:-I had intended to be present at the meeting of the Society this year, but find it will be impossible, as I am confined to the house most of the time with a fever sore, caused by a severe attack of typho-malarial fever just after the fight of Pea Ridge, Missouri, in March, 1862. Please change my address from Delart to Denison, Crawford county, Iowa. Sincerely wishing that you may all enjoy a happy reunion, I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, B. F. DARLING, Late Captain Co. A.. 9th Regt. lowa Vet. Vol. Inf. GENERAL A. HICKENLOOPER, Secretary, Cincinnati, Ohio: GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., April 4, 1881. DEAR SIR:-I expected to have the pleasure of meeting with you, but find that I cannot do so, and can only send you my best wishes for an enjoyable reunion. Please send me memoranda of amount of my dues and I will send check. Very truly yours, J. C. DARRAGH, GENERAL M. F. FORCE, Cincinnati, Ohio: THE FARGO DAILY ARGUS. Dear GENERAL:-The "assembly" for the fourteenth annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee has reached me way up in this bonanza country, and much to my regret, I am compelled to allow my name to be recorded among the absent. Spring, gentle spring, is here and it requires a considerable amount of nerve to leave this balmy northern air, and risk one's self in the snow banks and chilly atmosphere incident to the States. Were I to start, there is no certainty that after leaving the "belt,” I would not be snowed in, and be unable to reach you within the time that I could spare from my business. Present my sincerest regrets to the comrades of the Army of the Tennessee that I am prevented from meeting with you. We of the Red river valley of the North are on the picket line, and I know I speak the sentiments of my comrades in this beautiful climate in wishing you a happy meeting, fraught to the brim with ple .sant memories of former campaigns. Very respectfully, A. W. EDWARDS. LACON, ILL., March 25, 1881. GENERAL M. F. FORCE AND OTHERS, Committee on Invitations Society Army of the Tennessee: GENTLEMEN:-Thanking you for your invitation to meet the Society at Cincinnati, at its fourteenth annual reunion, I regret to say that it will not be possible for me to attend. Wishing yourself and all the other members of the Society a happy reunion, I am, Very respectfully yours, etc., G. L. FORT, Late Lieutenant-Colonel Army of the Tennessee. MARIETTA, O, April 7, 1881. GENERAL M. F. FORCE, Chairman Executive Committee Society Army of the Tennessee: DEAR GENERAL:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invitation to attend the fourteenth annual reunion of our Society. I regret exceedingly that ill health will deprive me of this great pleasure. You and Sherman and Hickenlooper and Dayton very well know how I should enjoy the greetings, the songs, and every other feature indeed of the meeting. As I read last evening the account of your gathering and the proceedings, the old Tennessee blood in me pulsated through every vein, and stirred me as only the recollection of such events could. I know of nothing that could afford me so great a pleasure as to have been with you yesterday and to be with you to-night at the banquet, to sing the old songs, to recount the old stories, and to drink to the old flag, to the Army and Navy, and the girls, |