Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-26
BILL ARP.
His Letter to the Appeal About the
Ree-UniOn wv the Army Nv
the Tennessee"
What the Great Generals Spoke
About and What They Didn't
Say Anything About.

We are indebted to our old friend
I" Bill Arp" for the following eHcOUr-
aging and characteristic report of the
reunion of the Army of the Tennes-
see. 1t will be read by the friends of
the APPEAL with the d" laughter fol-
lowing arter" that always waits upon
Hon. c. w. Smiths racy and original
productions:
LEwIsvILLE Kaintucky Nov 18th 1869
Mister Editur 40 the Repeal
Deer Sur
l arruv heer awl the
way frum GeOrgy just in time to see
the CRATE COnvenshun, the CRATE Rec
Unnion Nv the Army Nv Tennessee"
and " the Cavalry Nv the West" they
was several Nv EN-; sum fellerS with
maggnyfyin specks, thunk they vas
about 2 hundred and 80 in aWl, frum
different parts NV the cuntry; i went
to the Wiseacre Hall, to see 'em min
gle together, and heer Ginrul Shur-
man speke a peace, Ginrul Pope also
spOked, but didn't reach as fur as he
did when the " Boys in Gray" was a
helpin him up behind; Ginrul Wilson
spOuted for the Cavalry, and several
other small fry spoked NV battles their
friends wus in; but they awI forgot to
say anything about Bully Run and
several other runs whar they bore a
extinguished part; Ginrul Grant didn't
cum, but sent his blessin by Ginrul
Sherman, he's the Teller what made
the march to the sea, as there wasn't
anything else in partiklar TO march
agin jist then, while they wur a speek-
in, i sed to a Teller who wur a takin
notes, rather a lank loOkin cuss, ses i,
is this the full strength NV the kumpny
ses he nc, things will be much stronger
when the cullud brethrin Gums in,
and eff you want to see EN- out in full
force, jist 90 to the bankwet at the
Gait House, akkordinly i went to the
Gait House at 9 O'Clock, and when
they awl kums in, i seed the same
hungry lookin Teller with his note
book; i ses to him ole Teller, i see you
ar on hand, ses he, yes i am always
on hand at SIGH ockashuns as this, and
he amejuntly put up his notes, and
went into things on the table tolura-
bic prOmiskusly; arter a while, when
he stopped to take breth, ses i, ole fel-
Ter, whar ar you frum, ses he i am the
currier Nv of the Journal, ses i to my
self, he must be a strong feller, a neer
relashun NV Grant, then ses /, old
feller, did it ever okkur to
you that things is lookin a little de-
lappadated about this ere cOnsern, yes
says he, they was orfully thinned out
while they was a travellin down
some years ago, in the times
what tried mems soles, they was onst
about 100 thousand strong, but now
they can't muster over . hundred and
80 or so; poOr.fellows, i felt sorry fur
'em, and the thought was so mellon
kOlly we left as soon as the wine gin
out, and Currier, with teers in them
eyes Nv his'n told me Butler was thar
in disgise, and advised me to go i'm
mejuntly to my Hotel, and keep my
hand on my POcketBoOk, but as / lost
mine endurin Wilson's rade on Selmy,
wasn't much skeered.
Well / hev arruv at my Hotel, and
write you this ere hurried e Pistol.
and no more at present from your'n
BILL ARP
what used to live in the cuntry neer
Rome Georgy.