St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-14
THE OPENING ADDRESS.

Comrades and friends: Nineteen years after
the close of the war, at home assembled at this
majestic hotel on the beautiful Lake Minnetonka
for our seventeenth reunion, pursuant TO the
resolution made at Cleveland, Ohio last. We
have reason to be thankful that so many sur
vive in health and strength, thus to assemble in
fullllment OF the original promise made in 1865,
at Raleigh, n. c., to keep alive the cordial ties
OF friendship which bound us together during
the war; to fulfill the duties incident thereto
and to cherish the memories OF dead com
rades. Brilliant az is the history OF tn
deeds done in war by the army OF the Tennessee
we believe that our fellow citizen will concede to
us eqral honor for pure and unalloyed patriotism
and generous action during the intervening years
of peace So, my fellow soldiers and citizens, |
shall ever claim for you an exalted place in the
history of our country during the eventful period
through which we have passed. j am assured
that the local committee has made liberal provi-
sions for our entertainment during this reunion,
but before entering upon the business which Is
the immediate purpose of this meeting J. az
your president, deem it proper TO explain the
cause and reason for change in our programme,
as ordered at the last annual reunion at Cleve-
land. At that meeting our first and most beloved
commander, Gen. L. s. Grant, was unanimously
chosen as the orator Of this occasion. He ac-
cepted, and all arrangements had been made to
correspond with the known importance
of his presence in that capacity. We
all know that in December last he
had sustained a fail at his door step in New York,
which was followed by intense pain, and an ina
bility to walk without crutcbes: but we hoped
his strong and vigorous constitution would ere
this have repaired the damages. Again we all
know that he had been overtaken by one Of those
financial huricanes-a blizzard, very cyclone
so common in New York, the result Of a false
system of finance: but no soldier ever believed
that Gen. Grant, personally, was in the rerGotest
degree responsible ceDsurable; rather we
hoped all the more he would enable us by his
presence on this occasion TO manifest for him
the intense love and respect which he had won
on the battle field, and which will survive long
after Wall street shall cease to be as synony-
nous with gambling in gold and credit.
But on the 22nd day of July our
spending secretary, Gen. Hickenlooper, received
at Cincinnati the following letter. which he sent
me at Lake Minnetonka:
LosG BRANCH, y. j., July 10, 1884.
Dear General: In response to your circular
announcing the time and place of the next
meeting OF the society of the Army Of
the Tennessee, / am very sorry to
announce that ] viii not be able to
attend. It is always with regret when for any
reason cannot attend the reunion the society
Of the first army had the honor To command,
end the only one ever bad the immediate COM
mand Of The regret at this time is increased
from the fact that on the approaching occasion
had accepted the call 10 deliver the Grafton. But
am. as yet. great sufferer from the injury re-