Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-21
rAs cUasssLAs0 sEUNos
letters 9sesissd From Promfnsnt Vet
sraas-The Decorations

lly AL bs s sell sisa.re1 sltl tie sltiook .
t4r q successful alsetlg Every l1ali Dffl<s F.
1lm letters ~ respoilse ~ lDfItatlonss tie .
failo~.ag being among uio-e neeei'ea +
sAoa uz sosHasoa ~ AassAs.
STAFE oF kAssAs.
EzaegElgz DEFtAfaEsT.
loEEsA. August N. l-,o-
Cob =. b Eor. Gfaea hapi5s Hlchigea-
Mr DEaA sM. / asse the honor ~ aekno-.-
edge lls rseelpl ~ ggaF letter ~ August IT,
inviting ne - bs present a. a. loDorsrs
zsla-t % paFfieIpats ia the exercises ~ tne
reunion sf t4e >ocletF 20 lne Army II the
Cuulaeria1d ~ be- hsid zl Grand Rapids
-epgember D. and lI. IL 1oaid anord ns
great pleasure 10 be- able ~ accept y0ar klDd
iu sltstion. uot only because q @o1id Dc
xrauhcalion % yisit gour cIty and accept the
bospItalliies goa ~ generously tender nae.
lug because I would be delighted ~ Meet
once more the old aud dear comrades % the
army ~ the Cumb@ fiand. ~Ith whom sas
associated for u8Hny gears. But unfor-
tlnateig had accepted some day- ago an
invitation - address soldiers 70 UNION -
sedan. Ia thIs state, 0n September II.
Hence Il ziu not 30 possible for me 81 be
with g0a at the RE- union II the Army ~ The
Cumberland Please accept the ASSURANCES
of ny sincere regrets shat I am unable %
accept your kind Invitation.
Yours very truly,
J0ss A. MAsIIs, Governor.
Gss GAHgs q. SOAK C,Er-rs.
HusrssllLE. Alabama. Aug. ~, ls,3.-
DzAA SIA.- Your cofdIai invitation % meet
0iih the old soldiers Of She Army OF the
Cumberland Ia yoar city. at their seven
teenth gunasl reanion has been received.
etc / purpose attending n not prevented
by unexpected circumstance am very
JlAEs Il. BoSE.
DR -. ". HIIss Will 80 PgssE>f.
"a asHIs0ros. Aug l- l,>5.-P. B. foc
Qad ofhsrs ~ fhs tffes--tftSfs: i
have thi. dag received your invitation GA be
halt 0f the citizens of Grand kapids, Mich
to b. present st the meeting Of the Army OF
the Cum berland. Ia your clty. on the 10Th
and t7th 0f September prox. / thank you
most cordially f0r yOur thoughtful consider
alton ia extending 20 me an invitation 10
participate no thi- Interesting reunion. and
Ia this notify you Of my intention 20 be
present. Again thanking you for this kind
d. - BLISS.
Cof- KEILY oF WASHINGTON.
WAsHiNGroS. Aug n, 1856. .-GENTLENEs.
1 beg to acknowledge the receipt OF your in
( vitatOu - visit Grand Rapids on the 10Th
I and lIth pr0x. | hardlv promise myself the
/ pleasure bat shall not give up the hope until
/ ton late % reach there.
/ have special desire 10 20, on account OF
I a Gentleman who ~ Cincinnati some years
| ago invited u up thereto your city. His
words left an iudelible mark ia my memory.
\ He Was a frank faced old gentleman who had
/ belonged TO an Engineer Regiment from
I youT vicinity. and hi- PLAIN but earliest re-
quest that the society 20 there went way
\ down where We keep sweethearts' last words
\ and mOthers' last blessings. | am sure II Is
/ 10 him that those who are able 10 accept
/ your welcome will owe that pleasure. No
7 one forgot II at Rochester last year.
/ A. a boy ! met many Of your clt;zeDs-
I that - Michigan men-at Madison, Ga, IN
I l-e2. bat they would not remember me now,
I A. was but stripping. one of hundred
I East Tennessee tulOnlsts imprisoned there
/ almost iutrruiers among the handsome
/ and educated officers Of PrenrisS and Crit
I tenden's command. | remember their songs
I and stories and my own admiration and
I pride a. gaped upOn them and hoped soon
I 20 get into Uniform like theirs, though ever
/ 40 ragged then. But. dear me. | am wand
I ering from the subject who cares for thi-
rot now. and why should II bring tears up
my throat Bat / can't help feeling that
your handsome general card of invitation
was made for me only. thank you. Very
sincerely,
H. A. KELLY.
The gentleman alluded 20 by Col. Kelly. i
/ Capt Wright l.. Coffinberry.
FROM GEoHGIA's : GOVERNOR.
/ ATLANTA. Aug. l., l-S5.-CDL 4. J For,
/ Chairman. and others. Grand Rapids,
I bich. Your kind invitation 70 ''psrticl-
! pate IN the exercises at the Seventeenth re-
union OF the Society OF the Army of the
/ Cumberland" f" I have before me. Engage
| ments which cannot be put aside detain me
/ here and deny me pleasure OF signal
/ character which a participation IN your re-
union would certainly afford me. The
/ kindiine=s Of feeling which must have in
I raA q "A
I that reTnernbrances Of the iaie war no lOngeI
/ imply bitterness or alienation. and that We
/ may. "A a restored brotherhood. think and
I speak OF the parties sustained By both sides
Z OF Our late conflict with generous consider
alton ard Just appreciation. For one, and
from my inmost heart | rejoice 10 see tins
spread and deepening of this salutary feel
I iug. The time for lines Of latitude diyidiu-,
/ orr hearts has passed forever. and now let
/ "a rally 20 the prosecution Of Our great mi--
si0n. % make this the greatest aud best
power that ever existed m the history OF
man. sm most respectfully your ohedieni
servant. Alfred II. CoLQCTrT.
SENATOR BROWNS SENTIMENT.
ATLANTA. (fa-, Agg. H. ls.5.-L0cai Ereci-
I TIRE C0ufultffse. &C.. GRIND R0Difis. Mich
GENrt FdwN. have the honor 90 acknoWl-
edge the receipt Of your kind invitation
While other engagements. previously mad
for that time. will prevent ms attendance.
you have conferred upon me by the invita-
tion. and n circumstances would permit
vonid most gladly attend your reunion and
participate with you IN its exercises.
cordially approve Of the objects Of your
society. "A a Confederate, who entertained
with eqnal esrnestness convictisns of duty
/ which piaced me on the other side. | ku0s
the patriotism and the manly val0r of tho~,
who formed the Army 81 the Cumberland
and now that tbe civil war b. over. and peacs
I aud harmony re;rus throughout the entire
I limits ~ our common country, 70 affords
ule great pleasure to greet yoB a. brethren
of the same great National family. ana ic
wish you great succpss and much enjoyment
IN each succeeding celebration of the Society
% the Army Of the Cumberland 7 can as
sure son me- hostility or uukind feeling ex
ists now iu ms section of the country against
the gallant and patriotic band of heroes.
JosrpH r. BsowN.
The members Of the Committee ou
Decorations met az the Morton ias'
niEht The meeting was called to order h5
she chairman. MAJOR q. ". Watkins and
Charles Is. Sigh Wa chosen secretary. TIE
seeraisry read ire duties II the committee
a. desi gnsted by the executive committea.
A communication from 4 r Foster. Gin