NINTH ANNUAL REUNION.

INTRODUCTORY.

TO THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND:

The undersigned, your Local Executive Committee, appointed at the Eighth Annual Reunion, held at Columbus, Ohio, September 16 and 17, 1874, respectfully submit the following report of their proceedings incident to the arrangements for the Reunion at Utica, New York, September 15 and 16, 1875:

REPORT.

The members of the Committee have labored under great embarrassment, in being ignorant, to a great degree, of the duties they were to perform. Only one member had ever been present at a Reunion. The work of preparation was therefore, to them, entirely new. In addition to this, it was quite late in the summer before the members were notified of their appointment. They were obliged, moreover, to wait for advice and instructions from members of the Society who were familiar with the preparation of former Reunions. Owing to these circumstances, it was not until the second week in August that any definite action was taken.

The members of your Committee take pleasure in acknowledging their great obligation to CAPTAIN WILLIAM MCCRORY, of Columbus, Ohio, for valuable information and assistance furnished by him.

On the 9th day of August, the Committee met for the first time. Little business was transacted. It was intimated at this meeting that the citizens of Utica desired, during the Reunion, to tender to the Society a complimentary ball and • reception, but no definite action was taken in regard thereto, the Committee deeming it advisable, before making so great an innovation upon the traditional usages of the Society, to consult with other members.

The Committee, at this meeting, appointed a Committee on Transportation, who took immediate steps to procure such a reduction in fare from the different railroad companies as would enable the members of the Society living at great distances to attend the Reunion. This Committee was so nearly unsuccessful, although every effort was made by them, that your Committee did not deem it of sufficient consequence to secure the reductions which were offered.

On the 11th day of August, the following circular address was prepared and sent through the Associated Press dispatches, and was published simultaneously in most of the prominent daily newspapers on the following morning:

LOCAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ROOMS,

UTICA, NEW YORK, August 11, 1875.

TO THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBER

LAND:

The Ninth Annual Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland will be held at the Opera House, Utica, New York, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 15th and 16th days of September

next.

The Society includes every officer and soldier who has at any time served with honor in the Army or Department of the Cumberland. It has for its objects the perpetuation of the memory of the fortunes and achievements of that Army, and the promotion of a fraternal feeling and friendship among all the men-officers and soldiers who served in it.

Members of the Society, and those who served with them in the field, are earnestly requested to attend this Reunion, and join in its festivities.

A cordial invitation is also extended to members of other Army Societies to attend and participate with this Society in the formation of new friendships and the renewal of old. No pains will be spared to make this Reunion the most successful and pleasant, and to this end every effort will be made by those having charge of its arrangement.

The people of Utica will extend a cordial welcome to all who shall attend. Arrangements are being rapidly perfected with the principal railroad companies to furnish tickets to those wishing to attend the Reunion at reduced rates. Timely notice of the reduction in fares, and of the companies making them, will be given.

During the meeting, headquarters will be at Bagg's Hotel. Members of the Society are requested to advise us, at their earliest convenience, of their intention to be present. All communications should be addressed to the Secretary of the Committee, W. H. BRIGHT, Utica, New York.

W. C. SQUIRE,

EDWIN HUTCHINSON,
W. H. BRIGHT,

Local Executive Committee.

On the 20th of August, at the call of HoN. CHARLES W. HUTCHINSON, Mayor of the city, a general meeting of the citizens and soldiers was held at the Common Council Chambers, at which your Committee was present by invitation. It was there resolved to tender to the members of the Society a com

plimentary reception and ball, on the evening of the second day of the Reunion.

Your Committee accepted this tender, in behalf of the Society, and gave to the committee of citizens appointed full charge and control of all arrangements for Thursday evening.

The members who were present will decide whether the Committee erred.

From this date forward, until the Reunion, your Committee and the committee appointed at the above meeting worked together, and, in all they did in perfecting the arrangements for the Reunion, your Committee were at every step most generously supported by the citizens of Utica.

The various citizen committees, and the sub-committees appointed by us, were, in several instances, composed of the same gentlemen, and are hereinafter reported together.

On August 22d, your Committee issued the following circular address to all members of the Society whose names and addresses could be ascertained, and to all others, whose addresses were known, who had served in our Army:

UTICA, NEW YORK, August 22, 1875.

Dear Sir-The Ninth Annual Reunion of the Army of the Cumberland will be held in this city, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 15th and 16th days of September next.

The Committee earnestly requests every member of the Society to be present on that occasion.

Every effort is being made to make the coming Reunion pleasant and agreeable to all who shall attend.

The citizens of Utica and vicinity will give you a hearty wel

come, and, during the Reunion, will tender to the Society a grand complimentary reception and ball. Arrangements have also been made to enable members of the Society and their guests to join in excursions to Trenton Falls, Cooperstown, and other places of interest, on the day following the Reunion.

Trusting that you will at once notify us of your intention to be present,

We are your obedient servants,

W. C. SQUIRE,

EDWIN HUTCHINSON,

W. H. BRIGHT,

Local Executive Committee.

A similar circular of invitation was sent to a large number of members of other Army Societies, while many men, eminent in civil life, were invited by personal letters.

In addition to the general circular to members, invitations were published in many newspapers. In this manner, many soldiers of our Army were notified of the Reunion, whom your Committee were otherwise unable to reach.

From the members of the Society, we regret to report, we did not receive prompt or numerous responses to the circular sent them, and in only a few instances did they notify us of their intention to be present. The attention of members has frequently been called to the necessity of informing the Local Committee whether they intend to attend the Reunion. We again most respectfully urge members to see to it that no future Committee shall experience the embarrassment and increased labor which this neglect so often entails upon them.

We would here suggest to the Society the advisability of changing the time for holding the Reunion to some other