ERAL J. S. FULLERTON, MAJOR GARDNER, MAJOR BICKHAM, LIEUTENANT JOHN RUHM, GENERAL C. C. DOOLITTLE, COLONEL J. B. BELL, CAPTAIN ISOM, CAPTAIN P. H. DOWLING, MAJOR W. H. McLYMAN, and REV. W. W. WILLIAMS. The hall was handsomely decorated. Large streamers of bunting, of the patriotic colors, were stretched around the hall in profusion. Hanging just above the platform were representations of the different army corps badges. The walls were covered with the names of numerous battles and many distinguished Union soldiers of the war, and reaching from one side of the hall to the other was a large canvass frame with the words "Army of the Cumberland" standing out in bold colors. The whole scene was one of unusual beauty, the tropical plants upon the platform and around the hall adding greatly to the other decorations. Promptly at 8 o'clock, at a signal from Hox. R. H. COCHRAN, the Fremont Light Guard band sounded the reveille, following with a medley including the Star Spangled Banner, Hail Columbia, Rally Round the Flag, Yankee Doodle, and other patriotic airs. The music was highly appreciated by all, as the selections were appropriate to the occasion and the execution of a superior order. The Camp Fire broke up at 10:30 P. M. in excellent humor, and the members adjourned to the Boody House, where a symposium of reminiscence, song, and story, was warmly enjoyed by the members and guests until a late-early hour. On Thursday, at 11 A. M.. the Society again met in Memorial Hall and concluded its formal business. After a late dinner, visits were made to the manual Training School, Public Library, and other places to which they were invited, as the tastes of the members prompted. After GENERAL ROSECRANS returned from the Scott Manual Training School, which is one of the prides of Toledo, and where he delivered several bright little speeches to the delighted pupils, he and other members of the Society held a reception at Memorial Hall, where many ladies and gentlemen and school children were given an opportunity to meet and greet them. Our citizens regretted that the Society could not find time to accept the reception tendered the members by the Ohio Yacht Club at their new and beautiful club house at Presque Isle. But it is fully understood that the failure to attend was for want of time only, and the invitation is a standing one to the Society when it shall again come to Toledo. The Reunion closed with a banquet at the Boody House. No people more loyally than our people of Toledo cherish the memory of the services of the loyal soldier of the war. Many public buildings and private residences were beautifully bedecked with the patriotic colors, and accommodations at private residences were freely tendered had the hotels been inadequate to the accommodations. The following editorial from one of our city papers is a type of the sentiment entertained toward our comrades by our entire local press: THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. This week there will assemble within the gates of Toledo a body' men to whom will ever be accorded the meed of a grateful people. The soldier is at once the embodiment of bravery and of valor; and when to these attributes is added the rich treasure of patriotism, then indeed is it fitting that banners wave, triumphs be given, beauty lend her presence to the scene, and the highest devotion be accorded. The Army of the Cumberland stood across the pathway of treason on many a bloody field, and in deadly charge and amid the riot of cannon and shell gave to the nation the best that men can give-life, home, love and all. There was no reservation then on the part of these brave men, and there will be no reservation now on the part of those who willingly and cheerfully give to them praise and admiration. And it is most fitting that these men, now sere and gray, bent in form and less bright of eye than when they went up at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, shall assemble, in the golden month of September, when the yellow grain betokens the fruition of the hopes and desires of the year. So they, striving in the heat and burden of the deadly conflict, strewed thickly on the ground made sacred by their blood and that of their dead compatriots, that precious seed of patriotism, in which the glad people of this free and mighty land find abundant harvest of happiness and peace. They builded a stately mansion, in which the nations may assemble and be glad, and created a costly and beautiful home for the oppressed of the earth. And now they come, justly wearing the laurels of victory, and will together recount their valorous deeds and relate their wondrous story. For they offered all that man has to give, and the good God above us accepted their sacrifice and crowned their unselfish deeds with such rich measure of success as is vouchsafed to few mighty warriors. The fruit of the land and the fullness thereof is theirs in all royal welcome, and gladly will we tender to them the hospitality of this city of ours. Hail and again hail, brave men of the glorious Army of the Cumberland! May the years yet remaining to you be years of peace and plenty, and may the measure of gratitude with which a grateful people crown your lofty endeavor be as free and generous and hearty as was the rich outgiving of that patriotism with which you so loyally and fearlessly battled to make us. free indeed. Hail and hail again, grand, glorious Army of the Cumberland! THE BANQUET. The closing event of the Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland was the banquet at the Boody House. As early as nine o'clock the guests began assembling, and in a short time the parlors and corridors were filled with the veterans and their wives, and a goodly number of citizens and their wives and daughters, who had been bidden to the feast. It was just exactly ten o'clock when the bugle sounded the call, and the assemblage, headed by GENERAL ROSECRANS, entered the spacious banquet hall. The room had been handsomely decorated with tropical plants and national colors, and the tables, which had been arranged in three rows, were a mass of cut flowers. The seat of honor was given GENERAL ROSECRANS, who, with GENERAL ALGER, GENERAL CIST, GENERAL BARNETT, COLONEL WICKERSHAM, and Hox. R. H. COCHRAN, occupied a long table on one side and in the center of the long hall. The other guests, to the number of about 150, were seated in groups of six at the other tables. After a menu of several courses had been thoroughly discussed, and a few glasses of Pommery See had warmed the hearts and brightened the intellects of all present, PRESIDENT ROSECRANS arose, and calling the assemblage to order, announced the intellectual feast, and introduced JUDGE COCHRAN as toast-master. The work of the Local Executive Committee was a labor of love, cheerfully performed by every member thereof, and our only regret is that we could not do more, and that a greater number could not meet with us. Twice has the Society honored Toledo, and with all our hearts we say for ourselves, and for all our citizens, come again, comrades, and make us "thrice happy." R. H. COCHRAN, C. C. DOOLITTLE, H. W. BIGELOW, W. H. McLYMAN, J. KENT HAMILTON, A. M. WOOLSON, HENRY S. BUNKER, Secretary. Local Executive Committee. |