tone, that only the death of the well beloved produces. Your orator will attempt to eulogize the character of him who was simple-hearted, pure, childlike (and therefore godlike), and the chief difficulty he will discover will be where and when to cease his eulogisms. It was my fortune to engage GENERAL THOMAS in conversation on the morning after his first meeting with GENERAL GARFIELD. As the only officer of his personal staff at that time from Ohio, he thought I might know something of the man. who had paid him a midnight visit, and inquired if I did. I had little to say, for all that I knew of GARFIELD I had learned from a friend who had served in the legislature with him, and who was intensely prejudiced in his favor. The remarks of GENERAL THOMAS were prophetic. He rarely indulged in the expression of opinions concerning our public men, and I was surprised at the decided language he used with reference to GENERAL GARFIELD, and yet it was but the nature of the man of few words but of clear mind and positive views. He said, in substance, that if GENERAL GARFIELD lived he would make his mark; that if he was as brave as he was bold, the country would hear of his gallant deeds yet to be performed ; that few men not simply soldiers would obey an order in the spirit with which he was then obeying the order to take a new command. This circumstance occurred about thirty hours before the battle of Pittsburg Landing, near which place was the command to which GENERAL GARFIELD was hastening. I was with THOMAS only six months after that, and I shall never look for higher honor than his confidence and personal regard, so I may be indulged in what those who did not know the man as I knew him would call "abject hero worship." "The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself," and THOMAS is no more one of us. Let us emulate the simple grandeur of his character and honor his memory by imitating his virtues. Very sincerely yours, HENRY S. BABBITT, Former Aid-de-Camp to GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. FROM LIEUTENANT SCIDMORE. Pueblo, Colorado Territory, October 30, 1870. Messrs. John Coon and others, COMMITTEE: Your favor of the 6th inst., announcing the Fourth Annual Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 24th and 25th of November next, is before me. I regret very much that urgent business will prevent my attendance. It would most certainly be a pleasure to one belonging to our Society to meet in this Reunion those endeared to him by a thousand sacred recollections-to once more clasp by the hand comrades in arms who nobly responded to our country's call in the hour of danger. The death, during the past year, of our noble and patriotic President, MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS, caused sorrow to fill the hearts of all who served under him. We remember THOMAS only as the true and tried soldier, one free from all petty jealousies, a man on whom our Government could depend, who led his armies on to victory, and executed with zeal and fidelity all the duties intrusted to himloved by the nation for his manliness and simplicity, he died regretted by the American people. I trust your Reunion may be one of the happiest kind, and that those favored ones of our Society who once more have the privilege of responding to the roll call, may return to their homes feeling that the Society of the Army of the Cumberland must be perpetuated. G. B. SCIDMORE, Late Lieut. and R. C. S. 12th Mo. Cav. FROM LIEUTENANT SPOONER. Cincinnati, November 8, 1870. Mr. John Coon, Cleveland, Ohio. DEAR SIR: It is with profound regret that I am compelled to be absent from our Annual Reunion, to be held in Cleveland, November 24th and 25th next. With many assurances that you have my hearty co-operation and good wishes, I am, Respectfully yours, E. D. SPOONER, (Late) First Lieut. 5th U. S. Artillery. P. S. Please continue my name on the roll. FROM LIEUTENANT VAN DICKEY. Franklin, Ohio, November 20, 1870. John Coon and others, Committee on Invitations, etc. GENTS: Your circular notifying me of the coming Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, to be held at Cleveland on the 24th and 25th inst., was received, and I would have replied sooner, but I was still living in hopes that I might be able to be present in person. I know of no place that I would prefer attending than that of Cleveland. And the interest which seems to have centered on this coming occasion produces a feeling of regret to one, who, like myself, is unable, on account of sickness, to be present. A deep feeling of sorrow prevails in the heart of every soldier of the Army of the Cumberland at the loss we have sustained in the death of our distinguished "President." Hoping you may have a good attendance, and meet with success in all your undertakings, I have the honor to be, Yours truly, M. VAN DICKEY, First Lieut. Co. B 94th O. V. I. FROM ADJUTANT ROYSE. Lafayette, Indiana, November 2, 1870. John Coon et al., GENTLEMEN: Your kind invitation to meet the Society of the Army of the Cumberland is received, and I had hoped to be with you at Cleveland on the 24th and 25th, but business matters beyond my control will prevent my attendance, which is a matter of profound regret to me. I hope the meeting will be a success, and have no doubt it will. Fraternally yours, DAN'L ROYSE, Ex-Adj't 40th Ind. Vols. FROM SERGEANT NICHOLSON. Baltimore, Ind., November 2, 1870. Messrs. John Coon and others, Committee on Invitation, etc. GENTLEMEN: Your circular, inviting my presence at the Annual Meeting of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland at Cleveland, has been forwarded to me from Cincinnati. It would be a source of great gratification to attend the meeting of our comrades, but business affairs in Baltimore do not permit me to give any definite answer at present. You can only count me among the uncertain members, and rely upon my going if, when the time comes, I can. Very truly, your comrade, Mr. John Coon, GEO. B. NICHOLSON. FROM SERGEANT COZINE. New Hope, Ky., October 23, 1870. Chairman, etc. DEAR SIR: Yours of the 6th inst., containing invitation to be present at the Fourth Annual Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, came to hand yesterday. Nothing, I assure you, would afford me more pleasure than to meet with the members of that old army whose name the Society bears, and I desire very much to hear the eulogy on MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS, because he was the President of our Society and the last and most beloved commander, and every way |