FOURTH REUNION.

INTRODUCTORY.

By direction of the Society, at its meeting at Indianapolis, a Local Committee, consisting of GENERAL JAMES BARNETT, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CALVIN GODDARD, and CAPTAIN WILLIAM C. BUNTS, was appointed to make arrangements for the Fourth Annual Reunion, to be held at Cleveland, on the 24th and 25th days of November, 1870.

This Committee was enabled to avail itself of the cooperation of a General Committee of the citizens of Cleveland, which took upon itself many of the preliminary details for the meeting. The following circular was addressed, on behalf of the Society, to all our Comrades:

Society of the Army of the Cumberland.

CLEVELAND, October 6, 1870.

Comrade: The duty is assigned to us of reminding you that the next Annual Meeting of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland will take place in the city of Cleveland, on the 24th and 25th days of November next; and we are directed to extend to you a fraternal and cordial invitation to be present.

The general objects of the Society, now too well known to be here stated, are sufficient to insure the presence of the members at the anniversaries; but the approaching meeting will have paramount interest and importance. Since the Reunion at Indianapolis, our beloved President, MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS, has received his Last Order, and joined forever the departed and historic Heroes of the Republic. His endeared memory and example remain to us, and we will cherish the hallowed treasure. An oration on his life and character will be pronounced by MAJOR GENERAL JAMES A. GARFIELD, and the vacant office will be filled by a new election.

The regular Annual Address will be delivered by MAJOR GENERAL J. M. PALMER.

The time for this meeting was changed from December to November, to accommodate those of our comrades whom the Nation has called to its Executive and Legislative councils; and we are thus assured of the presence of many of your distinguished brethren whom you last met in the "rough ranks of war."

We will only add that a generous, hospitable, and patriotic people are anxious to welcome you to our city, and your comrades will joyfully hear your response at roll-call.

That adequate arrangements may be made, we will thank you to apprise the Committee that it is your purpose to attend. With sincere regard,

JOHN COON,

G. M. BARBER,

J. H. HERRICK,

W. F. HINMAN,

RUSSELL HASTINGS,

F. H. HINMAN,

Committee on Invitations.

The responses to the circular evinced not only the strong hold which this organization maintains on the hearts of its members, but also the unabated patriotism which was the effective power and glory of the armies represented.

The meetings were held in CASE HALL, the banquet in the CENTRAL RINK; and the memorial tribute to our lamented Chieftain lent a moderation and charmed zest to all the proceedings. The sentiment prevailed, that, as our ranks become thinned, the survivors should draw more closely together; and it is believed that our meeting in Detroit, in 1871, will witness an unexampled attendance of our comrades.

The

The citizens of Cleveland tendered their most liberal hospitalities, and the same were happily enjoyed. CLEVELAND REUNION must ever be remembered as an interesting and delightful event in the history of the Society.

CLEVELAND, OHIO, November 26, 1870.

MINUTES.

Case Hall, Thursday, November 24, 1870.

MORNING SESSION.

In pursuance of the order of adjournment at its last. regular meeting, held at the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, the Society of the Army of the Cumberland gathered at the headquarters designated by the Local Committee at the Kennard House, Cleveland, Ohio, on the 24th day of November, 1870, at ten o'clock A. M., and marched to CASE HALL at eleven o'clock A. M.

The Society was called to order by CAPTAIN WILLIAM C. BUNTS, of the Local Executive Committee.

GENERALS WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, JOHN M. PALMER, JOSEPH HOOKER, JACOB AMMEN, JEFF. C. DAVIS, THOMAS J. WOOD, NATHAN KIMBALL, R. S. GRANGER, CHARLES CRUFT, J. A. GARFIELD, EMERSON OPDYKE, were called to the stand.

CHAPLAIN O. A. LYMAN opened the exercises with

prayer.