re-enforced by several brigades from the Army of the Potomac, and formed the Eighteenth Corps, under Gen. John G. Foster. When Gen. Foster went to Hilton Head to assist Gen. David Hunter in the reduction of Fort Sumter, he took with him a great portion of the Corps. They were afterwards made a part of the Tenth Corps, and participated in the capture of Morris Island, the bloody assaults on Fort Wagner, and the long and tedious siege of Charleston. The continuous hard work of months and the constant cannonading were more trying and fatal than the battles, with long intervals of rest, of the armies in the interior.

Finally the Tenth Corps, under Gen. Q. A. Gillmore, sailed for Fortress Monroe, and, joining the Eighteenth Corps, under Maj. Gen. Wm. F. ("Baldy ") Smith, became the " Army of the James," and ascended that river under Gen. B. F. Butler, at the same time that Gen. Grant started on his great campaign with the Army of the Potomac--holding the position, a very important one, until the arrival of Gen. Grant's army, when the siege of Petersburg commenced. The Army of the James-the Tenth Corps, under Maj. Gen. D. D. Birney, and the Eighteenth, under Maj. Gen. E. O. C. Ord—crossed the James at Deep Bottom, and captured Fort Harrison, and a long line of works around Richmond, by assault, losing many men. Gen. Ord was wounded, and Gen. Birney, by constant exposure, contracted a disease that in a few weeks caused his death. After this the army was reorganized, the colored troops from the Army of the Potomac being joined to those of the Army of the James, and formed the Twenty-fifth Corps, under Brevet Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, while the white troops formed the Twenty-fourth Corps, under Gen. Ord. Soon after this a portion of the troops, under Generals Butler and Weitzel, started on the expedition against Fort Fisher, N. C., and returned without accomplishing its object. Gen. Grant sent them again, under Brevet Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry, with a more successful result. After this the Army of the James participated in the hard fighting around Petersburg; and while Gen. Ord, with a portion of the Twenty-fourth Corps, joined in the pursuit of Lee, the Third Division (Gen. Devens') of the Twentyfourth and Kautz's Division of the Twenty fifth Corps, both under Gen. Weitzel, were left to operate on the north side of the James;

and Gen. Devens' Division, with a few cavalrymen, had the honor of being the first troops to enter Richmond, April 3, 1865.

Business Meeting at Minot Hall.

The business meeting, for the purpose of organization, was held at Minot Hall, and there were about one hundred and twenty-five gentlemen present.

A half hour was spent in hand-shaking and congratulations, many of those present seeing each other for the first time since their separation at the close of the war.

The meeting was called to order by Surgeon Samuel A. Green, 24th Mass. Vols., Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, who, upon motion of Col. W. V. Hutchings, A. Q. M., was made temporary Chairman. Capt. Charles A. Brooks, 9th Me. Vols., was chosen temporary Secretary.

On motion of Col. P. A. Davis, Asst. Adj. Gen., a committee of five, consisting of Col. Davis, Gen. J. W. Turner, Gen. H. M. Plaisted, Gen. E. W. Smith, and Maj. W. E. Furness, were appointed to report a draft of a constitution and by-laws for the government of the association. They subsequently reported a constitution and by-laws, as follows:

THE CONSTITUTION.

Article 1. The name of this Association shall be the SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE JAMES; and said society shall include all officers and enlisted men who have served with honor in the Army of the James, or in any organization which at any time formed a portion of that army. Honorary members may be elected from officers who have served with distinction in armies of the United States.

Article 2. The object of this society shall be to preserve the memory of the fortunes and achievements of the Army of the James; to perpetuate the bonds of comradeship among its surviving members; to cherish the memory of those who have fallen, and by every means to cultivate and foster a pure and patriotic devotion to the service of the country.

Article 3. For the purpose of effecting these objects, the society shall be organized by the triennial election of a President, five Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chaplain. The society shall meet triennially, the time and place of the next reunion to be selected at each meeting. All members of the society who are prevented by any cause from personally attending, are expected to notify the Corresponding Secretary, and to impart such information in regard to themselves as they may think proper, and as may be of interest to their brethren of the society.

BY-LAWS.

The by-laws of the Association are as follows:

I. All meetings of this society shall be opened by prayer to Almighty God by a former chaplain of the army, to be selected for the occasion by the President of the society.

II. Every officer and enlisted man desiring to become a member of the society shall, upon signing the Constitution, pay to the Treasurer the sum of one dollar as initiation fee, and thereafter the like sum of one dollar per annum as yearly dues.

III. Any member who shall be in arrears for dues for a period of three years, shall have his name dropped from the rolls until his dues shall be paid, or they be remitted by a vote of the society.

IV. Money for ordinary expenses of the society may be expended by the Treasurer, upon the warrant of the President; all other expenses only in pursuance of a vote of the society.

V. When the place of the next meeting of this society shall be decided upon, the President shall appoint an Executive Committee of three members, resident at such place, or contiguous thereto, whose duty it shall be to make all needful preparations and arrangements for such a meeting.

VI. At such triennial meeting there shall be selected, in such manner as the society shall determine, from the members of the society, a person to deliver a welcome address at the next triennial meeting.

VII. At each meeting of the society, the Treasurer shall make a full report of his receipts and expenditures.

The several articles of the constitution and by-laws were adopted by the meeting seriatim.

On motion of Gen. James Stewart, Jr., of New Jersey, a committee of five was appointed, consisting of Gen. Stewart; Gen. M. T. Donohoe, of New Hampshire; Gen. William S. Lincoln, of Massachusetts; Col. C. H. Graves, U. S. A.; and Maj. J. S. Gibbs, of Illinois, to report a list of officers for the government of the society.

The Chairman soon reported the following list, which was unanimously adopted, each name being enthusiastically applauded as it was read:

President-Brevet Major General CHARLES DEVENS, Jr., of Massachusetts.

Vice-Presidents-Brevet Major General R. S. FOSTER, of Indiana; Brevet Major General JOHN W. TURNER, U. S. A.; Brevet Major General JOSEPH R. HAWLEY, of Connecticut; Brevet Brigadier General ALONZO ALDEN, of New York; Brevet Major General E. W. HINKS, of Massachusetts.

Recording Secretary-Brevet Lieut. Col. GEORGE A. BRUCE, of Massachusetts.

Corresponding Secretary-Brevet Col. P. A. DAvis, of Vir

ginia.

Treasurer-Brevet Brig. Gen. CHARLES A. CARLETON, of New

York.

Chaplain-Rev. H. CLAY TRUMBULL, of Connecticut.

Upon taking the chair, Gen. Devens was received with the most vociferous cheering, at the conclusion of which he briefly expressed thanks for the honor conferred, claiming that it was the kindness of his comrades, rather than his own deserving, which had elevated him to the position to which he had been chosen.

The Secretary not being present, Capt. C. A. BROOKS, of Maine, was chosen Secretary pro tem.

The President then invited Rev. Mr. Trumbull, the Chaplain elect, to offer prayer, which service was performed in a very impressive manner, the audience rising

A committee, consisting of Major James B. Bell, of Massachusetts, General R. S. Foster, of Indiana, General J. R. Hawley, of Connecticut, General H. M. Plaisted, of Maine, General A. Alden, of New York, Major W. S. Diller, of Pennsylvania, and General C. A. Carleton, of New York, were appointed to select a time and

place for holding the next triennial meeting, and reported New York city as the place, and the third Wednesday in July, 1871, as the time. The report was adopted.

General Hinks suggested that there was one gentleman present more identified with the Army of the James than any other person present, and he therefore moved that Major-General Alfred H. Terry be requested to prepare the address to be delivered at the next meeting of the association. The motion was received with tremendous enthusiasm, the whole audience rising, waving their hats, and cheering vociferously, and upon the President declaring that it was adopted, three rousing cheers were given for General Terry, who made a few remarks in acceptance, modestly expressing thanks for the great honor conferred upon him, but wishing to decline, as he was liable, being still in the service, to be sent to some distant post, which would preclude the possibility of his being present at the next meeting.

The society declined to accept the declination of Gen. Terry, who was allowed, in case the above exigency should arise, to appoint a substitute.

After transacting a few unimportant matters, the Association, at 2 o'clock, took a recess, to meet again at 8 o'clock P.M., at the St. James Hotel, where the grand banquet was to take place.

The Banquet Boom at the St. James

Hotel.

The main dining-hall of the hotel was used on this occasion, as on all occasions when a large party is expected, for the banquetroom; and, added to the always bright, cheerful, and elegant appearance of the room, the art of the decorator had embellished its walls with flags and bunting, bright and new, together with pretty devices and emblems.

The wall at the head of the hall was tastefully decorated with flags, festooned and draped in a manner producing a fine effect. At either side of the flags were small shields bearing emblems o various designs, while at the opposite end of the room the wall was decorated in a similar manner, except that surmounting the