The most prominent of these were General Thomas Ewing of Kansas, Governor Bramlette and General Rousseau of Kentucky, and Honorable Lewis D.Campbell of Ohio.
General Gordon Granger and General George A.Custer of the regular army were very active in organizing the convention.

It was evident that the number of soldiers present was small; and the convention really failed in its principal aim, which was to strengthen the President in the loyal States.
A telegram, expressing sympathy with its proceedings, was received by the convention from a number of Confederate officers who were gathered at Memphis.

But it was unfortunate that General N.B.Forrest was a conspicuous signer; still more unfortunate that the convention passed a resolution of thanks to Forrest and his rebel associates for the "magnanimity and kindness" of their message.

Forrest's name was especially odious in the North for his alleged guilty participation in the massacre at Fort Pillow.

All other circumstances united did not condemn the convention in Northern opinion so deeply as this incident.
Further investigation of the Fort Pillow affair has in some degree ameliorated the feeling against General Forrest, but at that time his name among the soldiers of the Union was as bitterly execrated as was that of the Master of Stair among the Macdonalds of Glencoe, or of Haynau, at a later day, among the patriots of Hungary.
The only noteworthy speech in the convention was delivered by General Thomas Ewing.