The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-10
sr. Cam CovNrr IIlinois Julv % ls.7

ST. CLAIR County, Illinois, July 90, lsa7.
Illinois Polunteers-Return of the Second Regiment
Great Day Of Reception in B,liesiile- Western Bar
6deue-~an Acre Of Tables-Wesern Hospitality
Croiods Of Pecpis-Triumphai .freh--Eioquent I'd [
dresses Colonies Bisseu and Mo,rison-.a Baitimo-
redn TO make up Tariety- Good Order and Scbriefy |
Obserped-.a Grand Illumination
Yesterday was proud day in old St Clair county II
was the day fixed on time since honor the Ili-
nois volunteers Of the Second Regiment and especially
the two companies of this county, on their return
from the campaign under old "Rourh and Ready "
And never wero received with more heartfelt salts
faction from every class Old and maidens young
men and matrons fathers and mothers sisters and bro
Tiers wives and sweethearts were there Even rnins
ters Of the gospel and grave professors of religion mixed
with the joyous and light hearted, the old grey
welcome ana cover them with the aures they have SO
justly merited
These volunteers who have absent from the State
about thirteen months discharged at Camargo and
reached their homes best they could on various boats
from New Orleans " Uncle Sam" paid them of at Ca
provided transportation down the Rio Grande and
through the Gulf but the captains OF the boats and
special pains to furnish them with neither ROOM fire
fuel or other means OF cooking their salt and scanty
se"es."s ShNto'ns sn aunniface specimen OF YANKEE
speculation, by compelling them to starve or pay fifty
cents each meal at their table.
At New Orleans they underwent barber-ous opera
ton on their matted locks about the head, and the
goaty appendages about the chin and throat All their
clothes and blankets being amply supplied with ANNA
ted nature" were committed to the river and being
equipped in the light dress of peaceful gene-
men, they looked though they had smelt gun
powder; and thus they were prepared to ascend the
great water' as they could obtain passages in the
misunderstanding from ten to twelve dollars for
cabin passage to St. Leuis, distance of 1900 miles
And notice, cabin passage all Western rivers
includes state room, and boarding equal to the first
hotels in your city, without additional charge Hence
the volunteers did not reach their destination reg
ment or in batalions or even by companies, but
in different boats and arrived different days near
ly two weeks in succession
Preparations for their reception had been made in this
county by subscription for public dinner, in barbecue
fashion payable in cash, provisions, lother fxns
as most convenient for the donors and notice Mr. Ed
tor that Western folks especially West as Illinois
not being halt civilized, do things in very different style
Hence at the risk of being proser, will show your
readers how We do up such matters here.
First, public meeting of the whole county was
Called committee OF arrangements appointed, and
other preliminary measures adopted Next printed
form OF subscription was circulated in each precinct and
then selected plat of ground in the forest adjoining
Belleville where after clearing OF the underground the
lofty oaks made most delightful shade. quadrangle.
lar area OF about 10 yards in extent enclosed by
bes made Of rough boards placed in the
ground leaving an opening for ingress and max
ing the length OF the tables about 800 yards the
centre OF this enclosure two pits dug in the earth
about four feet Deep three feet wide, and some fifteen
or twenty feet long These were filled with hard
soned wood ignted and reduced to vid glowing char
coal Across these pits sticks laid, and Ola these
the various meats roasted during the preceding
night Large caudrons furnished boilers hams and
vegetables. am not able to give you the statistics OF
lat calves sheep porkers and fowls that under
went this culinary process the number barrels of
superhne flour that the skill Of the bakers converted
into bread for the occasion Fifteen hundred pounds of
ham from the farmers of St. Clair county scntin
as an item in the commissarat. Your readers may
guess at the bountful supplies, but reckon they
can't come IT," There were not less than six thousand
men, women and children who satated their appetes
at this festive board and enough left to feed
three regiments of starving lrshmen.
On the afternoon of the preceding day you might have
seen the loaded vehicles with families and hundreds of
horsemen moving along the public roads that in
Bellevie These persons from other counties who
shared in the rites of hospitality among the farmers
within few miles of their destination But on the
morning of the 2Sth little after the families
in the remote sections of the county began 10 move
Such of human beings never before seen on
the praries Of Southern Illinois No exact estimate can
be made Of the number present. Some gentlemen ac-
customed to see large congregations the estimate
between 1900 aud 10000 In my neighborhood that day
it easy matter to count up those who were at
home. In vast plumber OF instances throughout the
county the farm hoases were wholly deserted and is
well known that in farm houses from i've fifteen
children and youths area common appendage in the do
nestle circle
The committee Of arrangements had prepared mag.
nifcent trumPha arch, on Main street. the
house, adorn and decorated with profuson Of
shrubbery and prairie flowers On side of arch
was inscribed" la honor Of the citizen soldiers of
Clair county," on the reverse, The American Voun-
teers, invincible and unconq uered"
The procession formed In the following order -
The Brass Band the Committee of Arrangements the
President of the day. Gov Reynolds the Vice Presi-
dent W. + Boyakin orator OF the day, Hon. O.
koerner honorary guests the ladies. Ga large company
the old set ers of the county aud the people ae
In this order they marched through layce portion
the town. passed under The triumpha arch, the
forest half mile east To the platform provided the
great temple OF the Author of Nature A large area
covered with seats for the ladies' but
not one fourth OF the number could be accommodated
Judge koerner made chaste eloquent, and patriotic
grafton to the volunteers And while, with a liberal
hand, he distributed the aures the living heroes
forgot strew the cypress the graves OF
the honored dead Judge Koerner, who presdes in this
Judicial district, Is by birth and education German
country and gentleman OF fine taste and lust discr
minaton One the companies and the first that was
raised in this country chiefly Germans. Not the
least distinction in thoughts feelings much less
language or msnners was made by any Of our citizens
native, In the political sense, had he been there,
would have hid his head in very shame
Colonel w. IL. Bissel who commanded the second re-
giment called out TO respond behalf of the volun
teers. He convinced us that he not less at
home orator, than he was at Buena Vista, rs a
brave and successful warrior Col b. Is native Of the
State Of New York. where he received his cducation
few years since he was teaching school in Monroe
county Illinois, and employing every leisure
Blackstone ef id onne genus. Judge Koerner Gen
shields who is also citizen of St u in and other gen
emen the bar took him by the hand and he be-
popular lawyer. lie represented Monroe county
one term in the legislature, after which he settled In
Beeye where he resided last year. when he wrote his
name as a volunteer in the second company by which
he was chosen captain Upon organizing the regiment
he was elected Colonel. Col Bissell has a high bold
intellectual forehead grave, but open countenancc
and ordinary talents whether in the forum
the popular assembly, on the battle field. And his
popularity in the regiment Is unbounded His habits
Of stern morality strict discipline, and his humanity
and uuremittng attention to the sick and
inspired con adence and affection lis address was an
honor his head and his heart The rigid discipline
"Old Wooy" az the volunteers delight to call the CON-
handing officer of their division Of Tayors army was
subject of irritation and complaint, during their long
and crcuous march from san Antonio To Saltlo; but
on the field of Buena Vista they learned that the resric
tions which they thought unnecessarily before
designed by the experienced veteran general for
their honor and interest. Col b. alluded to their for
mer feelings towards Gen Wool, and behalf Of the
whole regiment and by an appeal to the present.
expressed his gratitude for the of severe dsci
plino and training to which they had been previously
subjected the principal of their unfinohing
1rmness, valor and success ut Buena Vista.
On the conclusion OF his eloquent and impressive
speech which listened to by all present with deep
and intense emotions Lieut. Col Morrison though iust
recovering from illness called forth Asa
chaste, imprisoned and brilliant orator Col Morrison
has not his superior and very few equals In the
He Is native of Kaskaskia in this State and after re
ceivng academca education, entered the u. s. Ma
where he served several years IIfa upotbar -.