New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-30
Prescataiios Of % Medal and Dinner 70 sr'vet
Col Duncan.


q magnificent dinner. got up ia Coleman 8 -tetsou e
best style some two hundred gentlemen sat t0Tn 20
the repsst which went with the utmost enth 4siasfn
Previously 20 tnis however must nouce the fact
mat Judge EDMoSD5 made very Interesting speech 10
presenting iae medal o. Col. DrNcAN in the reception
room he ssid
SIn-Upon mo. as The selected organ ol tn.s c9fnya
rs hss 1evGred the agreeable tax ol enlng iDr
your acceptance rms gold medal. struck n commelno-
ration Of your services Oicof ~ our gallant ar
nay. during TIE war Sltr Mexico speakiug OF those
services beginning IS they did r; Pslo Alto. and en-
5facirg every action Except only that ~ h1ena VITA
thence until the ina. capture o. ttc CITY 81 NeN
leo. can scarcely ftsis TO- temptation J. SPEAK 10 p
q urbccomIDg 4tston NJ the whole career 10
our army during that var and % challenge prot ne
history % furnish ne superior ID not its equal But
10 w. are assembled this OccasiCa - cgmncnui aie
clone your partcly acI 10 those extraordinary events
% VIII rather become ne ~ abstain from 3 ts-k 10
which ! am conscious should not De equal, ana in
respect % which could not nope probably o. DO more
than barely % give uttefance % the feelings OF gHlas
ton ard wonder which hiied my breast IN common
with that II the whole county Ny lack now though
more limited - not lee grateful one. Tor cOnst
tutos the organ 81 your ieiO@citzens % express
I'D YOU tneir admiration Of the large snare WnicD you
bore ia those extraordinary events and Their gratitude
tne disusRuishcd part which you acted ia the carer
which has shed much honor on our common cOun-
try Tie arm of the service 10 which you were At
tache0 attracted, during the whole war 20 very large
degree the attention of the whole country The ihfOry
O tbs Tying artillery Was Vt foreign origin but II was
served for Yankee enterprise, guided - y0uf-eli
and Rir gold and Bragg and Washington and Taylor
and your gallant associates fully 10 develop IL res0u
ces and demonstfate its wonderful efficiency The
estab shneut oi the fret batteIes Al Camp Washing.
ton. ia l-l- under kngROd, Taylor and yours n,
must be- .resh iu the collection Of many yet % j.
knONn 20 only few suppose, that the experiment
was for some time regarded with dis'syOr aud might
Ultimately have failed. hao not been tor the energy
an0 determined perseverance of those who hzd thus
been charged with its immediate supeuntcndence The
success Of your efforts WAS fully developed 10 me
fret battle with the enemy Need pause in this
presence b dwell upon the extent 90 which ~ the bat
e 0i la0 Alto, thar rst Boz the series Oi victories winch
covered our arms, RuggOlds and Duncans batteries
contributed 20 the result how eninenty service abc
hey were iu tn ensuing conflict II Resacaf All that -
written ma the history OF that campaign, aud vii long
DIV, ~ ia tho memory Of your coantymen Butitro'nait
ed for you IN the last Of hesc ARRAYS o. display novel
element OF Lsciulness-or nunh 10 the grshcaiiJn OF
even the Commanding General, YOU pursued win your
battery the enemy when In ul hight from The heid 81
battle and adding 10 thor panic, aided m their dispef
sion Transferred after the battle Of Monterey 10 which
you earned distinction. b The forces asued Tor
advance on the City Oi Mexico by the way Of Vera
Cruz you were engaged In the various conHicn 81,
that portal CcrrO GOrdO, AZ san Antonio Inuru
busc0 Moline dell ey Chapuite pee At both The Gareas
and nna'ly in the City Of Mexico In All these sections
you were cOnspcuOusly engaged aud IN Ill 30 the m
your battery was cminenty usciul displaying upon ali
occasions the admirable discipline and perfect condon
into which had been brought and realizing, through
your gslanry skill aud conduct the nigh hopes winch
had entertained of the usefulness Of this arm OF our
service, aud contributing n large degree 70 those sue
ctssos which announced 10 the country with Tue
rapidv and almost the extravaganza Of romance fOr
these services you have already received from Govern
meu the reward rapid promotion; aud thatwaf which
found you Lieutenant IN two short years returned you
70 us with the rank OF n Colonel higher and 70 gal
ant soldier valuable reward awaits you IN the
appreciation Of your conscience and the applause
Of your country To convey to YOU in feeble degree
sla. ufg ~ na.
been earned 10 our object ON this OCCASION ana we As
citizens of the state which gave you birth ana eouch
ton aud witnessed your growth 70 manhood claim tne
rph 10 express for ourselves and for others the adm
ration feel for the distinguished merit you have az
PLAYED and our gratitude for the eminent eeryices you
have rendered and we do this with the greater plea
sure, because OF the conviction which Is wrought W
our minds nv vour conduct that long wa have
such officers 10 lead our forces into action, no craven
fears no cold blooded delays" will be found IN our
army 70 yield up a gallant emprise II Is WIN such
feelings that &C now pray your acceptance OF Tors
medal as slight testimonial of the high sense which
We are assured the whole country must entertain 81
the gallant conduct which desire appropriately to
The applause subsiding with which this speech was
received. Col DUNCAN addressed the company assem-
bled as follows
SIN accept through YOU as the organ Of my friends
this evidence OF their own partially and generosity,
designed as a compliment TO my professional services
/ will not attempt 10 disguise. though no language OF
mine can adequately express, the PRIDE an1 gratlhca
tion / feel for this distinguished compliment oil my
fellow cuzens For my own professional success to
which you have so eloquently REFERRED ieel mat !
owe something TO chance, much to opportunity and
still more TO the zeal and cordial cooperation OF the
accomplished officers and brave men with "hoin nave
had Tho honor and good fortune To be associated. 10
cannot be denied that the arm 70 whlch nave Aso
the honor 10 belong since ITS hrst organization mas
exercised an important influence In almost every VIC
tory that has been achieved by our army IN MEXICO
or the success of this arm II Is but natural, under
the circumstances that should feel the professional
pride oi a soldier but feel stl greater pildo ln"t
my own country has been the nrst TO eNhiot 70 the
world its efficiency and importance This afforded
consolation 10 the amented RnggOld IN the last mo
ments of his existence. When his surgeon told MIN
that he must die he received the Intelligence without
emotion, and Get about masking ms preparations loI
the lsnc Journey with the GOODNESS on n man VINO
Is not afraid TO dieior he felt that he died IN good
csuse-in the OF his country. After having dis
patched the worldly business, interesting and lupor'
tant 10 his family and friends whom he WAS about 10
lsaye behind him he asked for a cigar which be
lighted and smoked he talked TO his surgeon on IN
different subjects with calmness OF manner tha' was
Of him and among the last words
that he uttered were these at Is consolation 10
me that have myself witnessed. even At 50 great
cost the complete success Of my ievorite arm lie
spoke few words more, ana died nus eAueu tne
military and earthly career Of hlnggod me lS'ner OF
The Flying Artillery He fell the hrst field that wit
messed its triumph II he had gained glory enough
Tor one man-for this triumph WAS his own You have
been pleased Sir 10 aude 20 the fact that the Empire
state is the place of my birth. my youth and my edu
,auon As dutiful son have never been unminiiul
n my parentage The mountains of the Highlands 10
which WAS born rambled aud climbed over 50 often,
when bow that every stone tree and cool spring Tor
miles around was As familiar 20 me a. the nresde Of
humble home These scenes OF my childhood ana
youth are too deeply stamped upon my heart and re-
collection ever 20 be forgotten AFTER TOE lapse OF years
when far away from my naiiVc land, even amid the
Ain of battle when the thought came over me ~ u
,t.n did come what will they LAY of this al home u
,roved An incentive to Increased exerton ihough
i,d ~ none in nv maternal love and attachment YET
an proud and happy 70 acknowledge that nave
many brothers who possess far stronger claims 70 the
limitation of our common mother otsbaite has oeen
AM ht la Mexico from Psio Alto 10 the Ciy IN "hlcl
be- ans of New.York have not had dlstheulsht1
,.rfiriuaton some # these sons brought snd arpes
I'D Ian their mothers lap the wTeAths of laurel when
hev gathered from the psins Of Chippewa toe hsh'
Il Queenstown, and the ued oi NlA-aFa NOR. 'uH"
hirty wears ago These gsTlands are mol "l'neiv"
ret ior the lesves that form hen are ever sf'th 10
,ur recent conflict with Mexico, tue Empire stSir u's
,oint with lust pride % her Worth, her Wool ger
Sclknap and host Of suboroinstes OF every stsuuf
OF she may rely with certainty that wherever these
men were found there was the brunt OF battle III
Is the organ OF nv friends and iollowcitfens peg
ron 70 eN press to them my grateful Acknowledgements
or the honor they have this DAY conferred upon nc
md 10 Accepi Sir for yourself in The same connection
nv poor thanks which have nothing 70 recommend
hen but their sincerity
.,h.. lain fhera "a OF