Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-02-24
Presentation Of The Flags of the Second
and Third Regiments.

The ceremony Of presenting and accepting the
Flags Of the Second and Third Regiments of the In
diana Volunteers took place before audi
tofy in the Representatives Hail. on last Saturday.
The flag of the Second Regiment was presented by
Hon. JOHN s. DAVIS, who remarked:
Mr.. PRESIDENT Il am charged by the Spencer
Greys with the high duty of presenting this honored
and taered banner through you, to the State of In
diana.
Sir, in looking upon this flag, and in the perform
ance of the duty of presenting it, associations crowd
upon my mind, tending much 10 embarrass and over
power Under its folds, and in defence of it. fell
some of my best and most valued friends. Under this
flag fell Robson GoFF, STEPHENS, BAYLEY and other
noble spirits. pray, Sir, that | may not be over
come by my feelings in the performance of this
Tenn duty.
Every stitch upon this banner was placed there by
the fair hands of the accomplished and patriotic ladies
lof my own town, New AlbanyD and was presented
to tine Spencer Greys, a company of gallant young
men from that city and vicinity In consequence of
the beauty and elegance Of this flag, ii adopted
lust before the battle of Buena Vista, the Battle
Banner of the second regiment of volunteers, to
which the Spencer Greys belonged. And, sir, during
that battle, this flag regarded the beacon star
OF their hopes and the inspiring watch word of their
fate it waved amid the smoke and hurricane of bat
tic on that bloody field
Just before the Spencer Greys left New Albany,
this flag was presented by the lovely ladies of that
Lieut. CAYcE with the pledge that it should be
dlshonored. Nobly-most nobly was that pledge re-
deemed. Redeemed, sir by some of the best blood of
our State.
May heaven bless those who gave, and those who
defended this glorious banner
Much, Sir has been said against the second regi-
ment of Indiana volunteers; but examination, and
the list of the gallant dead, has shown that they did
their whole duty.
This banner, them Sir surrounded as it is with as
socations so patriotic and holy, now place in your
hands behalf of the Spencer Greys. Receive it
then, Sir, and place it among the archives of the
State memento of the daring vaor of her sons. and
the ranscendent beauty, virtue and patriotism of her
daughters.
Hon. PARIS C. DUNNING, made the following re-
tply:
SENATOR DAVIS II have been deputed in behalf Of
the State of Indiana to accept this beautiful flag pre-
sented through you by the patriotic and chvolrous
"Spencer Greys."
highly appreciate the distinguished honor confer
red upon me, in thus acting the organ OF the State.
Permit me to assure you and the gallant volunteers
whom you honorably represent, that 10 the people
of Indiana, and especially to the representatives pres
ent, it most solemn and deeply interesting
sion.
This flag as you have just stated, was made and
presented TO Captain Sandersons company of Spencer
Greys, by the far hands of the ladies' of New Alba
community of American ladies have shown more pa
trioc devotion, rendered more effective encourage
ment to the cause of their country, or have higher
claims to admiration and gratitude. render but
Just tribute of respect to female character, when
declare that the mothers of the revolution and the la
dies of all subsequent wars, have proven them
selves in the hour of peril to be always right, always
united and always upon the side of their country, Its
honor, and its free institutions.
This beautiful flag was received from the hands OF
| its far donors, with solemn pledge that it should
never be dshonored. How nobly that pledge has been
redeemed Its present tattered condition will better tell
than any language | can express
In consequence of its beauty and elegance, this flag
was adopted a few days before the battle of Buena
Vista, the Battle Banner of the second regiment Of
Indiana volunteers; in that capacity it was borne
aloft upon that memorable day by the brave and pa
triotic Lieut.. KUNKLE in the thickest and hottest of
the fight Ii was the 'beacon star OF the hopes, and
inspiring watch word of the brave but much SANDER
ed men of the second Indiana volunteers, many OF
whom yielded up their lives willing sacrifices upon
the altar of their common country, and whose bones
now bleach upon the battlefield in foreign land.
This fog thus consecrated to the of our COM
mon country by the blood of many of Indiana's no.
best sons, has returned amongst US, bleGched, ,cdr
corn and tatered to tell its own mournfu yet eo-
quent story. 1t speaks of the toilsome march in a
distant land in the enemys country it speaks of pri
walton and peril it speaks of bloody strife, of heroic
achievements, of unparalleled bravery, and of the
glorious triumph of arms; il speaks Of the mourn
full, yet glorious death of Warren Robinson, Apolos
Stephens, Charles Golf and Francis Bayey, members
of the company of the Spencer Greys; it speaks oil
the distant plain it speaks of the compact and ad-
vancng columns of Santa Annals Mexican cohorts
speaks of the comparatively small force of General
Taylor, the hero of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma
Monterey and Buena Vista, "who never surrenders :;
il speaks of the murderous fire to which the brave
men of the second Indiana regiment were exposed il
speaks of the manly resistance Of citizen soldiery
against the attack of the Mexican egions; it speak:
of the lamented KINDER whose youthful form and
elastic step are familiar to many who are now within
these halls 1t speaks of his manly bearing willis
rushing to the thickest and hottest Of the fight il
speaks of his PROSTATE form, of his cruel and inhu
man death by perfdious foe-intent upon gluttlne
their savage and thrice refined vengeance upon hi:
} helpless form; it speaks of the melancholy death o
the heroic Captain WALKER, the fires of whose pa
triotc heart the frosts of more than sixty winters
unable TO abate. Sir, my feelings will not per
nit me to dwell longer upon this part of the picture
the horrors of not always to be avoided
such was the in the present war with Mexico.
Sir, IN the name Of the State of Indiana, | thanl
you, Captain Sanderson and the Spencer Greys, 70
this invaluable present 1t will afford me much plea
sure place it in the State Library to be preserves
as relic and memento Of the general and interesn.
events with which it is associated, and which it
a good to keep alive, and cherish in the memory o
present and future generations.
e Future generations will look upon this "Battle Ban
: ner," and by the aid of concurrent history, will re
n gard it with the lively feelings of admiration
for the deeds of glory in arms and the deep de
votion 10 country which prompted those who nobl
rallied around and defended it upon the sanguinar
battlefield of Buena Vista.