The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-11-16

We find in the Springfield Journal OF the 30ti
ult the following very in.eres,n- account of III,
rroso,,o,;or IS !. s,,ora,,, g., r., -
/, :. .is"''' vi NC
nan OF the state 10 captain JonN PORE, native
of Illinois. The speeches ON both sides are very
neat anil ,nr,onr;ato
o.
PRESENTATION OF THE SWORD
This ceremony took pliee on Saturday. the Sd
inst. at ten o'clock, n m in the Hall of Represcn
taiives, IN presence of the members Of the Gene
raj Assembly, and a large number of ladies, cit
zens and strangers. -.
His Excellency Cor. French in presenting the
sword, thus addressed Capt Pope:
SIN; The Legislature Of this state has made il
my duty to present toyou II sword, voted by that
body. This duty now most checrfully perform
In presenting you with II, need not remind yor
that it IS designed as a testimonial of the highre
gard which your native state entertains of youl
services and your bravery. Illinois feels proud
the cnyalry of her sons. But there il one feature
IN me resolution unlerwhich act. which can
not siio" 60 pass wit.'0u H5,.,e' Vi - poo
pe oi your native state feel u just pride in the da
ring OF her sons amid strife and carnage, they will
never cease to recognize and admire the exhibi
tofS 81 one OF the noblest features in the charac
yer oi the truly brave inan-hunanity-so str.
kmgly illustrated in your own example, while
bearing your woundedald bleeding cOmradc from
| a storm OF battle to place Of security And
shond tha time again come, when your country
snail demand your services, feel assured you
WIZ never forget the object for which this is now
rendered 10 you.
captain Pope replied;
GOVERNOR: Tho strange position in which
ma myself by ehigh and most Undeserved com.
pUih'nt pad me by the Legislature, will, trust,
NC ~, excuse Tor not expressing 10 YOU as wildly
~ feel them, my sensation Of deep and heart.
let gratitude. The profession which | adopted
curry IN lie, 50 distinct from the friends and asso-
ciateS oil nay youth, and my long absence irommy
hativG state, had induced me to believe that ex-
! c'pt ny my own family and relations, | was I'M
noticed or forgotten. In foreign land, surround
Ell by strangers, and in the midst of deadly strife
THIS splendid testimonial ofthe Partially and kind
y regard Of my native state impressed me with
efnotl"n' too deep for utterancc, and such ms ne
yer before experienced from that hour, felt
thit' not to myseli alone. was responsible formy
c!re'; ~ a.ter lie; but that 1t became animpera-
ave du'y so to deport myself as to merit, rs far as
possible The continued appreciation Of state
"h'ch hai cherished so nobly and generously, the
interests or an absent citizen. am neither yYu-
Gus nor stolcal enough to say to You. ps~H this
v~ord shall never be drawn but in Just cause
oht mere devote both 1t and myself to-the ser
wee 'i ms my native state whether right or wrong
The events ola few months which brought about
the battle Of Buena Vista, gave me occasion to re-
Jo'ce. thousand times for the sake ofny ownrep
utation, that had not been forced at Monterey to
contend IN galantry with the citizens Of my ma
1--WE state and convinced me that the reward you
nave bestowed upon me was far more Justly mer-
Eeu oY every man from Illinois, whether officer or
soldier, VINO appeared upon the heights of Buena
VISTA.
IN common with every officer of the regular ar
my watched with intense anxiety, for the arri-
vli IN Mexico OF the troops from my native state
NY military education had taught me TO place lit
tie confidence in volunteer troops and great as
vas my anxiety tiIfTt ~ oppJuiii5; ios dissiHc-
ton should be offered to the regiments from Hi
nois, must confess tint my fears were equally
grea; that they would .ot so dcport themselves
as To place Illinois whrc she now stands-fore-
most N the gallant deeds of the war
The march Of the tw, regiments under Hardin
and BsScll from parrR, their junction with the
forces with Gen. Taylor and the rapid advance of
'ne Mexican army upon Saltillo, We're the events
oi lew days; and the evening of the 23d of Feb
rury' lslh found the iwo hostile armies facing
,A'h olher IN the detit7 of Bucn Vista. All
h'c" wen mat not only did the brilliant result Of
the previous victories General Taylor depend
upon Inc issue OF the approaching contest; hut
we EheW new. equally well hut for Ne. it was strug
sl' Tor HE and death. The military appearance
ln'' u'Sc'Piiled anu congldent department Of the
t"o regiments from Illinois, convinced me thatthc
i''or oi my naive state was IN safe keeping and
returned I" Saitllo with little hope of the sue
cess'El Issue OF the battl' but elngperlcctly as
feu ui"t LIMOS was ABOUT to thrust herself Ivy
te gallant deeds OF her 'odicrS, into the foremost
''i ~, among the states oithe Union.
Inc dawn oi day iond General Taylor, with
se lew Officers OF his staff at saltillo, five miles
ltoi'I .Io hGid; ana as the sun rose above the no
fNo'' ,he distant booming OF the heavy artillery
nun ',c 'front.' announced To Us the commencement
vi ,'H oa't'c oi buena Vista.
.i'ihot describe to you the moddening excite
li'ch! o.a nelu nattle, To man ardent and enthu-
sn'sit III MS character nor the intense and eager
impotence with winch we awaited the final ar
Judgements OF General Taylor, before he placed
h'fiisei AT the head OF the army.
AS we approached the field Of battle, the sounds
OF the deadly strife came more loudly aud distinct
~ 70 our cars; ana We began to encounter upon
,hc road hrSt singly and then in bodies, the fug
yves irom our own army. Their hasty accounts
oil the engagement were FIR from encouraging;