Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-20
junction. with a small but most gallant, scisn.

junction with q small but most gallant, scien-,
tihc and thoroughly drilled regular army, upon
which as nucleus they formed, nobly sustain
ed Their country's arms, and made every field
field of victory. #N
! IL rs beautiful to see the energies Of mar
tal people, with such capabilities and resources
/ Tor war, devoted TO the arts OF peace. lit would
be fearful to see them exerted in q great strug-
/ gle OF arms. A nation, however, which can
readily summon to the field five hundred thou
sand brave, intelligent, hardy men, accustomed
from boyhood to the saddle, and to the use of
the rifle and the musket, is not in condition
to invite aggression by any supposed want of
ability to repel it.
| have detained you too long but you will
pardon these thoughts, which come to the mind
| spontaneously on an occasion like this You
are not unImindful Of the dignity and import
ance OF your position as citizen soldiers at a
period when the United States have become
one OF the great powers hereafter to direct the
destiny of man. The social position and ele
waited character of the members of this batta
hon, the respect universally accorded to them
at home, cannot fail to animate with fresh
impulse the volunteer militia of New Hamp-
SHIRE. tender to you my Acknowledgements
Tor the service you are rendering our native
State IN this and in other respects and beg
you to accept my cordial thanks for the graft
tlcation which your visit affords me personally.
shall hope to see each and all of you, before
your departure, in manner less formal than
the present occasion will admit Wishing You
the highest degree of enjoyment you can have
anticipated, | desire to avail myself Of the
privilege often enjoyed before, of grasping you
Individually by the hand.
The following account of the visit of the
| Veterans" to Mount Vernon, and proceedings
there, we take from the correspondence of the
Baltimore Sun, of yesterday 1t will be read
with interest, while the day, and its association
will long be cherished in the memories of the
"Stark Veterans"
At an early hour this morning President
Pierce made visit to the United States Hotel
and paid his respects to his old friends and
neIghbors, the Amoskeag Stark Veterans. He
| also extended to them an invitation to dine
with him and his Cabinet Ministers, at the
Mansion, to. morrow afternoon at four o'clock.
The invitation was respectfully declined, and a
social party tomorrow afternoon substituted
Our harbor has not looked so gay for a long
| time. The steamers and vessels displaying
their national banners whilst other flags. bur
gees and pendants foated finely in the breeze.
AT half-past nine o'clock, the Veterans, with
their celebrated band of music, flags, &c. took
up The line OF march in true military style for
the steamer George Washington, under COM
mand of Captain Job Corson They were also
accompanied by Lieut. Col. Reilly, Major Kew
worth, Adjt. Peter F. Bacon, Surgeon Duhamel
delegation from the Presidents Mounted
| Guard, Washington Light Infantry, National
/ W i
ably an hundred private citizens On reach
ing the wharf such was the degree of intensity
manifested that the other beautiful steamer the
| Thomas Collyer, Captain Gedney, with private
citizens, was brought into requistion and de-
| spatched little in advance
| On the wharf the visitors and their associ-
ates were met and cordially welcomed by that
venerable man, Col George Washington Parke
GUSTS, extending both hands with cordial.
welcome to the metropolis of our common
country. This scene was peculiarly affecting.
Here advanced band of New England's noble
men-gentlemen of education quick discern
ment wealth and influence. They are for the
| first time in their fe's history about to tread
the sacred soil of Mount Vernon, portion of
the Old Dominion. The people of the Middle
States greeted them with every demonstration
of kindness. AT this point they are welcomed
by the hearts and hands of sixty thousand
people, and now, as they step on board the gay
steamer, proudly to sail on the beautiful Poto
mac, they are approached, saluted, and well
coined by one of the most venerated citizens.
The relative and coadjutor of Washington
The North and tile South are one and we this
day feel itin our heart of hearts,
Arriving at the Alexandria wharf, an i'm
mense crowd focked hither of all ages and
color, to witness the Amoskeag Veterans; whilst
landing the band played Hail Columbia The
boat then proceeded to Fort Washington. and
whilst landing the band played yankee
| Doodle" Upon landing the Veterans, together
with the citizens, joined in the line of march
and proceeded to visit the Fort-after arriving
there Col. Potter gave orders to break ranks,
and after spending half an hour in viewing the
buildings, the Company returned to the boat,
and resumed their journey to Mount Yer
non. The Captain as usual tolled his bell
upon reaching the home Of Washington,
and the band struck up the solemn dirge Of the
Dead March" The Company upon landing,
formed In line, and marched up to gaze upon
the place where rests the mortal remains of
him who was the Father Of his Country. The
band then played "Washingtons Grand March
The battalion werethen drawn up in line, and
they marched past the tomb with heads un-
covered
Col. Potter then addressed his battalion, and
in his remarks alluded to the privilege Of being
permitted to gaze upon the place where rests
the remains Of him who was " first in war, first
in peace and first in the hearts of his country.
men," he dwelt upon his virtues, and remarked
that he knew "no North, no South, no East,
no West"
Gen. Geo. w. p. Custis, the grandson and
only surviving relative Of Gen. Washington,
was then introduced to the Veterans, by Col.
Potter. In the course of his remarks he said
no man would 60 from this place without being
better man, soldier and patriot.
He then referred to the battles Of Lexington,
Concord, Charlestown, and said that all the
honor belonged to New England. In the
course of his remarks, he related many pleas
ing anecdotes, and was listened to with deep
attention. The Company then marched to the
old Homestead, and after registering their
names, they partook of handsome collation.,
prepared by our worthy townsman, John Petit
bone. After this they returned TO the boat