Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-04
NAsHVILEF.
rHE nlaT.nAF 100


as 6sign-pOst in the path Of time b thousands
Of the noble and beautifol daughters snd warm
hearted and chivslrous sons Of Tennesses-as the
occasion Of renewal Of the patriotic fires uFon the
altar Of Liberty. Such scenes IS we're witnessed in
this city on Saturday last, srs well caleulated to
inspire 8 frmer and loftier and higher devotion T.
our glorious Union.
According to the programme heretofore published,
the anniversary celebration Of the Provisional
Government, Of 1850, and Of the formation Of the
Tennessee Historical Society, Is49, took place
Gen. B. F CHEkTHAE aeting as Chief Marshal,
assisted by number Of Aids. The old soldiers Of
the war Of 1872, were present in respectable mum
bers while the soldiers of the Seminole and Florida
Campaigns were wen represented The remnant
Of the "BlOOdy First" and Mexican war soldiers
generally, Were usual a. their post, in this joy
full reunion. The ladies Of the Nashville Female
Aoademy-all the scholars attached to the 25 public
schools Of the eity-the students Of the Western
Military Inslitute-the Shelby Guards-the Typo
graphical Union-and various societies and assOca-
lions, with men and women, beyond calculation,
poured forth to Watkins Grove the western suburbs
Of the city hear the speeches and the music and
trioua ancestors We regret our inability to give
fun synopsis Of the days work. but win make such
running sketch as we are athletic do without being
81 all familiar with al the incidents Of the interest
ing occasion.
Before the procession was formed, the old soldiers
Of 1912, SO, sc, we're invited to the Female
Academy where they were welcomed in a short ad-
dress by the popular principal Rev. C. D. ELLIOTT,
and where hey had an opportunity Of locking
through thespaoious apartments Ofthattime-hOnored
institution, and where too, they introduced to
the fair inmates Of its classic walls.
After arriving at the Grove, the ceremonies Of the
day we're opened by music from BOnning's Brass
Band, which had done good service in the line Of
march-vhen Rev. DR.. ELLIOTT, on behalf Of the
young ladies Of the Academy, returned the Flag Of
the First Tennessee Regiment in the war with
Mexico, to the Regiment, and made an eloquent and
thrilling presentation speech. The Flag was re-
ceived by Gen ". B. CAMPBELL, of Wilson, who
replied in an admirable manner, and then presented
the Flag to the Historical Society Of Tennessee,
which was received by Col A. ". PUTNAM, the
President of said Society in timely and interesting
address.
DR.. ELLIOTT also presented portion Of the Gag
staff Of the enemy, dOnsted by l. G. STEWART, Of
Sumner county, and which was also given to the
Historical Society, to accompany the Regimental
flag. The following letter from Mr.. STEWART, to
DR. E., speaks for itself;
HARTsvmIE, Tenn, April 29, 1858.
Rev c. D. ELLIOTT;
Dear Sr:-Permit me through you, to present to
the Young Ladies Of the Nashville Academy, pOr-
ton Of the Mexican Flag staff, which fell into my
hands at Monterey the 2lst day Of September
1876, during the engagement between the United
States troops under General Taylor, and the Ms1i-
can forces commanded BY General Ampudis.
picked up said staff at the foot Of the wall Of
the Fort soon after it had fallen from said Fort,
the Mexcans having already torn the Flag from the
Staff and carried it off with them in their retreat
1t was at first much longer than at present. the re-
mainder having been cut away in small pieces as
mementos.
A few fragments Of the Flag remained OF the
staff, it being attached to the staff by the brass
tscks which are now in it. Il was but a short time
after the Mexican cOlors fell from the Fort that the
United States standard was seen floating in proud
niumph on the very spot from which they had
fallen. That standard, sir, the same presented
to the First Regiment Of Tennessee Volunteers by
the Young Ladies Of the Nashville Female Academy,
and was planted there by the gallant men to whom
they had intrusted that emblem of their country's
valOr. glory.
,5Eejw desire this Staff be presented TO them in
the name Of the Bloody First, make such DISPOSE
ton as they may deem it,
Yours respectfully,
L. G. STEWART
Dr. ELLIOTT also presented the following letter
from Col SAMUEL R. ANDERSON, which explains his
absence on the occasion:
NASHVILLE, TEEHEssEE, April %, 1858.
To Req. c. D. Elliott:
Ny DEAR SIR: greatly regret that business
engagement, which will not bear psstpOnement, viii
require my absence from the City Oh the LIST day Of
Nay and that 1 shall thus be deprived Of particle
lating in the interesting ceremonies Of that day.
cannot, however, permit the occasion Of the final
presentation Of the dear old Flag Of the LIST Tonnes
see Regiment to the Historical Society for perpetual
keeping TO pass, without according tear Of sorrow
to the memory Of those gallant spirits who fell be-
meath its folds at Monterey and CerrO GOrdO; and
renewal Of sympathetic pride which the survivors
feel in the triumphs which it witnessed.
I should be happy to mingle again With those
survivors Of the events, which made that Flag so
glorious a relic They will personally bear witness
TO the young ladies of your Academy, successors Of
those whose fair hands made the Flag, that next to
that love Of country which is an Americans first
impulse, the recollection Of those who made the
Flas was the thought which most deeply inspired
those who carried it in triumph through the conflicts
in Mexico.
/ shall be with you and with my fOrresE comrades
in spirit and in sympathy the day Of :be transfer
Of the Flag And am, with great respect, your
friend, sc. S. R. ANDERSON.
After music, Col THos. T. SMILEY read an &C.
count, addressed to the Historical Society, Of the
part the Ist Tennessee Regiment had in the with
Mexico. This was written by our fellOW-citizen,
Maj. ADOIFHUs HEMAN, and is an exceedingly in
tsresting paper, and we hope will ba published.
Then followed the Grafton Of the day, by Hon.
JAMES N. DAVIDSON, Of Lincoln, and we truly
say that it was listened to with unusual interest by
the immense crowd who could get in hearing distance,
although hundreds could not obtain standing room
within the range Of the orators voice. 1t was re-
plete with historic truths beautiful imagery, classic
metaphors, and elegantly rounded sentences. The
speech was worthy Of the occasion, the theme, and
the man
After the return Of the young ladies to the Fe
male Academy, whittier they were escorted by the
shelby Guards and Bonuings Brass Band, they all
partoOk Of a sumPtuQus dinner, prepared for the
occasion by the principal and his lady AID to which
the soldiers AMI musicians say they did ample jus
tioe.
Great credit is due to Mr. SAMUEL WATKINS for
the use Of the grounds, the water, and the tables
prepared for the collation., while the Lady Managers
and those who attended to the provisions, discharged
their duty beyond all praise. On the whole every
hing went of delightfully."-, except perhaps, the
lack Of provisions to feed such an immense multi
tude Of eople. On the stand, and in the process
sion. we're the Flags Of the 81 Tennessee Regiment
snd the Flag Of the war Of 1872, known as the Gen
A'sooRE 6aly.
Y The stard at the Grove was covered with a cur
tain. eOnta lining the stars and stripes, whilst the
border, or fringe, contained the names of eli the