Worcester daily spy., 1861-08-08
Presentation of "a Banner to the FIf-
teenth Regiment.

Presentation of "a Banner to the FIf-
teenth Regiment.
Several ladies of this city have interested
themselves in providing an elegant flag for our
Worcester county regiment and yesterday af
ternoon the ceremony of presentation took
place in the City Hall, the rainy weather not
admitting of the presentation upon the com-
mon, before the Whole regiment, as was in
tended. The field and staff officers of the reg
iment, and the commissioned officers of the
several companies were present, accompanied
by the regimeutai band. They were escorted
to the hall by the officers of the twenty first
regiment, and were there welcomed by the la
dies through whose patriotic eXeTlions the
banner had been secured Mayor Davis pre-
prayer that those to whom the flag was to be
entrusted might never tire, in the good work,
until it shall wave over all places in our broad
land, the symbol OF liberty, union, and peace.
Hon. George F. Hoar came forward with the
splendid gift in his hand, and in behalf Of the
ladies', spoke as follows, while he gave the flag
into the charge of Col Devens:-
MR.. HoARs SPEECH.
Colonel and Officers of the Fifteenth Regiment:
l am deputed by the ladies of Worcester to
present 10 you this banner. Eighty four years
ago to-day there were mastering in these
streets the first regiment ever raised in Wor-
cester county for actual warfare, the fifteenth
regiment of the Massachusetts line. What
hard fought fields at Monmouth and Trenton,
what suferings at Valley Forge, what glory
and victory at Saratoga and Yorktown have
made that name famous, history has recorded.
And now that, for the second time, Worcester
county sends out to battle full regiment of
her sons, by coincidence too appropriate TO
be called accident, the name which your IA
Tiers rendered illustrious has been allotted to
you. What they won for us it is yours TO
preserve for us.
The ladies of Worcester desire TO testify,
that, while you strive 10 emulate the courage
and self devotion of your fathers, they still
cherish the sentiments which animated the
| mothers of the Revolutionary times. Take
| this banner, as a token that there are those at
| home to whom the cause in which you are en-
listed is precious. AS you look upon its folds,
blazoned with the dear emblems of the coun
try, let it bring the thought of the mothers,
| sisters, wives, without whom country wonad
be worthless. Amid the hardships and temp
tations of the camp, and the dangers Of tile
those TO whom your welfare is dear. Absent
but with most intense spiritual presence, wher
ever you go, whatever you may suffer or dare
they will be with you. And when you return
your duty all well done, liberty established
law vndcated, peace restored, bring back witt
you this flag. Know that
- there are bright eyes will mark
Your coming, and grow Brighter when You come
If when they next look upon it, they shal
it matters not, if there is no rent in tie Uniof
of which it is the symbol, no stain on tht
honor of the sons OF Worcester, 10 whom it i.
entrusted.
AS the speaker finished, "The Star Span
gled Banner" was played by the regimenta
band with fine effect, and Col. Devens, receiv
ing the flag from Mr.. Hoar, responded in be
half of the regiment under his command, sub
| StantiallV gs f,,llows