The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-12
Sword Presentation 10 Col. siarl,wcn.h-

The officers ofthe FIRST Wisconsin Regiment
on the LIST inst, presented an elegant sword to
Coi. Starkweather. The Chaplain. j. McNa-
mara, was appointed Ch'm'n of the Presentation
Committee, and Capt. Samuel, of Co. f. WAS
designated to deliver the address. The onis-
| uihe Journal published the full account Of the
affair, from which we quote:
The sword blade is composed Of the frsst
| Damascus steel, Of goodly length and WEIGHT
with extra gold-p!ated hit, and bearing the in.
scription in neat letters" John c. Starllweatb
Ell, from the officers OF the First Regiment Wis.
consin Volunteers, November, 1861" The scab-
bard is of beautiful pure silverwith cold mount
| ing. The belt and sash are very substantial and
of the latest fashions. After reeimental drill,
on the 30th Of November, 1861, the battalion
was formed in hollow square, Lieutenant Col
unel Lane commanding. His orders were brief
" Orders arms! Rest. Col. Starkweather,
Capt. Samuel" The Captain, smiling bandly
stepped forward, and i'll presenting the sword
30 our gallant Colonel, made the following neat
and stirring address:
| Col. STARKWEATHER: In behalf of the
officers Of the regimen: under your command,
have the honor and pleasure of presenting, for
your acceptance, this memento Of our confidence
in you as an able ,.nd brave commander, know
ing it will never be sheathed in disgrace to the
cause Of our country
Although it is to be regretted by all that the
exigencies of the times should demand the clash
ing of arms and the shedding Of blood, i'll pre-
senting this sword we have no misSivings re-
garding It's being unsheathed but in defence of
truth and right
When say that, during the short period we
have been under your command, warm friend
ship towards you has been engendered and
deeply rooted in our hearts, | do but give ut
terance to the sentiment universally prevalent
among my brother officers This sentiment is
heightened by the respect called forth by the
exercise of those qualities which bespeak no.
bic heart and brave soldier,
As we have the utmost confidence in your
ability to lead your command, which has al
ready won an enviable fame, on to fresh laurels
we shall proudly follow where it may beckon
and may It's cleaning be signal for us to strike
for our tiag-heaven born colors. And, finally
may sword and bearer return unscathed from
the scenes OF strife and carnage which may fol-
low. When the pipes Of peace shall sound the
requiem of war, and the husbandman shall once
more return to honest toil-covered with glory
rs brave defender of his country, as a gallant
and beloved officer, you may retire amid the
scenes OF peace, conscious of having discharged
your duty to you country, God and liberty
while those for whom you have perilled your
all shall hail you as friend and benefactor, crown
ing sword and wearer with laurels of victory.
At the conclusion of which, Col. Starkweath-
er, in accepting the sword, with evident emo
ton, said:
BROTHER OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS The
presentation of this beautiful sword and its ap-
pendages takes me exceedingly by surprise. 1t
was SO unexpected and unlocked for that it
| embarrasses me much, and words fail me in ex-
pressing to you my feelings and gratitude, but
as 1t is, accept my sincere and heartfelt &C
acknowledgements for this, your most generous
gift We have banded ourselves together Civ.
ing our lives, many Of us our fortunes, and must
OF us our all, for the purpose of supporting and
maintaining this great and glorious Govern
mcnt which has been given 10 us by our faith
ers. Some Of us carry the gun and some of us
WELD the sword, for the purpose OF its support
and defence, and | sincerely trust lhat the time
is not far distant when all the States, from the
extremes Of the North to the extremes of the
South, may be bound together by one glorious
| Union, cemented by the one great and common
| bond, the Constitution, and that this war which
is so awful in all its details may soon pass away
and numbered with the things that are known
10 more forever. l accept this sword, then not
as gift to me as man, but as gift TO me as
an officer and soldier, to be used and welded
when the occasion may require or the opportu-
nifty offers in defence Of our common country
and, God willing, so long as either of these two
arms are able to carry it, so long shall it be used
and welded in its defence, only to be sheathed
when the glorious Stars and Stripes shall wave
over all the States as the recognized flag of the
country.
And you may TEST assured, brother officers
and soldiers, that i'll no event shall any blot or
stain rest upon this fair blade to tarnish its pu-
lity and brightness, unless it be the blood of
those who are traitors. Again, gentlemen, 1
thank you.
When the Colol,el had concluded his eloquent
and touching speech, he was greeted with three
rousing cheers and big min"
JOHN MCNAMARA. Chairman.
CAMP BUELL., Kentucky, Dec. /.