The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-08-16
Presentation ofa Banner to Capt,
McClelland's Company.

| lHc lOitoNiuB 10. tle. HuuTeSS OF MISS
MARY L. BARRETT on the occasion of pre-
senting Banner, wrought by the ladies
Of Charleston and vicinity, to Capt. Nc
CLELLANp's Company on the eve of their
departure for the war:
"Captaia and Soldiers: The fad beneath
whose soft folds now stand, has been
thus beautifully wrought by the friends
of you aud your gallant Company, and
| upon mo has devolyed the pleasing duty
OF presenting il. Its striking colors and
brilliant stars betoken no holiday excur-
sion to those who will march beneath it,
but write, as with @ pen of fire. upon each
true, heart, a long story of wrongs and
! oppressions-of wrongs and expressions
| which, in the sight Of heaven and angels,
| tits time TO avenge. When you remem-
| ber that bloody, protracted, and relent-
| less war has been inaugurated by those
who should have maintained peace for
their own interest as we'll rs ours; when
| you remember that they brand you as
rebels and traitors that to you and us is
denied the rights Of an honorable, civiliz-
| ed warfare; when you remember the lust
ofrobbery and murder is their only incen-
| tive to cheer them on in. their work OF
death, that they will not like you, be fight
| ing for their altars, firesides, and Just
rights; your strong arms and brave hearts
will be nerved to resistance that will be
adequate to the necessity. Amid the
| thunder and smoke of battle the sweet
remembrance OF your homes, your wives,
mothers, daughters and sisters, will steal,
| like the perfume of flowers, around your
hearts and nerrp thom on to victory or
the grave; and doubt not that the page
| OF history, in days to come, will live and
burn with gallant deeds OF Tennessee's
brave sons Soldiers! preservs her honor
unsullied. Let not this standard suffer
disgrace! 1f,need be, let every star be
shot from it's blue field, and every bar. be
rent to shreds by hostile bullets, but never
suffer it to kiss the dust. Keep rs a pre-.
cious souvenir in your hearts, those words,
Home and Liberty" and "NeUtr surren-
der, nerer retreot" Then will your welcome
dispatches homeward be, eve came, we
saw, we conquered" Accept now this
flag, and next TO your own honos and the
| glory OF our common country, remember
twhase hands have engraven their handi-
work upon il: and remember, too, you are
dcubly armed, because Your cause Is Just.
May the God of Battles chlisten you amid
your bloody baptisms His children, and
shower blessings upon your heads smiles
upon your hearts and victoryin your path!
Mr.. s. McCAMY received the Flag in be-
half OF the Company; and responded
with the following remarks: ..
"Ladies and Gentlemen: | have no apollo.
ges to offer, but would say that | am
wholly unaccustomed to public speaking
therefore confess it is with reluctance
appear before you today for the purpose
Of saying few words to citizens of Char
lesion and Calhoun, and to receive that
beautiful Flag. The occasion that has
brought us together is one of peculiar in
terest. Many of us are on the eve of leav-
ing our business, our homes and firesides
There seems TO be grand comminglina
of all the avocations in life to that of the
soldier Some are called from the plow
and some from their profession some
from one pursuit and some from another
all eager and willing to do anything tha
will but promote the inteaest, welfare anC
prosperity Of the country. The clarion o
war has been sounded throughout tn,
land, and the noble response of the sol
dicr everywhere is, 1--WE are ready~
We are now called upon to prepare fo
the battlefield and we must necessarily
bid adieu to friends, mothers, fathers
brothers and sisters. And some will hav,
to undergo much more healt-rendin,
ordeal, that OF separating with their be
loved wives and innocent babes. The re
Election to many is sad one. Yea, tn,
hearts of many are filled with sadness t.
OVERLOOKING. Methinks sec the sympa
thetlc tear now trickling down the cheek
Of some Of the matrons who have son
that are going with us, and, also, of thos
maidens who have fathers and brother
engaged in the noble cause. trust tha
our separation may be a short one. ]
may be only for few weeks or months
it may be for years, and, alas! il may b
forever. But beg all who are left benin,
in sadness, and distress, and anxiety 70
the welfare of your departed friends, b
of good cheer Remember that it is t
secure peace and freedom for you that W
now go forth to meet and repel the enc
my. Remember that our country calls u
and we must go. Our country is assailed
it is invaded, the rights of our people ar
denied them, and we intend to have then
cost what it will. Would it be patrioti
in us to permit the enemy thus to act un
molested. Must we remain idle whil
our enemies are marching upon us? Shal
we submit to thraidom, degradation, ant
subjugation? Can we ever see the iai
maidens of our country degraded and lev
eled to the condition of the Africanp
emphatically say, No. Never! These ar,
things that the Southern people can nev
er submit to. War is upon us--not OF oul
choice, for we regard it is as great ca
lamity, but it is forced upon us, and We
must meet it like men, and like brave
men VIC will meet it.
4 L,,n d., IL H. L., 4
some Flag, the handiwork of the patroti
ladies Of this place. which you have thi
day presented the Hiwassee BOYS, il
whose name it has been my pleasure t.
receive and accept it. And permit me j,
; behalf of the Company to tender you on
: sincere and heartfelt thanks for the ines
, Unable gift Of this Banner, whose color,
, the Red, the White, and Blue, are. tn
proud emblems Of Love. Purity, ana +
$ delity, Il trust and believe that you wi
lnever have occasion to.regret committin
4 IL to our bands.j i hope we may PROV
: ourselves worthy the confidence you r'
: pose in us. As some one in our Compi
+ nv will have the hmoieto be the bear,
# Of this beautiful Flag, and it will devol,
! upon him in the hour of battle TO take,
:. in his care and keeping; and will tax
l. be, that 50 long as he Is able to raise a
arm or hand, SO long shall its coiors
proudly unfurled TO the breeze
\ This Flag shall never be dishonorcd
1: long as the God of BATTLES shall 'enab
> the standard. bearer TO defend it, Whe
he shall have perished in its defenc
$ i.when our'arms shall have been paralyze
+, when our blood shall have ceased to flo
!, and our hearts to phlsate, il there is le
d survivor IN fhe field hope hewill n
!, suffer it tolbe captured. But it viii 4
= the pride and ambition of us ali to. s.
Q this beautiful Banner planted upon c
4. lumbia. soil. Nothing short of this will Il
w satisfy us; and when we shall have doI