The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-17


our government can and will be maintained
against all its foes, whether foreign Or do
,tnestic-and then be taught the invaluabl
lesson that the constitution and laws mus
be obeyed, and then our country will enio,
a permanent peace .,sal ss'ts
Gentlemen soldiers, with these assurances
you can 60 to the tented field with clear con
science and courageous hearts Should yo,
be called upon to go to the field Of conflict
remember that the sympathias and prayer.
of your friends win follow you; and should
you fall upon the battle field, your memorie.
will be embalmed in their hearts; or should
you be permitted to return again to YOU
homes, you will be hailed and welcomed a.
defenders of our country. And now receive
this flag and may it forever wave "wi,hou
a nglfstripc furnished, or single star OBJ
sscured," and continue TO be, as it hitherto
has been, the emblem Of our Union, the Con.
stitution, the Government and our Country
Reply Of Mr. Allen. on behalf Of the Guards
LADrEs-It appears that am called upon
to express the sentiments of the Guards upon
this imnortant occasion. | am sorry that I
cannot hope to be able to do it as it ought
to be done, for this is an occasion, and this
isa day long TO be remembered in our little
town. These are evcntful days indeed, when
our ladies are manufacturing flags and our
boys are putting on military airs and uni
forms 1t shows that there is pride that
there is a Spirit, in our town and county
and that there is life in our people, that they
will be able and ready to defend their own
honor, the stability Of our State, and the in
tegrity of the great Republic.
| accept this fine fag-thc emblem of our
nationality-as present from the ladies Of
Agency City to the Agency City Guards, in
whose behalf beg leave 10 return to the la
dies the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for
this exhibition of their generous kindness
and nolle patriotism, hoping that they may
never have cause to regret the day or blush
for the conduct of the Guards.
This flag viii be cherished by them as
Kind memento, prepared by your fair hands.
Its every star and every stripe will be dear,
and every stitch and every thread will be sa
cred, and its folds, when thrown to the breeze
viii bring kind remembrances wherever it
may float, whether on the dress parade. or
on the field Of battle, when its dignity is as
sailed or insulted, they will resist it, they
will defend it, and revenge it to the last car
fridge, and to the last man. They will never
desert it, whether called upon at noe n lay or
in the dead Of night. whether amidst the
flashing of lightning or the roar of cannon,
whether amidst the bail of musketry or the
clash of sabres, whether on the verge of the
the precipice or on the banks of the gushing
stream, they will stand by through perils and
dangers, ever regarding it as the gift of wo.
men and the emblem of their own and their
country's honor, cheering it on wherever il
may lead forlorn hope to deeds of honor
and glory. ...
know our lady friends deplore tie air of
campo and the shock Of war. they are terri
ble in the extreme, bat also know thai to
them disrespect and dishonor is far more
terrible and more insuherable. Permit me
to say then that when the honor of the Ia
dies, of our flag, and of our country demands
it, the Guards viii be on hand and ready 10
act at the sound Of the trum yet.