New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-20
THE GERMAN VOLUNTEERS.


PRESENTATION TO THE DE KALB REGIMENT.
Americans observe with pleasure and pride the 10y
altv of their adopted felow-ctizens. IL was scarcely
in accordance with the antcpations Of the leaders OF
Rebellion that the first blow at the integrity Of the
United States should be accepted AS an indlgnhy by
the foreign pornaton the Free States in mass, but
their firm stand is the best guarantee TO the nations
they represent Of the value of those laws and ins'iiu-
tions which faction would violate and destroy The
preserta,ion Of "A ret of Aags and sword to the DE
Kalb Regiment, and their commanding Officer Col.
Leopold Won Gilsa by the family Of Il. a. Williams
ESQ.,. at their residence, No. u West TLriy-fourh
street, Yesterday afternoon, another pleasant
evidence Of this generous sympathy
At o'clock, the Regiment marched without arms
into the wide street. Crowds collected n front
of the fine house Of Mr. Wittbaus, and the windows
Of all the adjacent dwellings rife with the forms
of the fair. The regiment numbered about $50 men,
the greater part Germans, and all showing that COM
nae, and muscular form which has been noticed in all
the ranks Of their counirymen They were drawn up
by companies with entire precision before the house,
poeemen being thrown out on each wing Of the body,
and made very solid appearance. They looked
business. The exposure and discipline oi camp lie
told in the deep bronze Of the skin Of the Zouayes,
Il
II is not too high praise 10 say that the DE khlb
Regiment In ns driicd ANY body Of soldiers
10 service or preparing for the field Their evontons
indeed were executed with perfect IN niulty and
confidence as would seem attainabe by the severest
drill. The mas moved "a unit, and provoked hearty
cheers by each movement.
The Staff WAS ssembled on the sidewalk the Colonel
and bis aids having dismounied. Upon the steps, in
tie hall ard on the balconies stood a number Of III
yited guests including ladies Of fashion and gentlemen
of distinction.
We observed among the latter the Hon. George Ban
croft John Jacob Astor esq, and Col Franklin Of the
United States army with several prominent members
of the Union Defense Committee. A fine band, ac-
companying the Regiment, performed an air-pariotc
of course-and Mrs. Witthaus with her lovely family,
appeared before the troops. Mrs. Wthaus extended
brilliant silk banner. The Stars and Stripes were
welcomed with loud shout. The lady then addressed
the Regiment in very sweet but not generally audi
bic voice, ar follows:
Ofbcets and soldiers Of the De Kalb Regiment-lt
affords me much satisfaction 10 meet you here upon this
OCCASION to offer you my thanks FOR your noble re-
sponse couDtrys cll, when rebellion and law
lees violence have at last compelled s sorowfully TO
Law aide the ovebranch and draw the sword IN seli-
defense-when treason bath raised is frairiidal arm
TO strike deah-blow TO that Union which our fathers
made for usthereiore, repeat, ii with satisfaction
aud heartfelt gratitude that | see such men as you
bravely standing forth in its defense.
And / desIre 10 present 10 you our countrys flag,
emblem of that Union athers gave II into our
hands, and star after star las been added to ils
azure field, the worlds history hath recorded the
manner iE which we have kept the talent committed
to our care and fathers brayey fought 10 make
for that Union 50 are we now called upon to prove
ourselves worthy Of them by defending and preserving
Il. ,al L..., ..I
a blessing to cunelves and 10 the world at large. Go
firth, then, in the name Of God, to uphold the
authority Of law and to wrest from the lawless
rebels this fair land, which ha been truly the
land Of the free and the home OF the brave. Not
for ourselves alone but for the loyal hearts South
well AS North for IN my heart firmly believe there
are thousands in the Rebel States faithful and true
looking on and waiting with painful anxiety for the
hour in which your noble efforts sha release them
from the reign of terror under which they are now
bowed down; and for their sakes implore you in the
hour of victory forget not mercy. Bot while as ill.,
struments in the bands OF ayenging God, you go
forth to punish and snbdne those wbo for their own
selfish ends, would riioe our country forget not
that that God is also the God OF mercy, and as
you are bis soldiers in battle, you also his In
srments 10 the protection Of innocence and helpless
ness, and your efforts may preserve unto us many
who when these sad troubles shall have pared away
will gladly return like the prodiga of old, to the pro-
lection of that tine.honored flag under whose folds we
have become 50 prosperous nation.
Take then this Bg winch lntrnst 10 y0ur nandb
with nbounded confidence, and feeling certain az do
that it can only return with you from victory shall
aw ait with anxious heart that happy day. Hoping to
meet you again. most If not all of you, in our conn
trys name for the love which you show for il in thus
going forth its rescue, when, aas, some Of its own
msguided members seek to destroy it, becoming, as
you will then have done, doubly its sons; SONS by
adoption, and noble sOns were our iorefahers who
pered their lives, you are now about to do III lis
defense. May God watch over you aud crown your
efforts with success, that future generations may
honor your names even do theirs, and uay our
hag again in triumph and peace over every por-
tion Of our beloved country.
The enthusiasm created in the ranks by 10 much
oyelness and eloquence was immense. The rounds of
cheers should have been heard by Bigadier-Genera
This presentation was followed by the
singing Of "The Stars IMngled Banner by members
IF the Lederkranz The whole street took up the
burden of the sorg with earnestness
Frederick Kapp, esq, then bestowed upon Col. Won !
5ilsa 10 the name of Mr. Witthaus, handsome and |
rusty sword. His remarks made IN German, |
md containing illusions TO the beloved Fatherland,
md exhortaiions to fidelity to tie Stars and Stripes,
we're frequently interrupted by rousing cheers. Col.
ron elisa acknowledged the gift in modest terms.
II would have been unreasonable and contrary to the
ature of men less gallant than German soldiers not to
e stirred to the depths by the advance forward of The
hagming young people Of Mr.. Wilthaus's house. The