Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-10-24
From Allegheny County.


Arrival Of Coz. Curtin and Staf.-P Presenta
.:on of flags to the Pennsylvania Brigade
under Brig Gen. Negley, composed Of COL
Hambrights Col. Stambaugh's and COL
SeTaoetts's regiments. Speeches Of Goo
Curtin and Gen. NegleY.
Correspondent ofthe Telegraph.
PITTsBURG, Oct. II, 1861.
The train this morning from the east,
brought to this city, Gov. A. G. Curtin and
Staff, who came for the purpose of present.
ing the regimental flags provided by the
state OF Pennsylvania, to the Regiments COM
posing the Brigade now in camp at Camp
Wilkins. The weather was exceedingly in-
clement and inauspicious for the ceremony,
yet the locality for the presentation on West
Commons. Allegheny city, was densely crow
ded with people, and presented scene OF
animated beauty and military enthusiasm
seldom witnessed by the citizens of the Iron
city. The entiue Brigade escorted Gov. Cur
tin and staff to the ground, accompanied by
prominent citizens in carriages and on horse
back, among which noticed Gen. Wilkins,
Brig. Gen. Cass, and Mayor Wilson. The
march of the Brigade through the principal
streets of the city to West Common, was
grand and imposing in the extreme, and
when it reached the locality fixed for the
ceremony of presentation, the scene surpass-
ed description.
Gen. Negley brought the Brigade to order,
the Colonels of the regiments to the front.
when Gov. Curtin, rising in his carriage,
addressed the officers and men as follows:
Men Of Pennsylvania AS the representa-
tive of our great state am here to see you
before your departure to enter into the SER
vice of our country, and to confde to you the
honor of Pennsylvania. Shurely no man
can feel so Indifferent to the common prompts
ings of patriotism, of right, truth and sym
pathy, as to be insensible to deep emotion on
witnessing the departure from homes of three
thousand true and brave men, who go forth
to meet the dangers of the battle field, and
such emotion now feel deeply.
The last session of the State Legislature
authorizing the procuring of flags, to be pre-.
sented to each Pennsylvania regiment as it
passes into service, and on their return the
battles in which they participated are to be
marked on the flags, which will be fled for
ever In the archives of the state.
give to you then, to-day, these beautiful
flags, with the American eagle in the centre
Of an azure field, surrounded ny thirty-fou,
states of this great confederacy, now and for
ever. The flag of this great patton of states
is al emblem of its strength and power. and
to you entrust it, confident it will not be
sullied.
In few hours (not few days) you leave
your native State Of Pennsylvania and 60
not to Western Virginia, for the orders have
been changed but to Kentucky for while
at Washington hordes of rebels, led on by
men stepped in reasonable purposes, menace
the captain Kentucky they are invading
State l,yal to the Union and devasting th G
homes of her faithful people. But Pennsyl-
vania, true to her original compact, goes to
defend Kentucky. and now stand in the
presence of men who 20 to defend the friends
of liberty there.
Pennsylvania has been foremost in this
great contest. Let us pause and ask what it
is for. AS men become intelligent despotism
loses it's force and the condition Of the masses
is constantly undergoing change in the ame-
Iteration of their state. When republic
falls, the condition Of the masses must be
made worse, for anarchy and despotism fol-
lew. Isthls to be our fate The loyal peo-
pie of Pennsylvania, always formost in the
defence Of the fag OF our whole country, pro-
claim no and pledge their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors" that while
they have man or dollar they will sustain
our record
In proof to this we can point to the fifty
thousand Pennsylvanians ID arms now sur
rounding Washington city-to three thou
sand more now here, ready to goto Kentucky
and twenty thousand others in camp ready
to march, on twenty-four hours notice, to the
defence of our flag Pennsylvania has obey
ed every call of the national government,
and will continue to obey them so long as she
has men and means.
You are now separating from the ties of
home breaking loose from the benefits and
happiness you have enjoyed under the gov
ernment of Pennsyl sylvania-leaying the rich
mountains, the flowing rivers and the busy
workshops of your native state, to protect a
sister OF the oonfederacy. But what are all
of these if our government fall-if our con-
stituticn is shaken to atoms? What are
seyenty-three years of happiness and pros
perity worth if henceforth all is TO be an
arcby and desolation? One day Of cpnstitu-
tional, organized liberty is worth million
years in anarchy or bondage.
1t is, then, to preserve the blessings of
freedom that you now go forth. Go with
cheerful hearts; your families will pray ier
you and the benisons of good men will follow
you. Righteous and holy men will pray for
ycur success fo- we are now engaged in a
cause which calls for the choicest blessings
on it. Go, brave men, to battle; the com
monweaith will rejoice at your valiant deeds,
if successful; thousands at home will weep
for you if unfortunate As the representa-
tive of this great commonwealth, can earn
estly invoke Gods blessing on you and your
cause. Those you leave behind will, am
confident, sustain and protect your families
in your absence, pray for your success and
avenge your wrongs, if such befall you.
COL Stambaugh.. of the Seventy.seventh,
Pennsylvania regiment. In behalf of the
stateI commit these colors to you and your
brave men. Preserve them untarnished, and
bring them back without stain of disgrace
upon their folds. 1sfi
Col. SirageU, of the Seventy to you
| entrust fhis beautiful emblem of our nation-
atty. Keep careful watch over your men
and minister to their wants, that they may
have strength and spirit to defend it to the
last.
Col. Ham6right. of the Seventy-ninth, into
your charge give this flag. Let 1T be borne
aloft by your sturdy men, until they bring it
baek entwined with wfeatbs of Victory. Be
careful of your men preserve their health !;
nurse them In sickness and watch over their
that they may sarye their country