The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-01
For the Union and Journal.
Farewell to their Friends
or the York County Volunteers OF the
Maine Cavalry Regiment.

| DEAR BkOflERS, SlSIbNS, hOihLhs, ram
ERs AND FRIENDs: Under circumstances OF
no ordinary nature does the word farewell"
now fall from our lips. Not unirequently
in our past life has the "good by" been Civ
en- to YOU, and the kiss of filial and patcrnal
affection been imprinted upon our and your
lips. Involuntarily has the tear OF regret
and sorrow fallen down our hardened checks
at our partings in times past. That feelings
of this kind should be exhibited by those
who are about to be separated, those who
have been connected by the nearest and dear
est ties Of relationship, is not surprising
But the 'good by" which is now spoken
strikes tcndcrer, more thrilling cord Of
the human heart than it is wont to touch
The souls vibrations ut the adieu now spo-
ken recalls the fondsst memories Of the past,
and blends all our joyous hopes of the great
future with oil the uncertainties and fortunes
of war. II is harder to break these happy
social relations, to sever the ties OF home and
of family affection, than to meet the gleam-
ing steel and the cold lead of cunning and
INSCRIPTIONS foe. But the word farewell is
spoken, and glad are We that it has been
said. We desire not to return to the pur-
suits and scenes OF civic life until "thc storm
Of war is gone" and the cyer-glorious Stars
and Stripes wave with all their wonted radi-
ance and brilliancy over every rood of Amer
lean soil. " it'll more pleasure do we so
than stay among you. We hope, indeed, to
meet you again. We are not unnindiul OF
the fact, however, that it may be our good
fortune to strengthen the foundations of our
blessed Republic by falling in It's defence
Our lives are Of comparatively little impor-
lance in this great contest between right and
wrong. The existence Of the Government
must be established at any cost of blood or
treasure.
We are indeed fearful-ah, but only fear
iul that we can have no direct encounter with
the foes OF good government and oil free in
situations. We are anxious to do our duty
We hope and pray that we shall do it as be-
comes freemen. But we trust in Higher
Power. We believe God will assist us be-
cause our cause is the cause Of Righteousness,
of Justice, and of the rights Of mankind
throughout the world.
In your devotions, remember that the great
God lends willing ear to the prayers OF
those who labor as well us pray for the prog
ress and success of the right. Ask the Great
Being whom We all worship-ask Him, we
ask, to be with us in our duties by day. and
with us in our slumbers by night. Wemake
this request us no idle form. Wemean what
we say. We do not trust in ourselves; we
are sure that we should fail If we relied on.
ly in mortal strength.
To the good people of Biddeford we take
this opportunity to return our most grateful
Acknowledgements for their kind and encour-
aging words, and also for many acts Of kind
ness and good will to us during our short but
pleasant sojourn among them.
In every human heart there is laudablc
desire to be remembered-to do something
which shall deserve to be remembered. We
are like our common humanity in this res.
pect. The people Of Biddeiord, and the cit
liens Of York County, whose representatives
we are. will hear from us frequently through
the public prints, ana by the still more fire.
ouent letters to home and friends there. Re
member that we 20 forth to battle for you
and your most sacred rights. We expect to
be subjected to the hard fare, the fatigue,
the perils, the dangers, and the hardships OF
common soldiers life. We meet these
things willingly, and with joyful heart !;
because we take more pleasure in attempting
to perform this most imperative duty than
We should in attempting to elude il in cow
ardly and ignoble way.
We are rejoiced to hear that the good pco-
pie Of the city of Biddeiord are about to Or
canize SoLpIERs RELIEF Socrrrr, the object
of which Is indicated by its title. We hear
that this project was originated by woman
by some Florence Nightingale-some good
representative Of that sex which was last at