The Goodhue volunteer., 1862-06-11
RED WING G00DHUE COUNTY WEDNESDAY JUNE L. 1851
SiGEL'S SPEECH AT WASHINGTON

|s,cE1's S'fEEon a WASHINGTON.
Gen. Sigel was serenaded at Will
lard'son the evening of the 9th ult.
Ills appearance was greeted with
most vociferons cheering BY the throng
He said: y >.. ~ '''
|. Ny FRIENDS II have not come
here on pleasure trip, or to CRAFTY
Imy, own wishes, but from a sense OF
duty-Lgoed, and applause to see
higher authorities and wait their &C.
ton in regard to me; nor have. I, my
fvlends,come here to- gether the laurels
of q soldier. Coming with such a
purpose 1 should do injustice to those
gallant MEN who have fallen on the
fields before Fort Henry, before Fort
Donelsen, in the battles of Shiloh,
Wilson's Greek, Pea Ridge. TLeud
applause and three enthusiastic cheers
for the hero Of Pea Ridge.l
l come here merely to see whether
l cannot be Of some service in the flu.
ture, to this country. 1 bring you
gentleman, the hearty greeting of the
Army Of the West. [Applause.]
assure you that we have never forgot
ten that we are soldiers of the Union
soldiers Of Republic Applause.
THAT we are all the children of one and
the same country, anu the defenders
OF one and the same great cause. lap
|plause. ! assure you that we lave
not seen or acknowledged any differ
enc" between the Army Of the West
and that Of the Potomac. ["That's
good! Yes you havc-you've done
fighting West'
Whenever a great deed was per;
formed whenever rapid march was
made, whenever soldier of the east
has shown himself a true soldier of
his country we have rejpiced and felt
honored; and, gentleman, when max
ing our dreary marches through the
rugged countries near the Arkansas
and White rivers, we thought that the
eyes of the Army OF the Potomac
would follow US, and that they would
not forget us in our isolation in that
far west country, we do not and l SO
may assure you that I have found dur
ing my trip from ST. Louis to this place
the people of the United States, ready
for any emergency that may arise
Applause.
I have found the American ~people
ready to defend their country-ready
to rush at moments notice to assist
those who are standing before the
enemy, should their services be re-
quired. [Applausc.] But they desire
to fight, and that somebody should &c,
hurt. Laughter and loud and prolong,
ed applause. These people would
rather see bad retreat than a good
standing still. Laughter and applause
Such people, fellow citizens, are, in
my opinion, invincible. Nociferous
cheers.
A Vo1cE- -"That is our motto, with
SigeI to lead us.''] a Republic based
upon such patriotic feelings and prin.
ciples cannot but be immortal. Loud
applause. Now, fellow citizens, we
have to fight: there will be no res,
until this country is safe, until the army
has advanced so far that, in every city
the true flag Of the Union shall be seen
waving. i'll its former pride and glory:
applause until every city in the south
west is made the central point of civi
l1zation, the central point of liberty
from which to propagate the guaran
tees of the Constitution.
There should be the right of free
speech, [''good'] Of free assemblage
["good'] and free and unlramlneled
press. Applause. Where such rights
exist, never caa tyranny rear its op
pressive head. "That's So" and louc
cheering.] I thank you, gentlemen
sincerely, for the kind reception you
have given me tonight. ''[Go on. C
on !''1
do not regard it as a personal favo1
nor do I regard it as thanks rendered
personally to me, but as an expression
of thanks Of such to every good sol
J, der, who in these perilous and dan
gerous times does his duty.
The speaker retired amid loud an6
prolonged cheering.