The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-27
Sword Presentation to Lieut.. Peck


The friends nj Lieut., Peck, recently Orderly
Sergeant of Capt. Browns company of nine
months men, presented him with handsome
sword sash aud belt, Friday evening, at the Pav
ion. B. f. Flfeld, Esq, of Montpelier, in behal
of the donors, presented the sword in the follow,
ing handsome speech
Lieut. Peek 10 ne has been delegated the
very agreeable duty, in behalf of your friends and
acquaintance, Of present. you this beautiful
sword. | need hardly tell YOU that The perform
ance of this duty gives ME very great qualification
personally, nor need remind you that this graft
tceton is shared in not merely by me but by all
the donors of tbs gift We have watched with
unmiXed satisfaction Your generous and dIsnter-
ested patriotism in enlistmg in The service of Your
country. We have heard with profound gratifca-
ton OF your RAPID and deserved pr motion. We
have thong that, under these ClrCum ances, even
this sight tribute Of respect for yJlr virtues and
admiration ter your gatnjry would not be dl>pleas-
ing to YOU. T is true, It's rot covered with W
els or decked with precious stones, but 1t carries
with it thai which will be lar more che rshed by you
the earnest sympathies o. friends whose eyes
will grow wet at the recollection Of your dangers
and tolls, but whose hearts VIII gro" warm at
hearing OF your successes and your trumphs.
Receive then, this sword. Use it in defence f
your country's rights. Win with it the laurel,
which ae the prize OF the soldier. Return with
it to receive the plaudils Of grateful and appre-
ciatiye public.
For when the roar of the battle Is passed, and
you shall again have settled down into the quiet
ana dignifed pursuits OF civil life, if perchance
your eye sha run back over the dian vista OF the
pas, and rest for a moment upon your career
soldier, " Forsan Ell hGC oIim meminiSse juUabit."
Lieut.. Peck responded gracefully aud appro-
priaCely, az follows
Mr.. Ftted and Gentlemen i thankfully,
proudly accept this elegant token OF your ,.ood
will and-lnay | SO call it?-esteem, In the KIND
spirit in which it is offered. Ii is the more
pleasing to me that you, who have ever been a
true friend, "a kind adviser and faithful instruc-
tor, have been chosen az the exponent of the
good feeling see manifested by those around
me tonight.
IL Is with DO ordinary emotions that receive
this beautiful gift. leel that you consider
to be guide to the stern du ties which lay be.
fore me,-which lie before every one who as
sumes to himself the duty and privilege of doing
some small part IN the great work OF defending
our imperllled country an admonltion that you
expect NE to be ever ready, up and doing in the
cause Tor which the brave blood OF the North IL
being spilled like water on those battle plains
now 50 near us
" it'll such incentives | must indeed be recre-
ant to myself recreant to you anu recreant to
my country IT fail in my duty, and it is my
| earnest purpose to perform that duty though II
should lead me with this bright blade to dig
my own re4 grave.
| thank you too for the kind words you have
uttered and Tor the good-.hough | fear unde
served-motlves with which you credit me
And whether | ain destined to return among you
| or fated TO remain with the stout hearts iron
whose sad sepulchre are spriuging sweet aowerc
! to hile, i. it may be, the dark stains around
which tie nation is weeping, | can, most asSu-
redly, alter tins graceful act, 'put away al
sorrowtul fear, and promise you that nothing
shall {" delight me more hereafter than TO re-
member these things.
The affair was pleasant one, and much en-,
joyed by all present.