Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-02-07
Army Correspondence Of the Delaware Gazette.
CAMP HENDERSON. KY
JanuarY 25tL 1852. !


/ january 25th 1862 J
/ EDIToR GAZETTE: 1t is with the greatest
difidence attempt to address you. knowing
my inability 10 do so in a competent manner
but still supposing that il might be Of interest
! 10 the friends of Company c, 2Gih Ohio Regi-
ment, TO hear from u.s. and for that purpose
beg space in your valuable paper, 10 which
| have been a subscriber for number of
years, and have also received it regularly while
in the army, until we left Western Nirninia,
! which we did on the 4th of1he present month;
but | am sorry TO say that haveEot received
a number Of it since.
Oar camp is located six miles from louis
j vile, on the pike from Louisville TO Bards-
town, in a most delightful country. rich in
stock aid agricultural productions; but il be
ing in large tracts, the facilities for schooling
are poor. As we have good grounds for drill
I ling, and drIIghIfut weItl1cr wr-iTIve CuATpa-
ny drill in the forenoon and Battalion drill, by
our gallant old Colonel, f. t. Flffe, in the
afternoon.
last evening on dress parade, onr COM
Pany made u present Of Il fnc sword and ii
crimson silk sash to our brave and patriotic
Captain jesse Meredith. After the parade.
was dismissed, the Colonel commantled the
1 Commissioned officers to about face when
Sergeant Cole, Co. q, stepped to the front to
| make the presentation, which was done with
the following remarks:
Much esteemed Captain: l. in beho!fof the
Company, present TO yon this sword and beau
tiful sash, as a token Of the regard and conf,
dence We have for you, as friend in peace,
and commander in war, with the sentiments
OF the whole company engraved on the sword
in these few words: 50 4 token of esteem from
the Ashley Volunteers to their Captain, jesse
Meredith"
After which the Captain made the following
remarks, in reply:
Mr.. Scargeant Cole: Permit me to say to
you, and to Company G, whom you represent.
that it is with heart big with emotions, and
too full TO permit TO express my feelings
on the present occasion, that ! accept the
sword and sash You have Lere presented. A
present of the value Of those-for | see they
are splendid articles-could not do otherwise
than make IL recipients Leart feel proud
But the lime and circumstances untler which
you have presented these, enhances their value
ten fo!d. Were it so that we were just entering
the service, without any experience together,
III Wmil .tary capacity, aud you were presenting
the articles at such time, it would, OF course,
be evidence hat You lad confidence in me, as
your commandImt, that would discharge my
duties faithfully. But confidence is So often
misplaced, hope SO often disappointed, that
there would yet be fears that you might re-
tokens Of your regard after we have been AS
| socilted, in our present capacit.-, for nearly
nine mohth;, and although we have not been
in any general battle yet we have been in po-
sitionS well cIlcula cd to test the courage and
integrity Of both officers and men. II is your
approval of my conduct, aftIr this experience
rOguTtIur substantial u manner, that
makes the presents 50 valuable IN my esttnrl-
tion.
make no pretensionS 10 have done anything
more than my duty, but am happy 10 know
that if at amy time ! have elred in the dis
charge of my duty, Is has been on he side OF
humanity And other considerations whigll
increase their value are the facts that, not
withslanding we have the entire confidence OF
the people generally in the locality from
which we came, yet there are Few whom.
may mot say are wors. than traitors, who haze
cndeavored to impair the confidtcce that cx-
ISIS between you and |; which il is 50 essential
for the good Of the service that il should cX-
ist between officers and men; by trying to i'm
press upon You the belief that there was lau-
ger lest you might be betrayed into the hand,
OF the enemies. But this generous act OF yours
thunder that will echo ana re- echo in their
ears long after the cunnon's roar Of this war
will have died away. neither envy THEN po-
slion nor fear their malice. whi.e | have such
friends as you by my sale
have hitherto bten honored with high 20
sitio'lS, by my follow ci!zrns, both military
and evil, bat this generosity Of yours, IN my IS
tifnation, places the tallest feather in my cap,
and one that shall ever be proud Of. Aud
although am aware that it was not expected
! by you Or my friends generally when weentely
cd the service, that | should Lu long compclI,q
to scrv. tz t1nt soldier, it being said that
my age and experience Il mil ary officer liz
peace and war Indicated different pO itun.-
! But if have not merit enough to gain
! different position. shall serve On in my prcs-
ent one r;ltle than bow the knee for the
! sake Of promotion, aud viii leave those who
have held the power to keep me here with
their masters, the people. Although my ags
would seem TO distplalify IN" for the datics OF u
foot soldier, yet my Divine Protector has en-
abted me to bear up so far, AMI while my
health and strength is continued shall be will
ling to continue with you. And it shall be
my aim 81 to wear these trophies that | shall
prove myself worthy OF the confidence you
/ have rcpuspd in me, and it will he honor enough
for NE to lead you on to victory, until the
stars aud stripes are once more waving in tri,
nmph all over our beloved country, and you
AID return to the kosums Of our friends in
peace; where shall take pride i'll preserving
these precious lrgulics and, remember, when
look upon them, the brave soldiers who pre-
sel.tcd them.
Bat permit me TO make ono request of each
Of yol: That, should faic decree that / shOad
fall in this couact, ask of you. and Of each
Of YOU, tiiat you will, if Possible, rescuc from
the hands Of the enemy these trophies, thlt
they lNay bc handed down 10 my posteiiIy
and kept in remembrance OF you and youi
regard for me. Permit me 10 say, in cncln
sion, that entered the seryie', rs well as your
selves, for the larposc OF putting down rebel
lion against the Constitution. and Constitution
al laws of our country Aud should the gov
crnmcnt 50 far Change The object Of this wul
us To make it war flr any other object than tC
establish The Constitution as il Mas, and wa:
hanld down to Us by our fathers, for one
(lnd know but speak the sentiment O
thousands) shall ask 10 be released from III
service.
Gentlemen, please accept my heart fel
thinks for the honor you have done me ol
this occasion