Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-30
Sword Presentation to Lieut.. Peck.

The friends Of Lieut.. Peck, recently Orderly
Sergeant Of Capt. Browns company Of nine
months men, presented him with handsome
sword, sash and belt, Friday evening, at the Pavl-
ion. B.. F. Fifeld, Esq, of Montpelier, in behalf
Of the donors, presented the sword in the follow
ing handsome speech
Lieut. Peek TO me has been delegated the
very agreeable duty, in behalf Of your friends and
acquaintance, Of present. g you this beautiful
sword need hardly telyou that the perform
auce Of tbi, duty gives me very great qualification
personally, nor need ! remind you that this graft
iication is shared in not merely by me but by all
the donor, Of this gift We have watched with
unmixed satisfaction your generous and dlslnter-
ested patriotism in enlistDg in the service OF your
country We have heard with profound gatica-
ton Of YOUR rapid and deserved promotion. We
have though, that, under these circumstances, even
this slight tribute Of respect for your virtues and
admiration your gaIlantry would hot be dlspeas
ing to YOU IT'S true, is not covered with Jew
els or decked with precious stones, but it carries
with itthat which will be far more che rlshed byyou
the earnest sympathes 0! friends whose eyes
will grow wet at the recollection Of your dangers
and tolls. bg whose hearts will grow warm at
hearing Of YOUR successes and your trlumphs.
Receive then, This sword. Use 1t 10 defence Of
your country. rights. Win with il the hurels
which ale tie pre OF the soldier Return with
it to receive DIE pIaudls Of grateful and appre-
ciatve public
For when ibe roar OF the battle i, passed, and
you shall agla have settled down inio the quiet
anu dignfed pursuit, Of civil lie, il perchance
your eve sha run back over the dim vista Of the
past and re. for moment upon your career "
soldier For,an Il haze oiim meminisse jurabh
Lieut.. Peek responded gracefully aud appro.
prately, at .0ows
Mr.. Hdeo and Gentlemen II thankfully,
proudly acup, this eIcganl token OF your good
will and-may SO call it2-esteem, in the KIND
spirit in which it is offered 1t is the more
pleasing to me that you, who have ever been
true friend, KIND adviser and faithful instruc-
tor, have been chosen as the exponent Of the
good feeling see manifested by those around
me tonight
1t Is with no ordinary emotions that receive
this beautiful gift feel that you consider j.
to be guide to the stern duties which lay be-
fore me,-whch he before every one who as
sumes to himself the duty and privilege OF doing
some small part IN the great work OF defending
our imperillcd country an admonlton that you
expect me to be ever ready, up and doing in the
cause Tor which the brave blood of the North is
being spilled like water on those battle plains
now SO near Us.
With such incentives | must indeed be recre-
ant 10 myself, recreant to you anu recreant 10
my county ii fail 10 my duty and it is my
earnest purpose to perform that duty though 1t
should lead me with this bright blade to dig
my own req grave
thank you too for the kind words you have
uttered and for the good-though ! fear unde-
seryed-motiyes with which you credit me.
And whether | am destined to return among you
or lated TO remain with the stout hearts from
whose sad sepulchre are springing sweet flowers
20 hide, l.. it may be, the dark stains around
which the nation is weeping, can, most aSsu-
redly. after this graceful act, put away all
sorrowu fear, and promise you that nothing
shall delight me more hereafter Than To re-
member these things.
The affair was Il pleasant one, and much en-
Dyed by all present.