The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-02-01
washington Correspondence.
.Srord Presenfution to Col Meredith. 1914
Indiana Folxnteers, at Fort Craig, near
Ellington Highs, Va, by the Offers
If His Regiment.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2ed. 1862.

that the readers Of your valuable paper are
longing TO hear from our brave and gallant
"Hoosier boys" who were sent forth from
our glorious State to almost every portion Of
our country to suppress the most abomina-
BILE and wicked rebellion ever known in his
tory. avail myself of this opportunity to
send you brief communication concerning
The presentation of a splendid sword to Col.
Meredith. the accomplished commander Of
our gallant 10Th Volunteers, and the short
but brilliant speeches delivered 90 this oc
casion by Mr.. Orr. of Delaware, in behalf
If the donors and Col. Meredith him ELF
The presentation took place in the presence
Of Gen. King All staff, and Of al the Off
GERS Of the brigade, who. after the presen-
tation. took dinner with Colonel Meredith
The sword 1as presented by Mr.. Orr. of
Delaware, who addressed Col. Meredith as
follows:
SIR: We have fallen into evil times. the
Union is imperiled, America has sent forth
her brave sons by hundreds OF thousands to
do battle for their country Foremost among
the States is our glorious Ipdiana, who has
sent 60. 900 of her sons to support the Con-
stitulion and Laws, and suppress the wick
ed aud unnatural rebellion. Among the
many who have left Indiana we remember
prominently yourself, and among the sixty
regiments that were sen, from Indiana,
stands prominently The 10Th. Both officers
and men will ever be remembered with pride
in the history Of the nation. Their steadi-
ness and implicit obedience. their courage
and bravery commend .hem to the admra-
duous service al Fort Marcy, their fight at
Townsville, prove them to be "live Hoos-
iers.''
Recognizing in yourself perfect gentle.
man, frank, atfable, courteous and dignified
to your equals IN rank: kind to your infe
riors; man Of indefaigahle energy who.
neglecting his own comfort, has devoted his
whole time. his untiring energy and person
al influence to the benefit of his men. The
officers of your command take pride in pre-
senting TO you this fitting testimonial of
their high considerati n of your character.
Permit me, then sir, in the name and in
behalf of the gallant commissioned officers
OF the brave 10Th regiment of Hoosiers. to
present you this beautiful and elegant blade
(sword) as token Of the high esteem, love
and regard they entertain to you for your
un,iring zeal to our glorious Union, and the
energy you manifest in suppressiug this
wicked, sin-conceived rebellion. AID for
your indefatigable energy in eleva,ing the
gallant 10Th to the digniied position which
they now occupy. We trust, sir, that there
never will be any act done by you that will
cause the 10Th to be ashamed. or an Indi-
anian to blush.
Then, Col. Meredith, draw your sword
and never let it return to its scabbard in
peace until the last enemy Of our great and
glorious country is struck down. Not un-
I'll then let it return in peace to its resting
place, when you and your brave 10th return
to their loved ones and peaceful homes,
there to receive the re ward due to the Free
and the Brave"
Col. Meredith in reply. said:
Mr.. ORR, OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE
18TH IND. VoLs:-
L accept with feelings of graft.
tude the beautiful sword presented through
you by the officers of this regiment. | re-
ceive it with full knowledge OF what is ex-
pected of me by the donors n the coming
for the supremacy of our Consti'
,utioual Government over an infamous re-
bellion. l can assure you it will never be
surrendered to unholy hands; but in the
conflict before US. l shall endeavor to do my
duty with inspirations of q high and holy
cause to defend. and will rather crimson The
earth with my blood than surrender it to
those who are in arms against our glorious
While We have reason 10
ourselves aud the country up
on the prospect of suppressing the rebel
Lon, | cannot refrain expressing my con-
victien Of the obli- atoms of the country to
President Lincoln and his cabinet for the
zeal and fidelity with which they Lave de-
voted themselves to the cause SO dear to
every patriot. The cause of trouble with
England which existed but short lime
ago, has been removed by the wisdom of
the Administration, and nothing remains
but to apply the whole resources of the coun-
try. as far as they may be necessary, to The
of the war. and we shall again
be soon blessed with peace. For, without
a constitutional government, what would
your homes be worthl This is a contest
for freedom, in the freedom Of speech. the
freedom Of the press are centered all the
hopes of the American patriot. for himself
and his posterity. for the glory of his coun-
try, now and for all time TO cons. Thea
let it be the high resolve of every patriot.
come what may. to stand firmly By tue eoun-
try mill its last foe expires