The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-04-28
PRESENTATION OF SWORD 70
GEN. LANE.


GEN. LANE. q
1t is pleasant to see a man honored who de-
serves honor, and such man We believe Gen.
Jas. FL. Lane to be. We therefore copy the FOL
lowing concerning the presentation of y Sword,
&C., to Gen. Lane, written by correspondent of
the Raleigh Standard. Gen. Lane will be re-
membered as one of the Professors in the North
Carolina Military Institute at this place:
Our esteemed commander, Brigadier- eneral
JAS III. Lane, had SO won the regard and good
will of his brother officers before his promotion.
that as he took permanent command of the
brigade, they determined to present him with
some testimonial of their high appreciation of his
merits as gentleman and an officer. The cere-
mony of presentation took place on the Both ef
March; bright and sunshiny morning promised
fair for the occasion; the plat chosen was open
space Of convenient size, very near the head
quarters of the brigade. The sew eral regiments
marched to their positions about 10 O'clock, a. M,
forming a hollow square, near the centre of which
were placed the articles to be presented, viz: a
handsome general officers sword, English blade, a
general officers sash, a handsome Jenifer saddle,
of English leather aud Southern make, and a
military bride of the same material. In front of
these stood Col W. NJ. Barber, of the 9th regi
ment, N. G. T the representative OF the officers
of the brigade, being senior colonel present
" hen all was ready the General appeared, escorted
by Col S. D. Lowe of the 28th, 1t. Col. George
of the 18th, Maj. Mayhem of the 33d, Maj.
Davidson of the 7th, IN. G. regts,) and Major
Stowe of the 18th NJ G., field officer of tie day.
The officers of the brigade formed in front OF
their respective regiments All were sufficiently
near to hear every word uttered. Col. BARRIERS
remarks were short, but reached the hearts OF all
who heard him. He alluded to the past history
of the brigade, and paid feeling tribute to the
lamented dead, who had fallen so nobly on the
field of DUTY, in defence of common country.
He then referred to those whom each reg
ment must mourn as its own peculiar loss-the
7th could never forget its chivalric and high
soued Col Campbell; the 37th must ever hold
sacred the memory of its pure and noble Lee,
both Of whom fell in those bloody and memorable
DAYS around Richmond. He then dwelt upon the
great common grief which had befalen them all,
when their faithful leader the gallant and patriotic
General L. OBJ. Branch, sealed his devotion to
his country with his hearts blood, the hard
fought field of Sharpsburg. He told the General
that the past vas an earnest Of the tuture-his
brigade would never fail him. He then passed
from an eulogy of the honored dead to happily
conceived and expressed compliment to the Gene
RAIL- chaste and delicate in style, entirely devoid Of
all fusome and bombastic aduation. AS an evil
dence Of the sincerity of himself and his brother
officers, he begged In their name to present him
with the articles which [ have above described.
The General received the sword from the hands
of Col. Barber; the other articles were taken in
charge by in readiness. 1t interesting
to see with what intense eagerness all listened to
hear the words of the man they knew so we'll; they
knew how he could fight, for they had seen him
upon sixteen hard fought fields; they did not
know how he could toik, for his voice had been
heard by them oftener amid the music of battle
than anywhere else. l have known many brave
men who feared not shell nor shot, tremble on
approaching lady, and turn pale rising to
make simple acknowledgment, and especially do
| recall gallant ole Colonel of Mexican renown,
whose knees knocked together, and down whose
swarthy checks the Precipitation streamed, as he
attempted to raise the tune in the village church"
If any such sympathy were felt by the General
they were not visible to lockers on. His worIs
few and to the point; his expressions of
gratitude to those who had so honored him, full
of feeling and nervous strength "NIany of YOU
he said "bear upon your persons IGNORED scars,
silent witnesses of dangers you have encountered
and bravely faced in defence of all that freeman
holds DEAR He alluded to their valor, as shown
in every conflict, from Hanover Court House to
Fredercksburg-to their selfsacrifcing spirit
exhibited in enduring the hardships of the most
arduous and brilliant campaign on record. Well
may North Carolina, our noble old State, be proud
hard to prevent the "three times three cheers
which the Generals old regiment, the 2Sth,
wished to give him, but the officer commanding
at the time thought it would appear rather out of
taste, and $50 all was over"