The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-11
BROAD CREEK HUNDRED,
September 7, 1863. J
Mr.. EDIToR

Mr.. Enron:
Having heard that your paper was to
be issued this week, concluded to give you ac
count of one of the most enthusiastic Union gather
ings, held at Gumboro in this Hundred, Friday
last that ever attended 1t was a great day for
old Broad Creek and Dagsboro Hundreds. They
poured out their crowds of men, women and children
that OCCASION to give public expression of the
high respect and esteem in which that community
hold the officers and men of Company X, 9th Regt
Del. Vols, but few days since returned home from
Fort Delaware. 1t was public reception rendered
to this company, on account of the unanmity and
cheerfulness with which they responded to the call
of their country, in those gloomy days when Lee
was invading Maryland and Pennsylvania, and
threatening the communication between Washington
and the great North. The Union citizens of this
town and vicinity prompted by that respect and
honor which every friend of his country feels for the
soldiers of the government, resolved that public
dinner should be given "the boys" of Co. K, and
that the Secesh Democracy of Sussex should that
these who had been ridiculed "Home
Guards were openly approved and commended for
dschargng their duty soldiers, and that the blue
coated boys of Uncle Sam entitled to and should
receive-even in that locality where Democrats
boast of their sympathy for the traitors of the South
every honor and respect to which they en-
titled. These two Hundreds were largely democrat
c heretofore, but our friends are fighting the good
fight in these regions, and by perseverance and in
domitabe resolution they are weakening the ranks
of the enemy. Many man hereabouts who loved the
old time democracy, is opening his eyes to the start
ling fact, that all the leaders of his party in this
country, are opened mouthed in their sympathy with
the traitors of the South, who are struggling to
break our Union into fragments.
But DEPRESSING. Early in the forenoon the
people began to come in throngs, and it was soon
evident we should have large turn out. The Ia
dies, God bless them, came too, with their smiles
and merry laugh and ringing voices, to give cheer
and animation to the scene; the mother with her
look of proud satisfaction that her 'boy had gone
off with his comrades and done his duty the wife
with her smile of approval, that her husband had
shouldered his musket for the defence of his home
and the State; and the young maiden with her
bushes and bright eyes, well pleased that ga certain
young man" had taken his turn the lone night
watch, and returned without forgetting the influence
of calico and bonnet strings.
About IL o'clock the Union Band from Laurel
under the Leadership of Harry P. Fooks, ESQ.,. en-
tered the town, playing of their patriotic airs
with proficiency that would have done credit to
of city bands; infusing into the crowd that
thrill Of feeling which national tunes always on
such occasions arouse
Capt. Adkins with Lieut.. Mathews and White
turned out the company, and put them through the
manuel Of arms and some movements of the Grill
This was done with that precision and unity of 40
ton, which showed that the men had not been home
long enough to forget the lessons they had learned
at Back River, Perryville and Fort Delaware.
| The next thing was dinner-and here again must