Daily national Republican., 1863-05-27
An Eloquent and Spirited Order from
Major General hanks

HEADGUARTERs DEPARTMENT OF THE GULr,l
18TH ARMY CORPS, OPELOUSAs, April rs, 1889
Sergeants Brady, StapletOn, Mccormick,
Reinhardt, sheble, Neal, Harris, Darken, and
two hundred and siXty-nine men of the Eighth
Infantry OF. the Regular Army of the United
States, having been exchanged by the rebel
Government, whose prisoners they were, ar
rived at New Orleans on the 25th Of February,
1868, and portion of them, under command
Of Lieutenant Coploy AmOry, Fourth Cavalry,
reached this post on the 23d instant, TO share
with us the honors of this campaign. 1t has
been deemed but an act of justice to these gal
liant men to relieve them from this service, and
TO expedite their return to the North. They
separate from this command to-day. In honor
Of their departure from Opelousas, the Com
manding General has ordered a national salute,
and similar honor will be paid them upon
their departure from New Orleans. Captain
Bainbridge at OpelOusas, and Brgadler General
Sherman at New Orleans, are charged with the
execution of this order.
These gallant men of the army of the United
States in Texas were shamefully and uncon-
dltlonally surrendered to the rebel authorities
by their superior officers on the 9th of NAV,
1861. Separated from their officers, divided
into squads and removed to different posts on
the frontiers of Texas, deprived of pay for
more than two years, they were subjected to
degrading labOrs, supplied with sCanty food
and clothing, and sometimes chained to the
ground, or made to suffer other severe military
punLhmeuts. Recruiting officers visited them
daily, Offering them commissions and large
bounties to desert their flag. Notwithstanding
the false reports of the overthrow of their Gov
crnment, which seducod so many men of higher
prctcnsiOns and position, unsustained by conn
sci with each other, with few exceptions they
repelled the bribes and avoided the treason.
Those who chose different course did II to cs-
cape their prison.
No Government has ever been more faithfully
served than by these men. Officers of the army
and navy, to whom they had right to turn for
counsel and eXample-who had been educated
by the Government, and never received a
months pay that was not drawn from its Golfers
nor borne an honor that it did not cOnfer-at
the first suggestion of treason BETRAYED the
mother that nursed them, and deserted the flag
that protected them. With every branch Of the
Government within their control, and the con-
tinent under their feet, they yielded to the indie
CCnCy and folly Of the rebellion, and without n
shadow of cause they sought to blacken the
name of America and Americans by fastening
upon her the greatest crime of human history
that of destroying the best Government ever
framed, and annihilatng the well-founded
hopes OF humanity in republican liberty.
Thank Col tie officers could not corrupt The
men they commanded! Not soldier Of the arD,y,
nor a sailor Of MC nary, UOlUtdrily abandoned
his post. The poisonous diJNctiCS OC Secession
nc"cr tO"ched use hearts Of he people, nor led
Mcn 10 substitute tie guilty ambition Of rulyar,
ioir-brCd prOpincidlim for tie hdllOtccd homes Of
national patriotism.
Soldiers! let 1'e gallant 0ten that part .Jrom us
to-day rccetUc lie hOHOrS Ney deSerUe-Ms neal Of
He cannon and The AOutS Of The line! Let MeIa
recciVs, mterever they go, Use homage Of Nc army
"Hd Many together. The army and NARY Jorcrer!
by command ol MAJ. GEN. BANKS.
RICHARD b. lRwIN, Asst Adj't General.