St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-04-16
INTERESTING PRESENTATION CERE.
MONIES At AIANKATO. - ~
a Horse and Sword Prese nted to Colonel
Stephen Miller.

4 Horse and Sword Presented to Colonel
Stephen Miller. q q;
Correspondence of the St. Pail Pre...
On leaving the First Regiment, to take
command Of the Seventh Regiment, then
in the expedition against the Sioux, Col
Miller, did not bring west the war-worn
horse that he had used on the Potomac.
He was unsuccessful in finding asuitable
horse for the service, having tried two or
three which proved defective. This want
suggested to the officers of the Seventh a
suitable opportunity to testify their regard
for the Colonel After considerable
search g fine blood bay horse was selected
for the purpose, the presentation of which
was made at Mankato on the afternoon Of
the 9th inst.
/ Atthe same time there was sword,
sword-belt and sash-all of beautiful work
manship-presented by Sergeant Major
Trader, in behalf of the on-comm;ssioned
officers Of the Regiment. (Colr Miller had
been wearing a plain U. S. Cavalry sabre
the service battered sword that he had
worn in the First Regiment, having been
sent homo with the names of the several
battles in which the Colonel had been en-
gagged, engraved on the scabtard') {; :.
The afternoon was very fine, and the
two companies stationed at West Nlankato
and South Bend. Captains Burt and Car
ter came down to dress parade, aud with
the four companies in Mankato,, made a
ve:y fine appearance in line, extending
nearly the length Of square, along Front
street, near Headquarters.
Just at the close of the parade, when
the Colonel. directed the Adjutant to dis
miss the" parade, Lieut.. Colonel Marshall
stepped forward, saluted, and asked the
Colonel to- allow him to, take, charge of
the battalion for q few minutes for pur-
pose which would develop itself, and re-
quested Col. M iller to remain in his place
BY appropriate commands the ranks
were closed; the; right company left Wheel
ed: theileft company right wheeled, 90 as
to form three sides of square, and the
Officers and Sergesnts broug ght to the front
Of their companies Gas at inspection.)
PRESENTATIONS SPEECH OF LIEUT.. col.
} II" = MARSHALL. =.
Lieutenant Colonel VIM. r. Marshall
then addressed Col. Miller as follows ),
CoIosEL MILLER: On hehalf Of the Com.
missioned O&eers3 And other gentlemen; asso-
ciated with you in the Seventh REGIMENT, the
agreeable duty is assigned me Of presenting 10
you this horse ana sccoutrements. r,4 -,
We ask you, Colonel, to receive the present
as a token Of our high appreciation OF your
character - q man, and our confidence in YOU
as dn officer. o - il rnow,; ~,
The first, your uniform kindness, courtesy
and strict justice towards US, and towards all,
in your administration of the command Of the
regiment abundantly justify, If Ne had not
known'ssmetking Of your character before
Our confidence in you, as an officer; il inspir
ed by what We have learned during the same
period, and by the glorious record Of the First
Minnesota, whose honorable service and GAL
lantdeeds you shared on tho bloody fields Of
Bull Rum, Fair Oaks, Peach, Orchard, Ssva-
ges Station, Nelson's Farm, and Malvern Hill.
Please ACCEPT the horse, Polon.l,sxith thie
brief expression Of. our unfeigned regsrd.
| ACCEPTANCE BY COLI M1knER. t
In accepting the horse, Colonel Mile,
replied i" - .,os -
! Co!oNIL MARSHALL: WMle accept the no.
ble gift, SO kindly rendered, with profoundest
lgratitude, beg leave to make remark or two
IN reply to the sentiments just uttered. u
The discipline and proficiency Of tho ,rcpi.
ment is attributable rather to the co!operlation
industry and application of yourself and wor.
thy associates, and tho good enlisted men be.
fore me, than TO any poor effort Of lnins..;@ ~,
/ am glad, to lSssn that tho noble AliAnesot1
FlRsr-ny Hrst military love shared 80 large.
~ in this compliment, While profess Id ct.
tachmeut strong Is life to ny preyents,ssoci.
ates, and anticipate its growth ard maturity
through coming conf lets, cannot, would not
forget the pleasant yet dreadful memories d
the past. " 20 = va -
That gallant old regiment has furnished on,
Major General and two Brigadier Geneysls il