Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-30


Letters from Port Royal to Jan. 18th have
been received. We learn that on that day
squad of recruits had arrived for Col. Higgin-
sons regiment, bringing the aggregate up to
$50.
We have received a copy of the Free South
new paper published at Port Royal, and
which contains many articles of interest
From description which it gives of the New
Years jubilee at Port Royal, we make the
following extracts -
''The exercises commenced with a PRAYER
by the Rev. Mr.. Fowler, chaplain of the reg
iment. Then followed, interspersed- with
songs and the music of the band, the speeches
of the day. The reading of the presidents
proclamation was done most fifty by Rev.
Henry Brisbane. To BIN emancipation had
become practical word more than twenty
five years ago. He had liberated and provid-
ed for the slaves that had fallen to him by in
heritance, and, as son of South Carolina, it
was proud office for him on the soil of his
native state to announce the freedom which
the president has extended to the slaves of the
whole south.
The presentation of beautiful stand of
flags, one of richly wrought silk and the other
Of bunting, were presented by the Rev. Mr..
French on behalf of DIR. Cheevers church,
New York. There was one striking and ap-
propriate remark in Mr.. French's address =
mot long since southern senator b0astingly
said, in the capital of the nation, that he ex-
pected ere long to hear the slave-call in the
very shadow of Bunker Hill. Instead of that
noble son of the old Bay State, as military
governor ofSnuth Carolina, Georgia, and FlOri-
day, this day, by authority of tho nrpsident OF
the United States, declares freedom, now and
forever to their bondmen, while another of
her brave sons, as colonel calls the muster
roll i'll South Carolina OF those who though
once slaves are now free and soldiers Of the
republic"
1.-The reply of Col. Higginson was most
touching and appropriate. He made happy
use of an incident unexpected, and not put
down in the programme.
AT the close of Mr. French's remarks, and
when the colonel had taken the flag, some I'M
sophisticated colored enthusiast, not waiting
for his cue, burst forth into the song, g My
country, It's of thee, sweet land of liberty"
&C., and all the rest joined with him. The
ceremony was thus broken by a hiatus of mu-
sic. But Col. Higginson, as | said, made
happy use of it, for he counted it in as a part
OF his response. He said, in substance:
How touching and appropriate is this that
the JOY of having country should rise from
their hearts to their lips, when they see the
flag which has hitherto been the bulwark OF
their slavery stand now as the pledge OF their
future freedom" His remarks were extended
into the grave, the tender and humorous sug-
gestions of the hour, and exhibited all the
qualities of the stern soldier, the accomplished
scholar, and the g NAL man. We have here
no space to report his eloquent speech; but
no one who saw the manly bearing and grace
of the colonel, and heard his eloquence, but
felt the conviction that no better choice could
have been made as the leader of the effort to
teach this people the defence of their liberty
and honor than Col. L. W. Higginson.
"The flags were then transferred in few
appropriate remarks by the colonel of the reg
iment, to sergeant Prince Rivers and corporal
Sutton. They both responded in few man
ly and fit words. The sergeant is natural
orator. One remark burst from him with at
fecting earnestness: Brother Soldiers one
request [ make to you now, for the first and
last time. When, on the battlefield, you see
me fall under this flag, bury me, hide me, but
let this flag still float before the eyes OF all
The corporal spoke with earnest simplicity
'We shall march, fellow soldiers, under cap
tain that never lost a battle, under the Cap
tain of our salvation,' our Captain Jesus
Christi"
"Then followed some remarks from Gen.
Saxton, and others Songs appropriate to the
occasion were sung, the occasion being one of
pure and unalloyed enjoyment to all, and es-
pecially to those whose emancipation was thus
commemoated. To them it will be indeed a
day to celebrate in all future time. May
they find strength to maintain the liberty their
God and the country has given themn