Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-06-11
fFrom the New York Independent.

1t is rot eften that the club Of the
universe" shakes on its axle. But last
Thursday it fell from its steadfastness.
Ii was the 54th Massachusetts Regiment
which cast the shadow of its coming
on our last weeks columns, that stormed
and took the city.
We gather from various sources the in
cidents OF the march. and submit 10 our
readers the raw materials for the future
poets and historians. The cars from the
neighboring cities came in crowded. as
at the Prince of Wales reception. Ex
tremes meet. The heir Of the proudest
throne and the most despised of man.
kind, created like farore. The streets
were thronged. Nature smiled propi-
tious So did the citizens.
About 10 o'clock the cars landed the
regiment, and the line of march was ia
ken up through the principal Streets
Gilmore's band led the column. A col
ored hand that did not play. and col
ored drum corps that did, and well. fol-
lowed. Then came the strange spectacle
"A thousand black forms and faces
Some expressions looked hard and al
most brutal. as il they had just emerged
from heir long prison house. and had on
ly two ideas-libeity and vengeance
Others. and most. were refined and tho't-
full. and inl of high inspiration.
They swept along from curb-stone to
curb-stone. with even steady tramp-their
KNAPP and coats piled upon their
shoulders, their guns erect against them.
Nemeis is marching to South Carolina.
Not ,hod with wool. rs Horace talks A.
bout. The wool was on her head-snd
will be sacred filet when those who
wear it shall be sacrificed upon the alter
Of their country salvation. No doubt the
slave holders in Richmond and Charleston
hesrl the solid tread.
/ They came TO the State House. The
Governor. Senator Wilson, Adjutant
General Schoulder. and other dignitarics,
were received into the opened lines. and
the march was continued down Beacon
street. The creme de la creme crowded
the aristocratic windows. Handkerchief
autterel, and loud cheers rent the air. In
one of the most aristocratic houses. the
residence Of the colonel. colorsd niggers
aud white stood in the parIor windows.
How those soldiers must have fek At
such an ovationl Did they remember
their life long degradation? Did they re-
member any thing else? Many had just
been slaves. Their backs were hardly
healed Of the scourge. What contrasts
in their lives! No novelist has dreamed of
such.
The common was crow ded. The Gov
ernor and his staff marched around the
straight line Of battle. Never did His Elk
cellenry seem to feel and look so excellent
Then the troops drfilea before him in
company line. aud with far better precis-
ion than most new regiments and many
old ones exhibit. Thence they marched
out Of the common. down fremont street.
down Court street. by the Court House.
chained hardly decade ago to save slave
ry and the Union. Thence down State
street. tramping on the very pavements
over which Sims and Burns marched to
their fate. cncompassed by soldiers Of the
United States.
Their sisters. sweethearts and wives"
"a familiar quotation in the notices Of
previous departing regiments. but look
ing little odd in this rev plaee-ran q
long beside 1.-The boys" giving their par
ting benedictians OF smiles and tears, tell
ing them to be brave and to show their
bloodl The crowds CHEER even along the
Cour;er ofiice-the soldiers sing the John
Brown song-the boat is reached. and
the sensation is solidi6ed into history Of
the United States.
One fact should be chroniclcd. Their
regimental banner. of superb white silk.
had on one side the coat Of AIMS of Mas
sachuse tts. and on the other golden cross
on golden star, with IN hoe signo vinees
beneath. This is the FIRST Christian ban
ner that has gone into our war. By .
strange, and yet not strange. providence.
God has made this desp;sed race the bear
ers Of His standard. They are thus the
real leaders Of the nation. -fas e1a