The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-21

| felt thanks and gratitude mat accept
this token of your kindly feelings toward
me- ! have been associated with you, in
camp and field, for twenty months,
during which time have in the strict
performance of my duty, endeavored to
merit the appreciation of all good and
! true soldiers. Comrades, accept the
thanks of grateful heart, and be as
! sured that in the future, as in the past,
| shall labor TO retain that confidence
you have 80 generously evinced toward
me on this occasion, thank you again,
comrades.
Some of the officers of the Nth
Michigan Infantry, stationed at Brent
wood, are in luck decidedly, as will be
seen by the following brief speeches.
We congratulate our friend Major Fitz-
gibbon on his good fortune, and wish
him all the success in the field which q
free hearted Irishman, and gallant officer,
devoted TO unconditional Unionism, so
richly merit The cause of American
freedom is calling to our shores armies of
Irish yeomanry and most cordially do
we welcome them with outstretched arms:
PRESENTATION SPEECH OF SERGEANT HENRY
DAVIS.
MAJOR FITZGlBBON With feelings of
pride and pleasure |, on behalf of my
company, present you with this token of
their regard and affection. At the or
ganization of our regiment, all Of the
field and line officers were made the re-
cipients of like presents, you alone re.
fusing TO accept anything from your men,
until such time, you said, as your con-
duct and action in the field would merit
| it. Now that you have left us as a COM
pany officer, aud that your worth and
| qualifications as a soldier and a gentle
man, warrant your superiors in placing
you in a more exalted position, we can
no longer refrain from manifesting our
appreciation of not only your valOr in
the field, but your recognized ability as
an able and impartial disciplinarian.
In your honest efforts TO faithfully serve
your adopted country, we have been
| panied, as you, no doubt, have been
troubled, by the mean efforts of those
who labored to iDjure your unblemished
| fame, because of your nationality. With
unfaltering faith in the rectitude of your
purpose, and the business of the holy
cause we all voluntarily espoused, you
have nobly overcome all difficulties,
while the incendiary of discord has re-
tired to merited obscurity.
In presenting you this sword, in the
hilt of which is engraven the scenes of
war and toiling through which those of
us before you struggled, we feel assured
that il will not be sealed in its sheath
until the enemies of our adopted coun-
try now in rebellion against it, shall have
claimed the protection of that flag they
vainly endeavor to destroy, Then, may
the Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings,
the God of Battles stretch forth His
hand from His throne of light and point
sour exiled countrymen towards the
Mecca of our early love-our dear, native
land. Take this sword
MAJOR FITZGIBBoN's REPLY.
SERGEANT DAVIS AND FELLOW SOLDIERS:
You have over-estimated my ability,
not only as a soldier, but a speaker; for
with the purpose of keeping me entirely
ignorant Of your good intentions toward
me till this morning, you must have fan
oied me possessed of greater power of
language than in my vainest conoep-
tons of myself | couh dream myself
master of. While discaTding the stereo-
typed language of the day, | will say
with truth that it is with much diffldence
though unfeigned pleasure | accept from
your hands this elegant sword re-
membering how often and satirically
have held up TO scorn and ridicule the
studied phrases, bald nonsense and
obscene humbug that 80 frequently at
tach to such presentations, l fear lest
my words recoil upon myself. But
being reminded by you that 1t is tribute
Of lore and admiration to one who has
ceased TO be your immediate commander,
to one from whom you expect no small
iavors or gifts, and that it is the hearts
Offering of those who have brayed the
hardship, hunger, fatigue and unrest of
camp and battle life with me for over
twenty months, its value becomes in
estlmabe, For this | tender YOU. one
and all, my most sincere but insufficient
thanks,
L. have been made TO suffer mora
than my share through the stupiditv
imbecihty or treachery of a former
superior officer l accepted il all as the
penalty Of upright oonduct--a penalty
which an unwayering fidelity TO nv
convictions imposed. Thank God that
such mole-eyed bigots as the person
adyerted TO are few in the army. Oar
gallant Colonel, our victor General in
Murrrccsboro', the Governor of our be-
loved Peninsular State and the President
of the Republic respect and acknowledge
manhood and merit, no matter where lis
cradle was rocked or altar stood
Your allusion 20 my nat'pe land-the
land Of sorrow and Of sOng-the land