The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-08-20

- PhOncrs now ~ camp CnaSe, Uhi0, 70
Camp Douglas. ya :.
Helena Correspondence
HBLENA ARKANSAS,
August. 9th 1868.
PRESENTATION l
Mn. NoRRIs The happiest hour I have
spent since our grand celebration of the 4th
was that Of last evening, when witnessing
the presentation Of beautiful sash, sword,
belt and pair of shoulder straps to Lieut.. r.
H. Warden of Company "E"
Being in command ofthe company, Lieut.
Scott--our little "Mac."--with that admir-.
able taste he is always capable of display.
ing when occasion requires, had the affair
60 off on the Co. parade grounds IN the best
possible and most appropriate manner. As
Lieut.. W. approached, having been sent for,
as he is now Aetna Adjutant, the company
presented arms" while Corporal Geo. w.
Dennis addressed him: thus
LIEUT.. WARDEN; In behalfo of Co. "E''
allow me to present you with this sa h,
sword, belt and pair of shoulder straps
We do this as q slight token OF our esteem
for you as man and officer well knowing
that while you wear them, they will never
be dishonored. Rest assured that as an
officer you have gained our undivided affec-
ton, because we have found you to be q
true friend under all and every circum..
stance and where you lead US, we shall al.
ways be ready to follow. Adversely tries
and proves friends and in prosperity and
adversely you have proven faithful one
Be this rebellion. against the best govern.
ment the soorld ever knew, long or short
we shall feel proud to be found battling to.
gether with you, for its integrity, as We did
on our last National birthday.
Take, then, these tokens of our regard
May your heart and hand, always be strong
in your country's defense. and when the an.
CRY clouds of secession are driven back by
the bristling bavonets Of the sturdy free.
men of the North, may you return to a
peaceful and happy home,. where you can
spend your days in teaching your children,
as our fathers have taught us, to defend
with their best blood, the priceless tIeas ure
Of Liberty.
TO which Lieut. W. responded as fol-
lows:
CORPORAL AND FELLOW SOLDIERS This
though unexpected, is to me one of the hap
piest moments Of my life. In our first ex-
perience as soldiers many of US met as
strangers but common cause and inter-
est, believe and trust, have made us firm
friends. While l have been associated
with you have endeavored but to dis
charge my duty, and need nor de sire No
greater reward than . proper respect toward
me as one of your commanding officers
Allow me, here to say. that cherish to.
ward each of you mono but the kindest feel
ings; while on the other hand, am proud
to say, you have always obeyed your officers
and discharged every known duty. To
prove good soldiers and true gentlemen, let
it still be your highest aim.
Iaccept these beautiful gifts, as token
Of your devotion to the great cause Of L;5sr
ty and Union; and while possess them,
shall endeavor never to dishonor them, nor
the generous donors. q"
You have been pleased to allude to our
celebration of the 4th of July, 1863. May
our enemies always be thus taught to feel
how rash 1t is, to try to trample freemen in
the dust, and pay as dearly for, their foul
treason.
Accept my thanks and best wishes, and
may each you live to tell your chlldren's
children of the rise and ignominious fall Of
the great rebellion Of 1861
The reply, for an impromptu. think is
beautiful. 1t came gushing forth spontane.
ously and original, patriotic and eloquent,
whileathe bright tear drops hung trembling
from his eye lids, and the smile wreathed
countenance told what his lips could not
give utterance to, the emotions of the soul.
The day had been searching one, but at
this hour the sun hung like magnificent
ball of6rc, bathing the camp in flood of
mellow light, and the cool breeze fitted BY
just ripping the water of the great Missis-
sippi that washed the banks upon which we
stood, and as the echoes of the deafeniae
drums, sounding the retreat were dying
away, cheers for the donee resounded in
their stead. Oh. it was happy hour, one
that will be remembered by the happy re-
cipient and the happy donors. ae
have little news to communicate. The
seth have been blessed, or cursed, as you
may please with good deal of sickness, in
the way Of Ague and bilious diseases moth
ing more serious. | am pleased to saw,
however, that we are not discoura ged, and il
we are cA,led to march," which we daily
expect, every man who can shoulder bis
gun will be found "a trying" AL of the
Ottumwa boys are well, believe. Adjutant
now Major Hamilton 70 still absent, also
gspt. Joy. Orderly Thompson of Co. "H"
he's mounted 8 pair Of I'd Lieuts. straps,
and becomes then. wen. Monroe stands A
No I ID the 2elh. More anon. ~