The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-05-27

HEApouARTERs SEcoNr DIVISION, J
Is, EIaHTH ARMY CoRrs, 80.
| WINCHESTER, Va, May 6, 1863. }
Colonel Hm. p Richardson, and the
| r. officers and Priuatcs Of the 25th Regi-
ment, o. v l. l5s 9
I was agreeably surprised to day by
the appearance of Lieut.. Col. Charles
worth, of your regiment, at my head
quarters. OF course, being an old COM
rade in arms, and an honored and gallant
member of your regiment, he received at
my hands most cordial welcome. Before
had recovered from the agreeable rccol-
tlections which his presence suggested, in
| your name he presented me with sword,
the dress and service scabbards (which
are richly ornamentcd with jewelry, and
! also handed me your fattcring and affec-
tionate letter of presentation. This let
ter is signed by all the officers and pri-
vaies Of your gallant regiment who have
serve under my command. You are ALI
aware On my dearth of language, and will
not, 1 am ce.tain, judge of the emotions
excited in my heart by this greatest sur
prise of my lie, from the mode in which
l may express them. -. -
Your regiment was a part of the first
brigade which 1 had the honor to COM
mand AS part of my command, you
endured the rigors of a Cheat NJ fountain
winter, participated in driving the rebel
army from the territory now forming West
Virginia across the Alleghenies and the
Valley of Monterey, and gallantly led the
Union forces in the battle of Bull Pasture
Mountain. AS part Of my command
you served in the arduous campaign, under
General Fremont, in the Shenandoah Val
lev, and fought with unfaltering courage
at Cross Keys. a7
During the whole time you served under.
my command, you all-ofhcers and pri-'
vates-conducted yourselves like men who
had engaged in the struggle which now
convulses cur country, from noiyenal mo-
tive, but from a conscientious conviction
Of duty. zja8.e ha
Shortly after the battle of Cross Keys,
against my wish and greatly to my regret,
YOU were transferred to another command;
but as you remained in the same army
corps with my brigade, Twas an eye wit
ness to your fidelity andacouragein in the
campaign of the Rappahannock, and at
tie last battle of Manassas. When your
regiment Srst became part of my COM
mand i, was nearly one thousand strong.
1t has since heen strengthenedby recruits,
as am informs 4, ~ ii less than three hun
dred. 1t now nu.nb..s about live hun
drcd. The regiment has not to my knowl-
edge, been disgraced by sins le desertlon,
and has suffered in consequence OF Its
good discipline, and the strict attention or
its officers, but little from the ordinary
causes of mortality The great majority
Of the eight hundred missing from your
ranks have been disabled in battle, or re-
pose in honorable graves on the Allegha-
nies-Bull Pasture Mountain, at Cross
Keys, along the line of the Rappahan
mock, or on the plains Of Manassas. As
the sun Of the Union rises with increasing
splendor above the storm of battle, it is
consoling to hope that those, who have
been gathered to their father, have not
died in vain. The consideration that this
present is made to me as their former
commander, at the expiration of nearly a
year after the severance of that relation,
by the survivors of so many hard contest
ed fields, and Of such heroic band, in
vests it with peculiar significance and
value. l I,would have preferred that the
gift had been less costly, for it derives
none of its importance in my estimation,
from its intrinsic worth saase
The brief and affectionate letter of pre-
|sentation, accompanied by the signatures
of its donors, is as highly priced and will
be as carefully preserved by me as the
costly present which it represents.
Rest assured, brother soldiers, of my
heartfelt wish that you may survive to
witness in the restoration of the Union of
your fathers, the 1ruition Of your sacri-
fees and labors. b3a'sAa
With feelings Of admiration, gratitude
and respect, / am, fellow soldiers, o