, 1863-09-02
The Sword Presentation to General
Meade

Meade.
The sword presentation to Gen. Meade, by
the Pennsylvania Reserves, came off on the
2sth ult., at headquarters, which were deco
r1ted In the most tasty and gorgeous style
with flowers and eyergreeus. The presenta-
non was made by the 1st division Of the 5th
corps, which was the division so long com
manded By Gen. Meade, and now led by Gen.
Crawford.
The following letter vas sent to Gen. Ctaw-
ford BY the President:
WASHINGTON, Aug. e, e. 1868.
TO General Crawford:
Iregret that Icauuos bc present to witness the
presentation Of sword bJ the gallant Pennsyl.
vap!s Re.eEye Corps to onc SO worthYtq reeeivo 1t
II Gen. Meade a. LINCOLN.
The following letter fom the Secretary Of
War Was also received:
WAE DEPARTMENT, WAsu1.;oTow, Aus. Is,
TO EEigadier General Crawford:
. 0ExEEAL-Your invitation to nc to witness the
presentation Of sword to Ms{or General Meade,
thls ssening has been En- rfceised. It would gsati!y
confidence and respect Of Ills comrades In arms to
the distinguished officer uudsr whose command
ths great stctosy ot as.sysbnr ~ : won bnt M
'A' Osp1Ses' N'D1s Enw1a S II. srAs7oss. :
Tho presentation speech WAS made by Gen.
Crawford, as follows:
GEN. cRATFonD-s epEEcN.
GEEIRAL-l .saud before ynu to-dsy isir, the rep
resentative Of the officers Of that division who
ohcc called yoa it's chief. !npclied bJ decree TO
perpctuate the memory Of your connection with
them detious. sir, to manifest to yoa the 21ec-
ton aud esteem hey te.E tos.rd. you,;tney eek
Shall marx it forever. Accept #, sir, from them,
not as ,cward, not as rec0mptrsu Tor your care
for them, but q the exponent IT those feelings Of
words. Transmit it to those who bear your namc.
Let 1t ev.r Express to You that devoted attach
ment and regard that the otacers Of The Petnsyl-
you. Here. il the r5eeencc Of him who conceived
the idea Of this division, and who trust the
faithful people will return to the position he "a
wo1thily occupies, Ip:tsent to you this te=tiuo'
njal .
Gen. Meade responded 1s follows:
GEx. ukApE's rEr1f.
Gen. Cfawford and Officers Of the Diylsion OF
the PennsJlvania Reserve corps: I accept this
swofd with feelings Of profoahd sEatitaar and
pride; snd shouid be igsenssb1a to al the issl;
OF svceivin. u testimonial Of appreciation from q
band Of oticers and men 20 distinguished as the
Psnpfylvanis Rsssrre Corp. have been during tho
fore, to be proud rhat they should think that my
CoAduct hrs hteD Of such character ~ to crafty
ttem-in calling together 80 many here to aay, and
il no more tLan saying that have done my duty
towards them
Gen, Mtads then expressed his qualification to
be tbae 10 testify to the patriotism Of Gov Curtin,
Of Peunsylyania. whose efforts hal besn unremit-
ting In favor Of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps,
aud was glad that he was there present to witaess
tho presentation Of this sword. General Meade
then recouDted the many gallant actions Of the
Rtserve Corps, and enid that when the history OF
the WAT wss nt1t3en they would be vlndicAted
f.om I'll acrusstions which had been made against
them By those ignorant Of the facts, and referred
10 tie Gght at Mt chsnicsrflIe where they held in
check Locgstra.et's entire corps by two byisades
alone BE afso cited South M0untsiu and Antie-
taE1 as battle fields upon which they had fought
gaI1antly, and Fredericksburg. where they held tue
crest Of tho heights for twenty minutes and where
hsd shy sen ~ ot9s thes
be said, be lad light to be p.oud when the OF.
GERS and men Of such corps honored him with
and gratitude were m'nglicS with mourn1al feel
irgt when he reflected upon how n,a,,y brave and
gallant soldiers had fallen that once Belonged to
The es5ps, and that the condition OF the coun1y-
lts armies arrsytd sgxfnst ch other-aould make
staly the occasion for such present ssons but
tiat At the same time we were ii this wa1, all act.
Ing from high senee Of duty and ail were willing
to factifce their lives in defence Of the good OF
their ecaItE1. Gen Meade Then spoke Of Cen
ern1 Reynolds and other ea]laat officers who latefy
IN at Gtttyebu,z: He trn-ted that the sword
would be Fcqutted but a short time longer, as he
ald TINT 1ren alone were needed to ali up ,be old
scgincnta TO puta finishing stroke to the rebellion
Gtn- Meade vas loudly app1aaded By the
immense assembly present, as he detailed the
exploits Of the Pennsylvania Reserves.
At the co1elusicn Of the Generals speech,
three times three tremendous cheers we're
given for lin, and thzte times three for Gov.
Curtin.