Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-13
! THE CITY.
y THE VETERANS.
ARRIVAL OF THE FoRrYsnrH O. v. l.
Columbus Receives her Regiment--A
Great Ovation


for Forty-sixth Regimentcf Veterans Col
G. G. Walcut, arrived here last evening, al
about z O'clock, and received the heartiest
and most enthusiastic reception which was
ever extended in Columbus to any organi-
zation. We announced yesterday morning
that the Regiment was expected during the
day, and suggested that an appropriate dis
play Of flags be made by the citizens; the
announcement excited universal interest
and the suggestion was generally acted up
on by citizens. Almost every house on
High street as well as many in other parts
of the city were decorated with numerous
flags of every variety and description. Soon
after dinner the streets were crowded with
expectant ladies, and by dusk the throng at
the depot, along High street and in the State
yard was tremendous. 40
The special train containing the regi-
ment arrived from Cincinnati just about
dusk, when signal rocket was sent up,
upon the appearance Of which the cannon
in the State yard announced to the city and
all the inhabitants thereof the arrival of
the boys; and the same gun continued to
make itself heard until the reception
speeches Began. The Regiment dis-em-
barked, and were escorted by the city mil
itary companies, headed by the Governors
Brass band, to the State yard, followed
by vast concourse of people. Their route
down street was illuminated by con-
tinuous shower of rockets, and heralded by
continued cheers and every manifestation
of enthusiasm and joy. The fire depart
ment also followed the regiment, and add
ed their full share of interest to the march.
Arrived at the west front of the State
House, the Regiment was placed in close
column and called to attention by Col.
Walcut, who presented Gov. Brough to his
comrades.
Governor Brough advanced and spoke in
substance as follows: Veterans of the Forty
Sixth Ohio: No words of which could
make use here could add to the cordiality
ofyour welcome homo, as evinced by the
presence and the pleasure of this vast con-
course Of your friends and fellow citizens
of Columbus; and my duty here is only to
express to you on theirbehalf that sincere,
and hearty, and cordial greeting which al
ready appears on the faces around you. Not
only on behalf of the people of this city,
but of the people Of the State Of Ohio, /
greet you and welcome you home again, and
thank you for that steadiness and heroism
which has characterized your conduct from
the moment you sprung to arms at the first
alarm of war until the auspicious time in
which you return to your native State
again. The words of welcome are few, and
silence best expresses the feelings of the
heart at time like this. You know the
hardships, the dangers and the privations
through which you have passed; so do we;
in the chronicles of the war we have traced
you step by step with anxious eye through
all your hardships and dangers, and looked
forward to this night when you should re-
turn again with prayerful and overfowing
hearts. While someare left to return, your
thinned ranks sadly indicate that there is
many comrade who will come not back
again; while we greet and welcome those
returning, there are those sitting in houses
of mourning and around desolate hearth
stones to which your coming will bring
tears of sorrow; and to those mourners we
extend all the sympathies of our hearts.
The mourners for the slain, and you their
comrades In arms, have the consolation of
knowing that they died for the preservation
of the Union, the flag and the Constitution
of our country; died in the discharge Of
their duty, which is the highest en-
conium that can be expressed of men. For
you there are home-wclcomes and endear-
ments that will convince you that
you have homes worth defending. AL
though the time allowed you at home is
short, we trust you will use 1t so that
upon its expiration you will be re-invigor-
ated, and prepared to return to the duty
from which you have just been released.
The re-enlistments of veterans, such as we
have witnessed, will constitute the bright
est record of the war. Many brave men,
as brave as you, are enlisting to take part In
defense of the country, and so forth to fight
Its battles, but they have not your nerve
and steadiness, learned and tried In many a
battle. They are coming to fill up your
ranks, and with you battle for the flag, and
the institutions of our country. You,
my friends, take courage and be Of good
cheer, for we have great hopes that the