Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-06-30

L -
nave stu the reputation Of the old Seoonj ~
MAINTAIN. show yourselves as TO ~ 49,
country when citizens as YOU have 49,
soldiers. Act so that you can IoIa WEI
heads up. Never let the good nana Wv, Joul
won as soldiers be furnished bv anvtb;u nave
may 60 as citizens. know you will ne, YOU
know that you who have fought so We'll -
sustain the Government in the field, will ~
home, by word and deed as citizens, do all Won
can tor Its support, and to cheer on and main
tain our armies
Comrades, from the bottom of my hearth
give you welcome. Great cheering)
After another song by the Glee Club, the
regular address of the occasion was delivered
by Hon. 0RsAMUs COLE, of the Supreme
Court, as follows:
l arise to perform pleasant task. To me
has been assigned the agreeable duty of well
coming the officers and soldiers of the Sec
ond Wisconsin Regiment of Volunteers to
our homes and the Capitol of the State
When that duty was first assigned me
had not the heart to decline its performance
though fully conscious of my utter inability
to discharge it in a worthy manner. But con.
fess that have peculiar interest and regard
for the officers and men of the Second l care
not to inquire as to the fact or circumstance in
which that sentiment or feeling had its origin,
1t may possibly have arisen from the fact that
this was the first regiment which left our
State enlisted tor three years or the war
More probably 1t had its origin in the fact
that that regiment numbered in its ranks
many whom l had known for years-some of
whom were my warm personal friends. Pos
sibly its trials and sutferings at an early peri
cd of the war aroused and increased this
sympathy in its favor. But whatever NAV
be the cause, | am conscious of bearing to-
wards it somewhat different feeling from
that which | entertain for any other our
State has sent forth, brave, noble, worthy of
regard as they all are. Never shall cease
to respect every man who has worn the Fed
eral uniform in this conflict unless by some
act of his he has disgraced and polluted it.
Never shall | cease to feel lively interest
for the safety and success, the welfare and
honor OF all our tsoops-of every military
organization which Wisconsin has sent to
the field. At the same time permit me to
entertain and cherish for the Second the pc
cullar love and interest | bear it. for it is to
it alone that instinctively feel like uncover
ing my head and bowling it in reverence and
silence while it passes before me-
Feeling thus, why should not embrace the
opportunity to welcome it homeland trust
the tongue to speak out from the fullness of
an overlooking heart?
Yet | trust to no feeble words of mine to
express the profound feelings of this multi
tude on this interesting occasion. | trust
rather to these better utterances-these
shouts of triumph and good cbeer-to this
reception and the interest that all take in it
to this general exutation and ioy-the wild
enthusiasm of the hour which will not be re-
strained; and, above all, trust to the thou
sand faces around me beaming with gratitude
and gadness-it is these things and not
words of mine which will convince these no.
BILE men that we cherish them in our heart of
hearts; that we are not unmindful to-day of
what they have sacrificed Of what they have
suffered for US and our beloved country; that
we are not insensible to the debt of everlast-
ing gratitude we owe them.
Officers and men, heroes of the immortal
Second, hail all hail !
In behalf af these innocent and lovely girls
whose garlands of flowers have strewn your
pathway to this spot-fowers, the embems
at once of the purity of the givers and the
warm affection they bear yOu, their brdUe de-
ye,,u1trS--on their behalf | welcome, | greet
you.
In behalf OF these ingenious boys whose
bosoms are now swelling with emotions of
pride and admiration at the recollection of
your wonderful deeds, l welcome, | greet YOU.
In behalf of the many Federal and State
officers now resident here, their assistants
and clerks, the city authorities of Madison it's
Fire Department, the Turnverein; in behalf
OF the citizens of Madison and the surround
ing country generally, whose care has pro-
vlded these refreshments, these fruits for
your comfort; of these patriotic ladies who
cheertully serve you; in behalf of all these
nnn and obi Who
forth from their homes to meet you, intoxi-
Gated with joy at your arrival, almost hanging
upon your garments and every one eager to
grasp your hands in friendship, in their be-
half welcome, l greet you.
And finally in the name of and in behalf of
the citizens of the entire state, all of whom
| doubt not, would be glad were it possible
to unite with us in extending to you this
splendid reception-whOse hearts as they read
the accounts of this days proceedings will
thrill with pleasure and send back respon-
sive, an approving echo to every kindred word
every generous sentiment here uttered in your
praise-in their name--on their behalf one
and all 1 greet you and 1 welcome you. I
give you much joy at your safe return from
those scenes of conflict and blood with which
in obedience to the demands of high pat
riotism you have so long been familiar and
forever indissolubly connected.
Officers and men, heroes of the immortal
Second, again hail you! again 1 bid you a
hearty welcome to the capital of the State.
1t is now about three years since your reg
iment left our city 1851 strong-consisting
of men of almost all occupations-all profess
sions-robust, active, Industrious intelligent
every way fit representatives Of our vigor-
Gus population. Your lives had always
Heretofore been devoted to peaceable pun
suits, and you took up arms only in obedience
to the call of your imperiled country. Your
destination was the National Capitol then
beleaguered by the most devilish traitors
that ever raised parricidal arm against any
government. That insolent foe you were to
meet in deadly confict-take up the gage
of battle which he rendered, and try the issue
whether you would fight for your country, and
if so whether one southern man was equal to
and a match for five northern men fighting in
such a cause. That matter has already been
settled, need not say how. But of all the
fatal mistakes made by the SONS of men none
so fatal or sad in its consequences as the no.
ton that the Northern men wo,sH not. dare
not fight to preserve the Union, which was
the assumption of The chivalry" when thew
commenced the war.
Arriving at Washington ON the I'd of july.
1861-the first three years Regiment to reach
that city-your Regiment immediately he
came identified with the fortunes and bistorv
of the army of the Potomac During these
three sorrowful eventful years you have been
absent, the citizens Of this State have kept
their eyes upon you. They have witnessed
with PRIDE and satisfaction your humane, Or
derry, obedlent conduct every where and on
al occasions No act Of military insubordi