Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-05-10
PRESENTATION OF A FLAG.
FIsHERsyILLF. Va. March oa

!.
II PRESENTATION OF A FLAG.
tIsHERsvILLE, Va, March 26, 1866
9 Col. John S. HoFFMAN, 31st Regiment of VS.
: Infantry, Army of Northern Va. l3'.-
SIR FL have the pleasure of presenting I,
i you battle flag for the 31st Regt. of Va. Infan
try, which for nearly three long years has eudu
red as many spriyatons and hardships. and hon
I ored every battle- field upon which it has bee
called to meet the despoilers of their peace an,
II homes. -
! Every yirginian can look with nride an,
qualification upon thessunexampled heroism an,
bravery which has ever been evinced by tbi
regiment. And when an honorable peace shal
have been conquered and our Independence 90.
ltablished, feel confident that the 3Ist VA
Regiment can justly claim full share of the
= glory and honor of achieving it. Ientrust this
flag to you, with the assurance that the ma
triotic and tried veterans, SO long and so faith
fully commanded by yourself, will ever be ready
to defend it and willing to strike for thei,
rights while the tramp of an armed foe is heard
upon their native soil. ~
/ am, sir,
With high respect,
Yours, &C., r. B. SEE.
1 sr-~ C~AD4r MAN 0OAAAHhNkLLE rORD. va.
H'dqrs. 31st Reg't Va. Inf'ry.
April IA, 1864.
Madam-The beautiful battle>fsg made By
you for this regiment has, with your compli-
mentary note, been received, and is committed
TO the keeping of the regiment
/ Inc countenance and appreciation of woman
has ever been, to the soldier, the highest incen,
| tive to stern endurance and daring deeds
Never, in any. country, at any period, did
more noble and lovely women than our own
care Tor the comfort, minister to the wants and
inspire the intrepidity of men in arms for their
conntry's liberty. Never were men in arms
ior SUCH cause more sensitively alive 10 the
gentle yet potent influence of feminine consid.
GRAFTON, providence and encouragement.
In the history of the world there has not
been so stupendous and persistent efforts made
at so great sacrifice by one people to reduce
another people from so high state of political
liberty aud social happiness to condition of
such ablect wretchedness, as that now made bv
our enemies against ourselves. And-I speak
for the men in the army what know you will
answer tor the women at home-there has not
been people more unalterably resolved to suf-
fer, to dare and to accomplish whatever their
country need may demand, but not to yield
to the iicentous ambition and eager avarice of
a Dt6otOO dAA uOSUu6 race. AS
each day of our great struggle hiss unfolded in
our adversary some fierce passion, some dreful
purpose, more hideous and calamitous than had
before appearedi each portentous development
has impelled Us to a renewed resolve, stronger
and more nnalterable than had been made before
that we will not bow down to the utter degra-
dation foreshadowed to rs, should we Weld TO
the hostile force thai assails u.s. And now,
whether or not our armies be as numerous as
they once Were, thoroughly organized, symmetS
rIcal. and compact, inspired by patriotic hero>
ism, refined by many trials, sacredly urged by
the sainted spirits OF the comrades who have
fallen by our sides, impelled by the atrocicus
enormities committed by the grasping and saw
age foe who ever grasps at our property and
thirsts for our blood, we must, zoe yiH repel the
Invading hosts that beleaguer our country, and
achieve Joyous peace and honorable indepen-
dence,
Most of the officers aud man Of this regiment
at the commencement of our great struggle. lett
their families, their homes, and their. property
exp osed to tie rudeness and eupidity not only
of en- invading enemy, but far worse-to the
malignity and per6dy of domestic traitors, who
delivered their oountrymen into the hands of
foreigners, that with them they might find fas 3
yor. Having, at the outset, committed all to
the hazard of the contest, they have never,even
in the gloomiest hour of our adversely, faltered
in their immutable purpose to press the great
contest to success, or not to survive the issue.
Nc oseheme OF debasiBg Cancellation has, at any
time, vexed their understanding. No thought
Of degrading concession has disturbed their res-
olnte composure But never were they so fix
ed in their pnrposeso Unalterable in their deter,
mination as now. And never were they inspir
ed with such confident and exultant hope, that
at mo very distant day the stupendous task be-
fore US viii have teen accomplished, and our
whole epuntry win be.free from the presence of s
invading hosts, and enjoy the blessings of en-
lightened liberty aud recognised Independence *.
tat our own rich fields and verdsnt pastures,
and cherished homes far away beyond the blue
will be reclaimed from the domi-
nation of the stranger and domestic epoiler; aud
with the joy of those who have done their whole
duty, and won its priceless reward, sitter so long
and unnatural separation, we will meet and
greet, and again be happy with those We love
most. The men OF this regiment are prepared
for the stern duty which promises suc1 propi- Z
tious censumma ion. sv
j need only add the assurance of the deep
sense entertained BY the regiment cf the very
nesome compliment you confer upon it; and
point to thep conduct of its officers and men
as guaranty that the ensign of battle entrust-
ed to their hands, will not be dshonored.--
With sincere personal regard,
J. S. HOFFMAN,
Col. 31st Regt. Virginia Infantry.
S A BIT OF HUMoR.-We do not relish truths
the less for being occasionally spiced with lit
tie hamor. The following extract from the re-
port of a committee on Hogs. contains some ex-
oelent hits, ~
Again, some folks accuse pigs of being filthy
in their habits, and negligent in their person.
al appearance. But whether food is best eaten
off the ground, or from China plates, is, it seems
to me, merely matter of taste and men may
honestly differ.
They ought, then, to be judged charitably.-
At any rate, pigs are not filthy enough to chew
tobacco, nor to poison their breathfby drinking
whiskey. And as to their personal appearance,
You don't catch a pig playing the dandy, nor
the females among them picking their way up
this muddy village. after rain, in kid slippers.
Notwithstanding their heterodox notions,
hogs have some excellent traits OF Character
II one chance to wallow little deeper in some
mire hole than his fellows, and so carries off
and comes ia possession of more of this earth
than his brethren, he never assumes an extra
Importance on that account; neither are his
brethren stupid enough to worship him Tor it.
Their only question seems to be, is he still
hog? Ii he is, they treat him as such.