, 1864-01-27
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
RETURN OF TIE VETERANS
Reception OF tho 26th Regiment His.
Vo1k.-Speech OF Governor YateH-
Response of Col. LeomIs-Sap-
Per by the Ladfes.
From Our Special Cosrespondent1

Response of Col. LeomIs-sap-
Per by the Ladiea.
From Our Special Correspondent
sFRlsorHLn, jan. q, 1854,
1t has been before announced that the 96th
Illinois has re-enlisted for three years. The
regiment arrived at this city, their place of
rendezvous, to-day, where great preparations
had been made by their friends for the wei.
come Of the brave boys. About two o'clock
p. m. the noble regiment arrived In the city,
preceded by their regimental music, and tol.
lowed by their baggage wagons, in true army
style.
They marched through several streets. and
around the Square, preceded by the "Unlon
cornet Band'' Of this city, to the south aide
ofCapitol Square. After stacking their arms,
they We're marched to the State House.
The regiment occupied the Grand Circle
Of the Hall Of Representatives, and was
presented by Col John 8. Loomis, of tho
Governors stuff, who arranged for tue recep.
ton, as follows:
Gov. YiTEs-Aftar nearly three yeaes' hard sery-
Ice In the field, Col. John Mason Loonis renorfs
bis command, the 2eth regiment Illinois infantry,
three years GovermeM sesviee. The resiment n.
IN camp and on the march, aud in fearful conflicts
VIII the enemy has fn!ly sustained tho reputation
Which has ever Characterized the citizen aoldlery
Of Illinois.
Governor Yates said:
Qaoeel LOosnas, lRat+s ana Soldiers q ths s01s
iAaof* FoeuattkTs: Il has been n1sde my pleasant
aS s. u q
@ 9aSs q
inn my f4Af %hA
aad endure III. that thls country should rea1asn as
am9as sR
son, Lasalle, Mclean, sangsmon. champaign and
sent every portion Of this noble 5sate of Iii1ois
When selected Col. LOOMS rs the command
1ng of,ee5 q Tie he 5eg,nent It was not beesnse 10
command. for hls military talent, aud for bis devo-
ton 10 the country. and l had not mistaken the
nan. He has been equal to the emergency.
sopsay vas Fsisea II ny OWN III esan sae
from Col: loomis that Capt. Harris, now Mator Of
Tits regiment, who commanded that company,
Grant for the takisg and holding Of Tunnel: :Hin.
In that company is q nephew. Of mine. private
soldier, and am Etad to leaen that he has done
II lssl the regiment was sent to Quincy, much
against the wishes OF its Colonel They had no
arme, no clothes, no blankets and nothing to eat,
and hslaest seiea Il guarding sss
Asnalhal aad st. Joseph Railroad, and then you
ReEe sent Seath, ard the names OF New Madfid,
ees q sess & eFssa1r ga1ssSn
Tunnel HI! ard Chattanooga, which are inscribed
upon your battle worn hass, and npon these fields
lives in defense Of their country, aifordng ample
evidence OF the yalusble service which you per-
formed there. {Cheets.1 =.
Soldiers! ne have not been unraindful of you
and your Services, we have not forgotten vou. We
have watched you through -FOUR long and tedious
1tss yonr ssTnEs md thsous5
Hill We saw Son march undismayed At the head Of
the amy and reeeiye for your valor the praise OF
your commanding Generals, Grant and Sherman.
deeds Wh9eh you bare performed while tn service !;
sentative q tbe stale u Illinois. to Welcome yon
fully when duty called. fCheers.l ~-1'0@
here 1iae been set OF scoundrels in the State
that tF2nld rejoice It yo9r ,eFeKses md mourn
sshETsat aRplao5s9na the people Of Illinois
forget those who sleep in the valleys OF tie esls,
eaeTed aaty to take care Of their children, and aro
determined to provide for the education Of The or
pban children of o9r patriot martyrs; q gsatelnl
They have the. highest and hollest claims npon
every true patriotic heart aud upon ne State Tbs
se ey s1f b. s sns " s
and begga5 through neglect trreaendous
easeia;t seia;;ti., =, Ia ~. o,no,+,4r. ,a,,,,, ...
,3re 1T hnne The rbsJ1r T. naettf nsS yS1 ,s.a3
out, and 10 You and yopT crmrades are we fn1ebt-
ed for come Of the most glorious Victories winch
VIC hsre acnfeyed. tApplause:1 :;
n 9en go. Looms lef&, We md nor the nissia-
~ s1ppa: NOW r. aaFe +, and onf nag waves from
Yon in ns ~ ntronn ~ ~ enn ,,et, ,.,, an o,
Thai il teftimnnv suiicIrnt of vnnr cnn-sas H
have conferred imperiahabie honor upen yonr
Stateyon have been true to the batt,e-eearred dag
Of Illnois-you hive returned to Us the days which
aade an ~ e1de nq 7on on y99f Reeas marches
1inn " ~ .adsicn, a1a a c9aa
he fhcSsst in he et nhScra ~, III ~ s1sfn nTS
in The name Of the people. and In the name az
every loyal heart in the State, we welcome pou.
Col, Loo1nie, and your men today +,
The speech WA received with much ap-
plausa, and three times three cheers were gir.
en- for the gallant old regiment and Colonel
1oomis.
At the conclusion of the Governor 8 soeech.
Col. Loomls, 'commander Of the rer{menf'
was introduced 10 The audience and addressed
them in speech Of nearly an hour in length.
! bring back these men to Illinois With mort
feeling than / can express Of gratitude that
% many have been lett me. It has hid near
my hear tt have dreamed Of it. These men
who look up to me now, have seen every
day for two years; they have sustained the
t,ag of our siate aaa the flag of our country,
The noble dead belong to this regimen, they
arc scattered on the plain, Ia the valley and
moun1am gorEes among the rocks, their rest
lng p4aees marked BY little head stones. He
sppke IN gi9Wtng 1efms Of the conduct OF the
men IN battle, and the long march In East
other serTtces performed b. tbs r noble % reTs
menl, nc mention OF which We are obliged
10 om1L 1oF Wnnt Of space. The speech was