Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-06-17
Return Of the "S!iiIef Guards" !"

u tAkC oA-ISt ~ udA
THIS Was the fr>t Company which left
Union county for three years Or dur!n.
the War" iIonorably discharged, they
reached Harrisburg on the 9th inst, but,
notwithstanding the earnest efforts of our
borough authorities and Col. Slifor, they
did not yet thra the labyrinthian details
Of red tape unul Tuesday last, and We'd
ncsday afternoon they reached Lcwisburg
Depot There they we're met by a pre-
ccs,ion Of citizens AID students, hoadcd
by the LcwisJurg Band, which escorted
them into the Borough. Each bronzcd
volunteer MAS presented. from the ladies
hands. with q wreath Of crsrgrcons-lau-
rel honors hardly but richly won. Mar
ching through the throug on Market
street, under arches at WcidenSaUl :,
Wol!e's anI Ammous corners, with nu-
ucroas flags great AMI small, aud " vel
comes iuuu,ucrabIc, they tarrieI at 9th
street, from where they started three years
ago, then re;raced their steps to the front
OF the Presbyterian church. Their pio-
neer Captain had been invited to address
them, but declined for reasons stated in
the following letter:
MUNCY, June /, 1851.
c. c. SUoRKLLy, Burge>s-Dear Sir {:
Your fav,r Of thl- day Is just TO hand, and
| thauk you far the krui invi'aiion 1t
contains 10 participate 10 the reception Of
our Reserves ! p'hing would glce me
greater pleasure han 10 be with you Oh
taat occasion and address a welcome to
these brave men, but | am sorry 10 sag
that it viii be impossible. Business pres
ses in the Office, and, besides, | have a
severe cold aud cough, aud nay physician
Las forbidden ev-u reading and counting
aloud. | hope, however, that the people
of Lsxisburg wall do all IN their power
to honor the gallant few" who return to
them after three years of battle and storm
You say well wAcn You say that, however
small Ibeir number, they are ''wortby our
c1usidera,ion Ny heart warns when
ever think Of these brave boys. They
went to the field at time when 10 touu-
ties were given, aud the United States
service offered the scauty pay OF eleven
dollars per month. Faithfully they full
e lied their contract with the Government,
even to the last toGr-aye, and added
days OF grace" IN order hat no stain might
attach to he name of the "peunsy ylsanla
Reserves" Keurong now after such
long aud arduouS service, having partici
pated in score Of bdtties-a'w4ys with
credl, to themselves aud to their State
they are indeel such as we should delight
10 honor" Very truly yours,
f. CHAMhERLIN.
The Committee Of Arrangements then
invited Hon. Eli Slilcr to make the for
mai welcoming, which duty he performed
in the following terms:
OFFICERS AND MgN or COMPANY d OF
THE 5TH PA. Res ERvES / have received
many marks Of honor from the good pco-
pie Of my town and county, but never
one Of which ! have been more proud
than this conferred upon ne to-day, by
the gentlemen Of the committee appointed
to receive you. Such scene, and such
an occasion as this, comes not in every
once in every century.
How deeply moved are the hearts of
this people Some throbbing with JOY
uuspeakable, because their long absent
loved ones have returned to them; others
burthened with a grief far too deep for
uttcrance, because their near ones are not
here, and never will return to them.
! can not speak to You, brave men, all
that my own heart feels, much less can
hope to give expression to the warm out
gushing affection with which each man,
woman and child in this community re-
ceives you. Your relatives and personal
friends are here to greet You. The rela-
tiyes of those you left behind YOU in hon
ored graves are also here to take you by
the hand; whilst they sorrow for their
dead they rejoice through their very tears
that you are safe. They love you, and
will ever cherish you rs the companions
in arms last with those they so sincerely
mourn. In the name of all these people,
and in their behalf, | bid You welcome. D..
| deem 1t great privilege to speak for
the people of this vicinity these words of
earnest welcome but in doing this, my
thoughts instinctively turn to the day
when, some three years .ro Won with
many compaEions, left these quiet scenes,
abandoned your avocations, severed your
selves from the comforts and happy asso-
Citations Of your homes, to 20 forth to bat
tie, and if need be to die. You were in
'plred to this not by the mere love Of
military display, for you had always shown
yourselves superior to this; not in the
'ain pursuit of military glory, for all your
eachings had ever been that peace with
'ut dishonor was the highest boon a peo-'.
lie could enjoy; but it was because you