The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-03-04
n D = y % tfal h III
SECOND REGIMENT At
ST. ANTHONY.
THEIR. RECEPTION BY THE
LADIES.
The Dining, Singing and Talking

Winding Up With Social Party
and Dance in the Evening.
The Best Reception Of the Season.
The Second Regiment was mustered for pay
at Fort Smelling OH Monday morning and a little
after noon they marched out for st. Anthony.
They reached Minneapolis and crossed the sus-
pension bridge about 2 o'clock, and were heart
| lily received by the crowds that had gathered at
the bridge and on the hill. About 245 men
| were included in the ranks, 13O of whom
| were veterans. As they filed into the Wins
low House, the throng of spectators upon the
porch and steps and around the door gave way
and revealed the fair entertainers of the vete-
rams ranged on either side of the long hall, to
welcome their honored guests. Between these
| brilliant ranks the regiment entered the dining
room. where all were in aefew moments COM
fortably seated, while the ladies were standing
at their posts around the tables, ready to
serve out the best products of their culinary
skill.
About four hundred guests were seated in
the hall, and over one hundred ladies stood
ready to wait upon them. All that the country
could produce of substantial or appetizing food
was upon the tables in ample quantities to have
fed q thousand. and temptingly arranged. The
hall was handsomely decorated with flags,
paintings, &c. Among the ornaments we no.
ticed an excellent photograph of MAJ. General
Van Cleve, formerly Colonel of the Second.
Several shields, in the national colors, bore the
inscriptions of mil Springs" "Perryville, :"
Chickamauga," and mission Ridge" indi-
eating the principal battles in which the Sec
ond has been engaged. Among the mottos
upon the walls. we noticed, 1--WE bid you
God speed, and 'On to Victery."
The exercises were opened with a song and
chorus from a glee club-the "Battle Cry of
| Freedom"
Judge N. H. Hemiup, on the part of the la
dies, welcomed the regiment in appropriate re-
marks, possessing the rare and great merit of
brevity. He said to the officers and men, that
the ladies of St. Anthony, appreciating their
gallant and patient services towards crushing
out the most attrocious rebellion ever underta-
ken, gladly welcomed these returning vete-
rams. You, he said, have endured perils and
hardships, while we have enjoyed the security
and comforts of home But our hearts 90 out
to you through all your experiences in the Sec
ond war of independence. In an hour of gloom
resting upon our cause, Mill Springs, in which
you participated. was the first sunlight of vic
tory At Perryville, Chickamauga and Mis-
sion Ridge, you Won imperishable renown, to
which you have added by second enlistment.
In testimony of their gratitude and admiration,
the ladies have bid me testify to you their
abundant, happy and joyous welcome.
The Divine blessing was then invoked upon
the nation, its rulers, the guests of the occa-
sion and all assembled by Rev, Mr.. Mckee.
| Dinner was then served, without confusion
and without neglect of any, the only shadow
of trouble being in the fact that no bashful
soldier could refuse to accept whatever
and howsoever much might be offered
him by his fair attendants. Bright
eyes, armed with a glad generous feel
ing that spoke in each glance, turned each
gentle request to partake of this or that dainty
offered almost into a command that no soldier
could hesitate to obey. A civilian, (small
credit to him for his civility,) might decline,
but no soldier would like to refuse request
rendered in grace and love to which he was
unused.
Following the dinner, the Glee Club Sang
again-"A Thousand Years."
The doors were then thrown open to permit
the outside crOwdfto enter, and Immediately
every standing place, as well as seat was occu-
pied, Order was soon restored, and after
Judge Hemiup had remarked that he hoped
the soldiers would bear with the crowding in
consideration of the display of interest and
good will towards themselves, the first regu-
toast was read, as follows
The Union-dearer than ever to us for the
trials through which it is passing 1T must
and shall be preserved"
Responded to by Rev. Mr.. Secombe, in an
array of natural results of an establishment of
the principle upon which seces. ion was pre-
tended to be based, and conclusion that no
such separation as proposed by the South
could be acknowledged or afforded After an
Illustration of the development Of national
strength in this struggle, and an alluson to the
services OF the second ne concluded by repeat
ing and emphasizing the last clause Of the
toast, and calling for three cheers for the Un-
ion. which were heartily given.
The Glee Club then sang the pretty plain
tive song of '' Daisy Dean," by the late Major
Theodore Winthrop.
The President of the United States, Fearless
in the discharge of every duty-an honest man
the noblest work of God.
The second toast was responded to by Rev.
Mr.. Mckinley, who wished that Honest Old
Abe" were himself present to respond to the
toast, which wish suggested to him story.
When our gunboats after the fall of Fort
Henry, went up the Tennessee River, at one
landing they were hailed by an enthusiastic
negro, who exclaimed to the first man from
the boat he saw. "'FOre God, is Massa Linkum
on this are bOat?" Mr.. Lincoln is on board the |
&c Qtato ax,d tLo