The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-01-28
RECEPTION or THE ITtA OHIO.


izens Of Lancaster determined to give
them welcome. Committees were ap-
pointed and contributions Of food and
money solicited for that purpose
When it became finally known that
the Regiment would reach the depot,
at Lancaster, on Monday afternoon,
the greatest excitement prevailed and
tho loyal people went to work with
good will and liberal hand. Men and
women, old and young, wed with each
other in the laudable effort to give to
the returning soldiers---long their do
fenders-now veterans--a welcome
such as they alone deserved.
Early Monday morning the various
committees were at work, decorating
the Hall, bringing in the donations,
preparing, arranging, and filing tho
tables with the abundant substantials
and luxuries that were being rushed
in. Country We'd with city, family
with family, each striving to outdo the
other in the abundance, quality and
variety of their contributions, until the
ovcrburdened tables groaned beneath
their great loads Of luxuries and until
the ladies, unable longer to find room
upon the spacious tables, stored it
away in cords in the corners of the
Hall. At 3 o'clock P. NJ. the ladies
of the Supper Committee having, by
hard labor and great perseverance,
completed their arrangements, the Hall
was thrown open and the public ad-
mitted to see the tables; and now, who
can do justice to the liberality of the
donors and the taste, skill and indus
try of the ladies of the Supper Com
mittce? Lancaster never witnessed
supper that would compare with it,
never saw such abundance, and never
will again. -Four tables extending tho
full length of our large Hall, upon
every six feet Of which could be found
all the delicacies, all the substantials
the season and country could afford
meats, vegetables, fruits, cakes, pies,
preserves, pastry of every kind. A
thousand pics of every size and varity
will hardly do justice to the number.
Two hundred large fine cakes, the
smallest of which would satisfy the
appetite of ten hungry men, and the
largest of which would feed so to sa-
tiety, may be taken as a fair sample
of the supper.
An accident on the G. w. & 2. Rail
road, delayed the train so that the
braves who were expected at half-past
three, did notreach tho foot of Broadway
till 6 o'clock, much to the 'disappoint-
ment and chagrin of the anxious thou
sands who were there to receive them.
AS the train neared the platform the
shout Of welcome broke from thou
sand lips, until the city shook with the
-
glad outburst of enthusiasm. The 10y
al people of tho city and county, old,
young, male, female, fathers, mothers,
sisters, brothers, were there all eager
to welcome their returning sons, hus-
bands, brothers and friends. The ova-
tion was magnificent, the enthusiasm
unbounded. No doubt the brave boys
thought it were good to be n soldier in
the army of the Republic.
As the Regiment reached the West
front of the City Hall, 5000 glad and
loyal hearts took up, repeated and re-
echoed the shout of welcome that had
greeted the veterans at tho depot, and
when the excitement had subsidized,
John D, Martin, Esq, the chosen Or
gan oftho people expressed the respect,
admiration and gratitude of the peo-
pie in the following appropriate re-
marks
OFFICERS AND sOLDIERs OF THE GALLANT l7rH:
Wherever the veterans from the
front return to their homes, whole
rise up to give them well
come. OF men, the aged and the
young,-of the sgcntlcr but larger
hearted sex, the maiden and the mat
ron, all unite and vie with each other
in doing honor to the brave defenders
Of the country, and the faithful pro-
Lectors of the quiet homes Of the North.
1t is in obedience to this common
sentiment, soldiers, that this vast con-
course ofpeople meets you here to-day,
70 grcet your- return, to homes and
iresides. Adopting my voice, to give
expression to the feeling ofevery heart
n this great company brave Officers
md Soldiers Of Ohio's 17h, we bid you
velcomeAwelcome back to old FAR
ield.
For the participation of many of you
n the first campaign in West Virginia
tho unparalleled hardships Of the
marches Of your Regiment, in Kentuc-
Sy, Tennessee and Alabama-your
bravery, at Wild -Cat-your stubborn