The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-30
PRESENTATION no Goa. sroK Is.

AfoteANeJ Rot B~aAt eHuiAat VI NtA 80 Va
the non commissioned officers and sol
diers of Companies A, B, G, I, K, aud /,
of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry, presented
Col. W. B. Stokes with s flae sword and
belt.
Ssrgean QUINN said:
Col. W. B. STOKEs:-Sir,-I have been
deputed by the commissioned off
cers aud priyates of the regiment you
have the honor to command 20 present 10
yeu, in their names and behalf. this
sword aud bslt This gift comes from
those who, like yourself, were among the
earliest of Tennesseans 70 enlist in the
national cause; il comes from those whose
fate, like yours, ara indefinitely marked
with our mangled and bleeding country:
it comes from those WHO have shared with
you the dangers and hardships of SOL
dier's life IN the camp and upon the bat
tie field, and know how we'll, as soldier
and as friend, you deserve it. Receive
it, sir, as a gift Of admiration for your
services as q soldier, aud your warm and
devoted personal qualities az soldiers
friend; and when the clangor of arms
can no longer be heard in our land. and
the citizen soldiers shall be furloughed
indefinitely to his qsiet and peaceful
home, may it serve to remind you of the
hardships you have passed in your coun-
try's cause, and the memory of those
whose names and forms have shared those
dlDgers with you. But should a sadder
fate await you and them, and the neces
sity of war demand more victims. more
blood, we feel assured that this sword
will not fall unhOnoFed or unsvenged.
Take 1t, Colonel, IS the gift of friends
and fellow-soldiers, and when it has
been sheathed in peace, God grant you
may never have the occasion 10 draw it
again, utretain it as a memento of the
past, and as relic for your children TO
reverence.
REPLY OF COLONEL STOKES.
Sergeant Quinn and Felloto Soldiers II
thank you kindly for the elegant sword
just presented to me by the Hon. Com
missiOnod officer and privAtes of the 9Th
Tennessee Cavalry. A higher apprecia-
ton is put on the gift, from the fact that
it comes from those who have known
me longest and best; from those who
have blended their fortunes with mine,
and placed ourselves upon the altar of
our country, as sacrifices for civil and
religious liberty. Well do l remember
sir, when first met you it was in yon-
ders capitol. when forced from my home
and loved ones because I would not re-
nOunee my allegiance to the best govern
ment on earth, and join in with those
who were attempting to make new gov
eTnments, more for aristocracy than free
dom and liberty. / well remember when
these non commissioned officers, and
priVstes came TO me and said, eve are
here, we come TO enlist in defence of our
country, and link our destiny with
yours. And come veal or woe we intend
to stand with you, and wherever you 90
there we will be-" I shed tears when |
met with some OF you. Sir, have the
proud satisfaction of knowing, and an
honest and mBgnanimOus people will
know, that you are soldiers. Yes sol
diers, and hsye done your duty. have
seen you tried on many a battle field
where the shot and shell fell thickest, and
the keen whistle of the mimic ball was
heard, aud amidst the groans and cries
of the wounded and dying. But there
was no faltering or wsvering, on your
part. Irepeat, you are soldiers of the
first order.
1 thank you for the very complimenta-
ry manner in which you have spoken of
me as your commander. Being inexpe-
rienced in everything connected with
military discipline and drill, l have of
course, made many blunders, and per-
haps done some of you injustice; yet l |
have the consolation of knowing that the |
errors were of the head, not of the heart.
[ have staid with you in the camp, lain |
out with you on the field, and IS it was
said by one of cid, have done all l |
could for you. If l have done you a
wrong, ask to be paFdoned; if any of |
you have spoken i'll of me, I freely for
give you. Let me beseech you in the
name of our country and cause, to stand |
By and defend each other as . band of |
brothers, as members of the 9TH Tennes-
see Cavalry.
accept this sword, and should il be-
come necessary to draw it in defence of |
my country, my life may be taken, but
this blade shall not be dishonOred.
will take it home with me, if spared |
through this war, and will not forget |
those brave boys who Voluntarily dona-
ted it; and if, perchance, you should
fall victims of death, before l do, shall
leok at the sword, and think of you.
Should I chance to pass your resting
place, I could but stop and look upon
and drop a sympathetic tear upon the
green sod, and would exclaim, "here
lies one of the brave boys, of the 9th
Tennessee Cavalry !" l have received
certificates of election and commissions,
and have been honored with high posi-
tons, but this is more valuable, and will
be of more consolation to me on my
dying bed than all gifts of honors given.
Now, may the God of Heaven bless,
preserve, and save you, and when the
is put down, may you all
safely reach your homes, and your last
days be your best ones.