The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-29

hasten to gather around the returning heroes
to welcome them home with heartfelt enthu-
Siasm as we now welcome you.
Veterans of the Minnesota Second who on
many a bloody battlefield have scaled your
devotion to our imperilled nationality, the
municipal authorities and people OF this city
have delegated me to convey to YOU an cX-
preston and assurance Of their sincere graft
tudc and most cheering welcome. I regret
that | am able to give only feeble utterance
to their estimate and admiration of YOUR he
roic deeds. | have only command OF words
sufficient to bid You welcome 10 our city. and
TO invite you to p2rtake of such quiet hOspi-
tally as the sacredncss of this dav and pres
ent opportunity, enable us 10 offer
In the name and behalf of the metropolis
OF your State, / hail YOU AS heroic cictors.
whose names are Inscribed upon the proudest
monuments OF our national glory and lid non
aretcome, meoay times oelcome to the city of Saint
Paul.
To which Major Davis responded.
feAoD Citizens Of 81. Pant:
You would scarcely expect me To make
reply to the eloquent address You have just
listened to from Col. Robertson. as it is the
duty OF a soldier to tight-not to speak. re-
@ret exceedingly that circumstances over
which we had no control have prevented our
whole regiment from being here to enjoy the
hospitality YOU have rendered us to-day and
share with Us this generous welcome on our
arrival
We appreciate fully the reception YOU have
given us and assure Won ii is very gratifying
10 Us. as it proves to us that YOU are satisfied
with our eXertiOns to put down the rebellion
and that you intend to stand by Us until that
end is accomplished.
We are proud OF the Second Minnesota
God never made nobler set of men-God
never made a Drawer Land than they. They
have gone through four battles and thev have
Ui IN inc of
ground to the rebels, aud. what is more, they
never expect to do so. That banner has never
had but one stain upon it-and that was the
life blood OF one Of the heroic men that de-
Tended it.
In behalf of our regiment I tender You our
sincere thanks tor your kind reception and
hospitality, and hope our noble State may
always feel us proud Of her brave soldiers as
she does to-day.
The second part came n a little after five
o'clock, and werc very soon seated at the In
ternational tables. These We're received by
the Firemen in uniform, who joined in hearty
and repeated cheers for The gallant Second.
a great number OF friends and relatives of
the officers and men were assembled at the
international, and il would be impossible for
Us to give a just description of the fervor and
gladness with which these met the returning
homes.
Sunday evening and yesterday the boys re-
ceived their turloughs and fastened to their
houses.
WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS SAY.
Their arrival in Chicago elected the folow-
ing remarks from the Tribune:
The brave and gallant boys, who went forth
some two wears and a half ago at their cOun-
try's call, TO battle in their behalf, are now
returning home for the purpose of re-enlisting,
recognizing and filling up their decimated
ranks. These volunteers, after the Incidents
trials and struggles of war are resolved that the
rebels shall be put down, and that the old
starry flag shall again wave from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande with not one star efiaced
| nor a stripe removed. Weather beaten and
brOnzed with long exposure they are robust
and hardy band of men, to whom are due
country's praise and gratitude.
Many of our readers will remember the
splendid appearance which this regiment made
while passing along the streets from the North
western Depot to the old Wigwam, on the 18th
| of October, 1861, where they remained for two
days waiting transportation.
| On arriving home. the boys will have thirty
days Through, and the officers are ordered to
report immediately for recruiting. After the
furlOugh expires, every effort will be made to
fill up the regiment. and no doubt many will
enlist in order to participate in the glory and
reputation which this regiment sustains. Two
hundred and seventy-tve of the members of
the regiment have signified their intention to
re-enlist for the war, fully believing that, if
ever, the country now requires men to put
down this Ubiquitous rebellion. We hope to
hear ere long, that the regiment is filled up to
its maximum, SO that it can once again lead
in the advance of Thomas division. where it
is regarded as the ''pet" regiment
They brought their battle FLAG with them
which tells too plainly, by its tattered and
ragged appearance, through what scenes of
storm it has passed.
The Tribune also gave a full sketch of the
organization and history of the regiment
The Chicago Times said
Grim-visaged war has played sad havoc in
the ranks of the gallant Second. Of the thou
SAND and eighty men, who marched through
Chicago If June. 1861, to the battlefield. only
two hundred and ninety have returned to tell
the story of their sutierings and privations.
and the brave manner in which they end their
dead comrades acquitted themselves on the
field OF battle. When they reach their homes.
mothers, wives. sisters and daughters. will
come out TO meet them. Some to greet them
with glad words, but many to listen to the
story OF how brave father, son Or brother
met his fate. And when the sad recital is made.
through The last flowing tears ewes will gieam
bright with the thought that the brave bov
died in the defence of the flag Of his fathers.
When the regiment reached the South it
was speedily called into the field The men
first flashed their bayonetS in the faces of the
enemy at Mill Springs. There they encoun-
tered the famous Louisiana Tigers
Attached to tie Army of the Cumberland.
the Second " has evinced its bravery on MANY
hard fought fields. 1t has taken part in all the
great struggles OF that department. the last
one being the stOrming Of Missionary Ridge,
IN which 1t bore IN honorable part. 1t now
goes home to recruit its greatly depleted
ranks. The tattered flag borne aloft yester-
day through the streets of Chicago gave tes-
tiinony OF many stirring fight, ard the men
OF Minnesota will gladly rally round it, They
nave the noble example Of the two hundred
and ninety veterans, who have 10 man re-en-
listed for the war.
The Lacrosse Democrat said of the regiment
On its arrival there
There was but q mere fragment of the noble
regiment which left here about three wears
since, but they walked the street like heroes.
as each man is And the old flag all battered
and tOrn-hOw proud and glorious. as its silk,