Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-02

will soon 90 to your homes. You will be zoI
iiers no longer, but citizens. Let me adiur.
one of you-to remember that Won
have still the reputation of the old Second =
Show yourselves as true to yor,
country when citizens as you have been wis.
soldiers. Act so that you can hold yo1,
heads up. Never let the good name you bav.
won as soldiers be furnished by anything vor
may do as citizens. know you will NOT :
know that you who have fought so well =
sustain the Government in the field, will !,
home, by word and deed as citizens, do all van
can for its support, and to cheer on and man
tain our armies.
Comrades, from the bottom of my heart
give you welcome. Great cheering)
After another song by the Glee Club. ii.
regular address of the occasion was deliyersd
by Hon. ORsAMUs Cole, of the supren.
Court, as follows:
I arise to perform pleasant task. To No
has been assigned the agreeable duty of Ne.
coming the officers and soldiers of the See.
ond Wisconsin Regiment of Volunteers =
our homes and the Capitol of the State.
When that duty was first assigned me
had not the heart to decline its performance
though fully conscious of my utter inability
to discharge it in worthy manner But con-
TESS that have peculiar interest and regard
for the officers and men of the Second. care
not to inquire as to the fact or circumstance II
which that sentiment or feeling had its origin
1t may possibly have arisen from the fact thai
this was the first regiment which left our
State enlisted for three years or the war
More probably it had its origin in the fact
that that regiment numbered in its rank,
many whom 1 had known for years-sOme d
whom were my warm personal friends. Pos
sibly its trials and sufferings at an early peri
cd of the war aroused and increased thi,
sympathy in its favor. But whatever NAV
be the cause, | am conscious of bearing To-
wards it somewhat different feeling from
that which / entertain for any other on,
State has sent forth, brave, noble, WORTHY Of
regard as they all are. Never shall | cease
to respect every man who has worn the Fed,
eral uniform in this conflict unless by some
act of his he has disgraced and polluted it
Never shall cease to feel lively interes.
for the safety and success, the welfare and
honor of all our tsOops--of every military
organization which Wisconsin has sent "a
the field At the same time permit me 10
entertain and cherish for the Second the De-
culiar love and interest | bear it, for it is 10
it alone that l instinctively feel like uncover
ing my head and bowling it in reverence and
silence while it passes before me.
Feeling thus, why should not | embrace the
opportunity to welcome it homeland trust
the tongue to speak out from the fullness Of
an overlooking heart :?
Yet trust to no feeble words of mine TO
express the profound feelings of this multi
tude ON this interesting occasion. | trust
rather to these better utterances-these
shouts of triumph and good cheer-tO this
reception and the interest that all take in il
to this general exultatiOn and joy-the wild
enthusiasm of the hour which will not be re-
strained; and, above all, trust to the thou
sand faces around me beaming with gratitude
and gladness-it is these things and not
words of mine which will convince these no.
BILE men that we cherish them in our heart Of
hearts; that we are not unmindful to-day Of
what they have sacrificed, of what they have
suffered for us and our JeLoUed country that
we are not insensible to the debt of everlast
ing gratitude we owe them.
Officers and men, heroes of the immOrta
Second, hail all hail y
In behalf af these innocent and lovely girl
whose garlands of flowers have strewn YOU
pathway to this spot-fOwers, the eRbem
at once of the purity of the givers and til,
warm affection they bear you, their braoe d
fe,sdrs-on their behalf L welcome, gree
you.
In behalf of these ingenious boys who's
bosoms are now swelling with emotions Q
pride and admiration at the recollection 0
your wonderful deeds, welcome, greet YOU
In behalf of the many Federal and State
officers now resident here, their assistants
and clerks, the city authorities of Madison, il:
Fire Department, the Turnverein; in behal
of the citizens of Madison and the surround
ing country generally, whose care has pro.
vided these refreshments, these fruits fol
your comfort of these patriotic ladies vino
cheerfully serve you; in behalf of all these
men, women and children who have come
forth from their homes to meet you, intO1i-
Gated with JOY at your arrival, almost hanging
upon your garments and every one eager TO
grasp your hands in friendship, in their be-
half welcome, l greet you.
And finally in the name of and in behalf Of
the citizens of the entire state, all of whom
/ doubt not, would be glad were it possible
to unite with us in extending to you this
splendid reception-whose hearts as they read
the accounts of this days proceedings will
thrill with pleasure and send back a respOn-
sive, an approving echo to every kindred word,
every generous sentiment here uttered in your
praise-in their name-on their behalf one
and all / greet you and / welcome you.
give you much Joy at your safe return from
those scenes of conflict and blood with which
in obedience to the demands of high pat
riotism you have so long been familiar and
with which your names are now and will BIZ
forever indissolubly connected.
Officers and men, heroes of the immortal
Second, again hail you'll again bid you
hearty welcome to the capital of the State.
1t is now about three years since your reg
iment left our city 1851 strong-consistin:
of men of almost all occupations-all profes
sions-robust, active, Industrious, intelligent
every way fit representatives of our vigOr
Gus population. Your lives had alway:
Heretofore been devoted 70 peaceable puT
suits, and you took up arms only in obedience
to the call of your imperiled country. You
destination was the National Capitol, then
beleaguered by the most devilish traitor:
that ever raised parricidal arm against any
government. That insolent foe you were 70
meet in deadly conflict-take up the gage
of battle which he rendered, and try the issue
whether you would fight for your country, and
if so whether one southern man was equal to
such a cause. That matter has already beer
settled, need not say how. But of all the
fatal mistakes made by the sons of men none
so fatal or sad in its consequences as the no
ton that the Northern men Coald not. dafs
not fight to preserve the Union, which va:
the assumption of THE chivalry when they
commenced the war.
Arriving at Washington on the cd of July,
1S61-the first three years Regiment to reach
that city-your Regiment Immediately be-
came identified with the fortunes and history