St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-18

otlsA Lhat waited not for appeals, that need
90 not the stimulants Of bounties, anu that
counted no sacrifice too great for an I'M.
perilled country The-roar Of the fr1treb.II
q cannon, reverberating across our peace
ful prairie homes had hardly died away.
whensthe orr !inal glorious ten hundred
sprang to arms, and rushing across the
made otAyoursow1 brave breasts
y bulw trk to stay tile bloody tide Of rebel,
lion which l'eaved and surgel against the
very base Of The Capitol. and threatened to
engulph The Republic and liberty in one
common ruin. 4
Soldiers, twenty centuries look down
Upon yoa,' 4lil Napoleon fl,en aged
iii battle beneath the pyramids Of Egypt.
IA More imposing have been the spectators
q, y our noble deeds. The magnitude and,
unparalleled importance. 'pf this struggle
have elevated the contenling parties to
plane in full view of the nations Of the
earth, and wherever the. $, orm Of battle rag
cd most fercely and the iron hail fell the
thickcst, yonder tattered, battle -rent flag
waving over. your heads. has marked you
as the most conspicuous in the ranks Of
freedoms serried hosts. Fyrants and dcs
pots, great ..ud small, have lonsed Tor andl
propAesicd:your destruc,ion, while the OPP
pressed Of all nations have turned TO you
with anxious gaze, and prayed for your.
success. Heroes. martyrs, and sages of the
Revolution. bending from their seats in
heaven, have looked down upon and bless
ed you. But the most int, esttl Of all
your spectators has been our own beloved
State, upon which your courage and devo-
ted patriotism have reflected such imper-.
ishable hohdrs. In the long and weary
marches you have made, in the sutferings.
you have endured, In the twenty-one bat
ties you have fought--hcr eye has never
lost sight of that flag, nor her ear been deaf
to one syllable of the just praise so lavishly
bestowed upon you. She has listened to
the story OF your battles with mingled feel
ings of pride and sorrow. Pride in the
glory OF your achievements, sorrow for
brave comrades who will never more re
spond TO 'thacah Of Your roll of honor
While she fejoices over your return, she
weeps for: those Who ,cere but arc not with
you. They have not died in vain. In the
words Of another, .:thcy have made their
bodies bridges Tor liberty, and their souls
stars to light her way" Unborn millions
will vcneratc their memory, and as they
read the pages of history traced in their
blood, will crave no higher honor than to be
counted worthy citizens Of the same coun-
try with them.
When the day Of peace shall come? and
the s:sterhood Of loyal States shall clothe
themselves with victory, and each put on
her crown Of glory, the proudest OF them
shall not boast brighter Jewel than that
which your heroisitl has placed in the cor
onet Of Out, own Minnesota. ! t.. 81
Once more, in behalf of friends here,
and those who at home wait with open
arms to receive you, I bid you each and all
a most cordial welcome. ih+%
The toast, Dur Hluztrious Guests"
was responded to by Hon. Ignatius DON
nelly III ! speech Enthusiastically able
and patriotic, and giving beautiful ex-
preston to sentiments that fill the breast
of ev"ry loyal Minncsotian. 1t'
SPEECH OF HON. lGSAT1us DoSxELLY.
Officers aid men Of The First Minnesota !:
1 wot'd that had the power to even
f;,it.:ly exp press the warm greeting which
fills every heart of those who have in
vitcd y,h here Bat it is Sc rec nee
essary.. 1t bea,hs j., every face, it
brightens every eye, It spca%s in every
motion. { 81: &.,@::-,-& .3a ~.
This is no cold formal cereti,onys-
this is aei idle and hollow pascant-'t.:is
greeting sprin - spontaneously frolh all
our hearts. i use NJ affected, no ex-
aggeratcd language, wi, n / say, in be-
half Of every Minnesotian present; .swe
arc proud of you, W. love you."'a
You have made the name. of our
young State illastrious You have been
in more than Il score Of battles, aud you
have never faltered or wayered. Amid
the disasters Of a variable war, your
fame has shonc unsullicd, and each new
conflict has but added new leaves to
your laurels. " 5's>'*, II. *&e - ~ ,.'
Firstin the field, yon have performed
a more marked part than any other reg :.
iment in the Army Of the Potomac
YOU have been where the eyes-not
alone Of the iiatien, bat Of the entire
world have been fastened upon you,5
and nebly, CALAMITY, heroically have
yea performed y)ur allotted tasks.
It is not for US to indulge in words
of eulogy. Your acts will live in the
impcrishable records of the nation,
identified with the grandest struggle for
human freedom, ages after any poor
words o;f ours arc dissipatcu to the
winds. ',''..~ -
tsa' You have 6tly represented the splen-
did qualities If our northwestern peo-
pIe:-their courage, their patience,
their fidelity, their intelligence, their
patriotism: The grand example you
have set to other regiments has been
followed with:a kindred spirit, until it
would appear as if your merits we're
-notsexceptional, buttypical ). as if you
had excelled your brethren in your
deeds, 'simply because you had excclled
them in your opportunities.
You are now past all your labors and
all your trials. You are on. your. way
HOME The proud privilege has been
permitted us to stop you for one mo-
ment on your way, to say, "God speed
you God bless you !" %a
All !! my friends, | can anticipate the
welcome which awaits your coming II
can imagine chat long march from
Houston county to-the capital Of the
State: YES. and 10 each neck and cor