Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-01-07
PRESENTATION OF a SWORD.
Interesting Ceremony.

r.. f From the New Orleans Times. |
=. y very. Interesting proceeding took place /
Yesterday at No. 81 Hospital street, in |
which eti1e cofinrissioned officers of the |
54th Indiana Regiment were participants.
This regiment was raised under the call
of Gov. Morton. something more than a
year ago, for twelve months service.-
They were mustered, out of service on-the
Sth inst, in this city, Some have, already
left for. their homes. others are, about TO
do so,. a considerable proportion Of whom
intend resenlisiing after a short sojprrn at
their homesaf Already, however. many OF
the prirates have the, various bod
les. in .course Of enlistment here, particular
chiefly from, the former 2lst indiana In
family Company 3 of the new artillery
regiment has already had y enEstments
from, the 54ih Indiana.n noii,,a.r. ,,laf
) The 54th Regiment, during their year
of service, have gone through nine battles
or >heayy skirmishes, beginning with
Chickasaw Bayou. and including. the
most important engagements around
Vicksburg, and the taking of Arkansas
Post. Al Chickasaw Bayou their Colonel,
Fielding Mansfield, young officer of but
81 years Of age. distinguished himself for
daring and gsllantry,, which brought him
into avorable notice sud repute among the
Indiana soldiers. His regiment lost in
that memorable but unsuccessful assault
261 men. They originally weHt into ser
vice with about 900 members, but now
number but $40, all told. including those
re-enlisted in other corps. They have re-
Gently been stationed at Vermillion Bayou,
in this State. where they published the
Journal Of Liberty. spirited Union pa
per- o. saH--,1 = "a.a
The occasion of hesneeting of yester-
day was the presentation of a magnificent
sword, gotten up by the commissio oned
officers OF the regiment at cost of some
$3.50, on which was the following inscrip-
tion: ai neu .oog yaam rsl
z Presented to. Col, +. Mansfield. by
the officers of the s54th Indiana Vols, fol
his gallant conduct upon the, battlefield
of Chickasaw Bayou, December 10Th
1892 seissi tsfIsFr9 mla haa .slit =
Among the military men in attcndanc,
were thos following officers /, of the regi
ment:
Adjutant A. r. Nixon; Capts. John Y
Bowman. Albert Eggleston, A. j. Lyons
VIII. Neff, John II : Ferree, and Lieuts
A. Thomas, r. G. Carpenter. John A
I. B. Larue, +. Ii. Hall and William
Halt q" i.'
'Phe Hon. Michael Hahn, late Repre-
sentative in Congress from this District
being present. as an invited guest, wa
pressed into the. service to represent tn
parties presenting the sword. Mr. Hahl
addressed Col. Mansfield as follows:v
Col Mansfield Il have been very mex
lpectedly selected as the humble instrumen
Of your officers andla,e companions ii
arms, in conveying their sentiments an,
feelings of respect on the occasion of this
probably their last opportunity of assem-
bling with you together These men, du
ring twelve months OF constant and har,
service in the field. have had abundant op
o portunity to Judge of your merits, as al
is officer and gentleman.-You have share'
= with them all their rhardshipsTand dan
5. gers. With a strict maintenance Of au
$. thority and the dignity Of your position
IS You have not forgotten nor caused then
5. to forget that they were fellow comrale
J. in arms. a.
l. They desire to leave with you some to
,e ken, not on account of any Intrinsic yalu
d it may possess, but as a rcfnembrancer {
al their past association With you, and a trit
1t ute ofstheir respect to you as an officer,
l. soldier and gentleman. have pectilia
l. pride in being selected for this duty
S, have spent many happy days ia yonr nc
ID bic State Of Indiana. when I first met an
el made your acquaintance. there. Quite
10 youth as you were, little expected sIic
l. meeting as this. But do expect, an
he all aroand me share the confidence, ths
al with this trusty sword in your hand, OF
is country win never call in vain for bray
IS defender, such as you have already show
he yourself .t7sl ssl -roggas nAl eFf
to Col Mansfield, with visible emotion
e. took the sword and replied as follows:
Fellow officers and comrades in arms
r. | beg YOU to believe that l esteem tn
b. manifestation of your friendship and f.
nv vorable opinion as the greatest honor
IS, have ever received or conld possibly d,
a sire. You know l am no speech make
ps and will excuse me from answering
at length.
,ct The party and guests adjourne to
. sumptuous banquet, where the rest OF IL
On day was spent in wit. Esehtiment, and r,
ed miniscences) ofiservice. The President
in the United States. and various other pa
s. riotic toasts weresdrank.. q Mr.. Hahn. in
" neat speech, proposed Gen. Banks. Il
Commander of the Department. whic
is was received with acclsmation; and sui
he lsequently the Hon. John p Usher. IL
ed Secretary Of the Interior an Indiania'
nd known to most of the company whic
D. was received with like favor. Col. Man
Of field proposed Odd Pete which was ais
he applauded by the military gentlemen pre-.
@ ent, but was better understood by I'll
ng guests when informed that It meant Bri,
he Gen. Peter Osterhaus. - upder whom the
te had served in the Vicksburg campaig1
8 and Of whom they entertained kind remil
n iscences. isi4s. tfsissmah 3 noll =
o. Murder In St. Joseph County. (
l. Al .r-1 IL - -