The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-06
The First Minnesota Volunteers.
The Governors Address to the
Regiment.
THE LAST DRESS PARADE OF THE
Old FIRST.

Old FIRST.
Lieut.. Col. Adams Farewell Order.
Three years ago to day the First Regiment of
Volunteers from Minnesota was fully organ
lied and mustered into the service of the Uni
ted States. OF the men who entered the SER
vice at that time, less than one hundred and
fifty remain on the rolls of the regiment. OF
these a part have re-enllsted for a second
be mustered out of service. By order of the
War Department, also, the commissioned Off
GERS of the regiment are to be mustered out.
and the remaining men of the First are to be
united in such number of companies as their
number will make, under officers to be selected
10y the Governor. The regiment, when re.or-
ganized, will then proceed Immediately to the
Potomac We understand that about 400 names
will remain ON the rolls of the regiment. in
Guiding one hundred and over who are sick and
wounded in hospital, about one hundred and
fifty whose time will expire during May and
June or in the Fall, and near one hundred and
fifty of re-enlisted veterans and new recruits.
As the order of the War Department seems
to end the old organization of our First Regi-
ment and give it new organization if not
name, large number of our citizens went up
to Fort Smelling to witness the review of the
regiment by Gov. Miller and Gen. SibIey and
staff, also to see the regiment in its last dress
parade.
The review took place on the prairie near
the race track, and was witnessed by crowd
of soldiers and citizens estimated to have been
near thousand in number When the Gov
ernor and General arrived on the ground. Capt.
Jones Third Battery fired salute The usual
ceremonies were gone through the Battery
passing in review with the regiment. After
this, the regiment having formed in column,
Gov. Miller dismounted and, standing in front
of the column, read to the companies the fol-
lowing address:
FELLow-SoLDIERs A few of us who wit
messed the first grand review of our gallant old
Regiment, have been permitted to participate
in its last and l know you will receive kindly
q parting word from one who has shared pOr-
ton of your dangers, and followed you with
his sympathies in all your marches and conflicts
l said few of u.s. for, alas! McKune and
Messick, and Acker, and Farrell, and Iolzburn
and Periam, and Muller, and host of our old
comrades-both officers and men-are not here
to-day. They sleep their last sleep, and never
will walen to glory again, until Gods last
reveille shall summon them to the soldiers
eternal rest
We deeply lament their fall, But the patriot
hearts that miss them most, still clingng to
the flag of the Union, are everywhere exclaim-
ing:
I'D not exchange my slaughtered son
For any other living Oh e.
The fact that we have not fully realized our
starting hopes adds materially to the sorrows
OF the hour Hundreds of our brave assoc-
ates have fallen. and the hydra rebellion is not
yet entirely crushed, and others whom | now
address may Idle without the sight"
s'We have not seen-we may not see
Our hopes for man take form in fact;
But God will give the victory
In due time, if in faith we act
And those who see the future sure,
The battling present may endure
And bless meanwhile the hand that leads
The hope beyond the hating step of deeds
To those of YOU who are about repairing to
your homes, have only to say that Won have
before you an illustration that Minnesota is
not ungrateful to her sOldiers-be but prudent
and exemplary in civil life as you have been
brave and faithful upon the field, ami in the
years to come your hOnOrS will still be green.
To such as return to the field, it is hardly
necessary to say-Maintain the reputation of
the now immortal First, and strike boldly for
the integrity of the Union. Remember that
even
''1he silken gauntlet that is thrown
In such quarrel rings like steel"
And now, officers and men of the First Min.
nesOta regiment, FAREWELL Your banners are
torn and tattered, but they are not disnon ored.
You will soon be dispersed to mingle with the
busy crowd but your services will never be
forgotten
deem this a fitting occasion to say that if
during my association with the regiment | ever
by word or act wronged an officer or soldier. l
did so inadvertently, and now ask his pardon.
On my part there is nothing to forgive. In the
camp and in the storm of battle, in victory and
in defeat in sickness and in health l have real
lied from YOU the utmost care and friendship:
and can never be insenSible to the fact. that
to my association with You l am mainly in
debted for whatever OF honor or position pos
sess.
Wishing with all my heart for each of your
present and eternal happiness, 1 bid you as
regiment, q final farewell.
At the conclusion of the Governors address,
the column was deployed into line and the
usual evening dress parade was held, interest
ing on this occasion more than all that have
preceded it by reason of being considered.as
the last dress parade of the old First Regiment
on which the officers and men who have been
associated for three years past would stand
together. There were many among the spec
tators who witnessed the first dress parade of
the regiment on the second of May, 1861. Then
there stood in line one thousand men, each
company having near fifty files. At this pa
rade the number did not exceed one hundred
and fifty two or three of the companies turn
ing out only five or six files. At the close of
the parade. Lieut. Col. Adams read to the reg
iment the following:
Headquarters 1sT MINI. VOLUNTEERS.
Fort Smelling, MIMI, April %, 1864.
officers and men Of the LIST Jhinn. Vols:
The time has arrived when the organization
of this regiment must be broken up.
had cherished the hope. in common with
large number of our fellow citizens, that this
event might be deferred until this accursed re-
bellion was crushed out but this hope has
been dashed to the ground, by whom, or from
what influence, am not informed. The Sec
rotary OF War has directed that all the officers
now in the regiment together with oil the en-
listed men whose names are borne on its orig
inal rolls, at the timeOf muster into the SER