St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-18
THE FIRST REGIMENT IN WASHING.
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Splendid Supper at the National
Hotel.

Splendid Supper at the National
Hotel.
GIVEN To THE ,4,EGIAiENT BY MN
NESOTIANS.
President Hain1in, and Others.
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Special dispatch to tho Chicago Tribune:
WAsBlNGToN, Feb. 7.
splendid supper was given at the Ma
tional Hotel in this city last evening, by
the Minnesotians in Washingto on to the.Fir
Minnesota Regiment, now On it's way home
to recruit. The meeting was impromptu,
being suggested by Lie delay of that regi-
ment III this city. |. A preliminary meeting
was held the evening before in the rooi:,s
of Senator Wilkinson which Was organized
by the appointment Of Hon. Ignatius Don
nelly as Chairman, aud Major Baxter Sec
retary. One thousand dollars was sub
scribed on the spot, whicl, was increased
| next day to fifteen hnndredl
I This regiment, having had for its Col
onels German. Dana, Sul!S, Miller, Nor
gan and Colville, has The reputation Of be-
ing one Of the bravcst from the West. 1t
has: participated in twenty-five battles, and
at Gettysburg, out of three hundred and
twenty seven men, two hundred and thirty
were>killed or wounded. =
At the:.table Hon. Mr.: Wind IN presided,
and Hens ignatins Donnelly, Cyrus AL
fdrich and William p. Murray were vice
presidents. Soon after 9 clock about four
Enundrcd and fifty Minncsotians sat down
te tables laden with all the dclcacies of
the season. Much enthusiasm was mani.
Tested when the regiment entered the sup
per room, and this was renewed when TIE
invited guests Of the evening. Vice Prcsi-
dent Hamlin, lions. Edwin Stanton, Sec
retary Of War, } P Usher, Secretary of
the Interior, Isaac Newton. Commissioner
Of Agriculture, Judge Elmonds, Of the
Land Office, Senators Lane. of ludiana
Chandler, of Michigan, Harlan of Iowa,
and others arrived. d -
After al hours enjoyment OF the boun-
ties of the table, the intellectual feast was
opened by an address by Mr.. Window well
coming, in behalf Of the Mianeso,lans in
Washington, lie returning heroes of the
First regiment. He told the soldiers that
Minnesota was proud Of thcra-that she had
followed them with her prayers and her
tears, and at home and abroad was ALWAYS
proud OF The sons she had given o~ner
country. o. :, .~,-- .
At the conclusion of his .sreech the old
flag Of the regiment, worn hy time, riled
Fby bullets, and pi:rced by a staff taken
from a-rebel standard, was waved over
| lthe tables amid a great outburst Of enthu-
5;as17a. .s.'> ":> -
Secretary Stanton being called for, sal,
that he could rejoj:ctc join III a welcome
to.the Firs, Minnesota. lie was proud of
| a reg iment that had borne so noble a part
in the war, bnt his health would not permit
! him to speak, nor could he do more than
! express 1Ec hope that the regiment would
return again, with full ranks and proud
liearts, 10 the battle fields Of their country.
The Secretary's remarks were received
with great enthusiasm. In response to tlc
first toast, 10 the President Of the United
States, Col Forneys said THAT this was rath-
er family meeting Of the Nl'nnesotians
than a scattering from other States. He
then proceeded to pay Il glorious culogium
to the Minnesota soldiers who han done so
much for their country.
The second toast to the Vice President
was answered by Hon. Hannibal l!amlin
III person. The Union was responded to
by Hon. James W. Taylor. Can't. J. +.
Moore answered for the army and navy.
-. The gallant Col. Vile spoke 10 toast to
1.-The 1st Minnesota, while three rcusing
| cheers answ, red til, toast to the State:pt
| Minnesota. y toast to our illustrious
guests was responded 10 by Hou. 1gna!ius
Donnelly, and Hon. VIM. Window spoke for
our delegates in Congress. Senator Laue,
Of Ind, answered the toast for the soldiers
of the West, and Hon. Cyrus Aldrich re-
sropdsd to the interests Of the Northwest.
An earnest glowing speech was male by
Scna9cr Chandler. which was enthusiastic
ally received. Messrs. Lane. Usher and
| HARLAN also spoke with hearty earnestness,
and their remarks were receive with great
applause at intervals. During the evening
beautiful music was interspcrscd. Among
: the speeches and letters of interest were
those read from Secretaries Chase, Seward
and Blair, who were unable to be resent.
At about one o clock 4. ~, the guests took
their departure, terminating one cf the
most pleasant festive scenes ever witnessed
in Washington. Full justice was done to
the soldiers-privates as we'll as officers.
Great credit is given to the growing State
Of Minnesota, for the patriotic part she has
| borne in tho war. - .:.r i ,r~.
The presence Of such gcntlcr:cn rs the
Vice President, the Secretaries Of War, and
Of the Interior, and so many Senal ors and
Representatives, testified to the deep inter-
est felt in what Minnesota had done, and
what her first regiment Lad accomplished.
This morning the regiment left for home.
They were escorted TO the depot by the band
of the 4th New;Y York artillery; whose SER
vices had been kindly rendered by their Of
ficers, and by large number Of Minneso.
\ O
, Theregimen.:'=il' asS;rive in Chicago about
the middle Of the week. ~, ,,s -, =. -.
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