The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-05

sPEEcR OF COL. DAVIDSON TO THE Ira ILLINOIS
CAVALRY.
NASHVILLE, Trss, August 8, 1865

NASHVILLE, TENE, August 8, 1865
Editor Of the Nashville Union . By request
Of the soldiers Of the l4th Illinois Volunteer
Cavalry, you will please pub ish the follow
ing remarks by Col. F. M. Davidson, com
msnding regiment, the evening previous 10
the mustefingput Of the regiment, July 30,
1865, At Pulaski, Tennessee
OHicers and Soldiers Tomorrow you viii
be be mustered out, and the Organization Of
the l4th Illinois Cavalry ceases to exist, but
future historians, estimating the value Of
the Union for which you have fought so no
blv, will record your names with the heroes
OF Lexington, Bunker Hill and yorktown
Ia a few days you viii be upon Jour road
home, where friends and loved ones await
y ur return.
have been for the last three years con-
neetsd with you, and most otthe time have
had the honor to be your commander. You
have fought through one OF the bOOdiest
wars that anyfpeople OF nation on Gods
earth has ever witnessed.
And having been 50 loeg associated, affec
ton hss grown up between US which has
been connected by m ny ha=dships, suffer
ings, privatioDs and conhictI which we
have passed through together, while the
memories OF YOU noble dead will ever bind
you together as 8 band Of brothers And in
parting from you allow me o assure you,
one aud al, that will ever bsar 10 faithful
memory your many noble acts, o. a's3 your
u~ntiring devotion 70 your coun ~, your pa
tience aud cheerfutpes under ala the priva-
tons end sacrifices you have ben called
upon to endure, VIII has led to the restoTa.
ton Of gu country, and vindicaiing tre hon
or snd integrity Of that nat;on aud flag. and
now letus return 10 our homes and disehargs
our dutie as soldiers aud God and his people
win bless US.
Your noble dead lie scattered from the
Ohio TO the sea coast, with no. polished
marble or monumental pills 10 max their
lest resting places, where they sacrificed
their lives, far from their homes without
any gentle hand OF affection and love TO be-
stow an Get OF devotion.
The Oh o, Cumberland, Clinch, Holstain,
Tennessee, and Ch~atiahoochie rivers flow
sileotly past the graves OF your eomraaes,
while the pines OF he ca. Oiina and Georgia
wave q silent requiem over their lonely
resting places.
And nov, as you are to be mustered out.
and soon to retarn TO y our homes, it would
seem proper that ], who have been your
commander through 50 may campaigns,
shou & pronounce as a parting word, Goa
bless you, and wish all OF you a safe aud
happy return 70 your homes and the loved
ones you hold 90 deer
Your bsttle-Woru fsg viii be deposited
IN the archives Of your State, atsprins Geld,
aud will speak for itself that Is has been
borne through the battles Of Blountsville,
Rheatown, Walkers Ford, Beams StnJion,
Tenn; Deep Creek, North Carolira; Big
Sbanty, KeEnesaw Mountain, ChattshOo-
chic, and Moore's Bridge, Georgia; Franklin
aud Nashville, and many other b tiles; and
hGs never yet been lowered % the hand or
emblem Of Treason.
With msny thanks 20 you, for your kind
neess and strict obedience 10 orders, under
ali, and many trying cir~custsnces, whilst
under my command, and sssuring you thst,
through all Of our ~fanguing and ~peIilous
esmpaigns, our associations have been Of
the INST pleasant character 70 me, and
h ping that l may be kin sly remembered
by al, ! now bid you farewell.