The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-25
Presentation of the Illinois Sword to
Major General John W. Turner.


New York Herald gives the following
description Of the presentation of the IL
linois sword to Major General Turner,
in command at Richmond:
The magnificent sword voted to Major
General John. w. Turner, commanding
divisionin the oath army corps and the
District of Henrico, including the cities
of Richmond and Manchester, by the
electors of the late Sanitary Fair at Chi
cago, has been duly presented to the IL
lustrious young soldier, who battled 50
| nobly and successfully for his country's
| ties of the rebellion, at AppOmattox
Court House and in front of Richmond.
The sword was conveyed to this city by
q committee of eminent ChicagOans,
consisting of John M. Roundtree, ESQ.
Mr.. Turner and Mr.. Whitney, and the
presentation took place at the official
residence Of Gen. Turner, opposite the
jeff. Davis mansion, and was truly one
of the memorable occasions incident to
| the Union occupation of Richmond. The
gathering of distinguished officers and
civilians was both large and exceeding.
ly brilliant one. Among those present
were Maj-Gen. Alfred Howe Terry, the
hero of Fort Fisher, commanding the de.
partment, accompanied by Col. Edward
w. Smith, Adjutant General of the de-
partment; Colonel William L. James
Chief Quartermaster of the department
Major Adrian Terry, Assistant Adjutan,
General; Major Graves, Captain w. H
Hurlburt, of his staff; Major General
Charles Devens and his staff; Major
General Robert S. Foster, the able com.
mander of the Third Division of the
Twenty-fourth Army Corps Colonel
P. A. Davis, Assistant Adjutant Gene.
raj; Major Fred. Martin, Chief Com.
missary of the Department Musters
Major Fred. Sawyer; Major General N.
M. Curtis and staff; the staff of Major
General Turner, headed by Capt. Gibbs;
his Excellency Governor Pierpoint
Hon. Charles n. Lewis, Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Virginia; Hon. War
rem w. Wing, ex-Treasurer of the State
Hon. Mr.. Taylor, the new Auditor
Brigadier General David H. Strother,
Adjutant General of Virginia and the
distinguished magazine writer; Colonel
George H. Hart, Private Secretary to his
Excellency; General G.. B. Dandy,
General Thomas o. Osborne and staff,
General Briscoe and staff, Hon. Frank
lin Stearns, of Richmond; Colonel o.
Brown and Lieutenant HI. s. Merrell, of
the Freedmens' Bureau of the State, and
q large number of others.
| THE PRESENTATION SPEECH
was made by John NJ. Rountree, Chair
man of the Fair Committee. His re-
marks were of an exceedingly feeling
and complimentary character, review
ing the career of General Turner, both
anterior and subsequent to the war, in
4 thu pnnot tnurnhinr ond n1Nn,,araf <ox
General Turner, who made the first
speech of his life, responded in manner
alike modest and appropriate, accepting
the gift, while wholly disclaiming his
right to do it on the grounds indicated
in the remarks of the representative of
the donors. General Turner's speech
was q model of elegant and terse diction,
altogether BETTING quiet, unpretend-
ing, but able soldier.
OTHER SPEECHES
of an interesting character were made by
General Terry, Col. Ed. w. Smith, Mai.
Fred. Martin, Captain Gibbs, and, in
virtue of a request that could not be dis
regarded, very Indifferent series of re-
marks by the representative of the
Herald in Richmond, who was the
only attdche of the press present.
AN ELEGANT COLLATION.
followed, whereat sentiment, wit and
song was splendidly interspersed by
music from the band of the Fourteenth
regular United States infantry. The
party broke up early in the morning,
and thus ended q most happy and unex-
pected reunion of large number of the
gallant officers of the old Tenth Army
corps.