Litchfield enquirer., 1865-08-03
Conn, Thursday, Aug 3, 1865
The Heroes Reception.

the most cordial and geilerGus support O. thls | whole community, were elaborate and complete. Early in the morning the who village was gaily ! decorated with the aags of the Sixth Corps upon the Liberty pole in the central park was hoisted the magnificent national banner that has become so familiar to the people of this from which trailed the ensigns of Some dozen of our army corps. The triumphal arch across East street had been completed, and was monument to the fine taste of the fine taste of the committee. It was surround ed, in the centre, by the Sixth Corps flag, on eaah side of which were two of it's four Divis ion ensigns. On the face, directly beneath the corps flag, was the badge of the First Division in which Our Regiment has so long fought The bat ties of the regiment were emblazoned upon each side of the archway. The County Agricultural tent was erected between the Gen. tral and East Parks, and the tables were soon loaded with the elegant and substantial offer ings of the ladies hereabout. 7
 The people from the neighboring towns be- gan to gather at anaearly hour, and our streets became thronged with men with the badge of the Red Cross. .~
 About eleven clock the soldiers convened in the Town room. and elected Capt. w. T. Spencer, officer of the day. The veterans were then formed in line and marched through some of the principal streets to the tent, where they sat down to the bountiful collation. that was ready for their discussion. Through the atten- tion of the Committee of the Soldiers Aid Society," their utmost cravings were soon satis- fled, ,when prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Geo. Richards, and Lieut.. Col. Nathaniel Smith of Woodbury, addressed them in the following terse and soldierly speech: ' #r ..u. =. Soldiers cf the Litc4feld County Regiment: a. | It will be three years on the 18th of September next, since last you met together here. The inter-
 vening eventful months have seemed like years, the years like ages, yet know that scene is still silent and attentive line. Around you multi tude gazjd on the spectacle-so unwonted amid these peaceful hillsof citizens in arms. When your I leader left his tent that morning to assume com | the signal for your departure They felt the stir of strange emotions as, with simultaneous step you moved off for the front, at the command Forward, March! "ae
 Forward, March Those were the opening words in a history, that follows you through thrilling scenes of privation, fortitude, danger and glory until, as yoy gather here again, again surrounded by the same multitude, it closes as another voice bids you Halt. a ......
 Halt Tt is no longer the command of author | ity It is the behest of beauty looking through bright tears, on your thin, bronzed warrior faces
 it is the bidding of wives, mothers, children, all the circle of the hearth-stone gladdened by your return-it is the request of men who feel their manhood enobled by your patient selfsacrifce- it is murmur borne by breezes from the skies to whose sweet influences your arms have preserved woods holding forth their laurels for your brows- it is an echo from the mountains seeming to lift their thunder-riven crags more proudly to-day, as conscious of heroic brotherhood hearts and homes earth and skies may here speak to you their welcome! l-. S.ly-si. ag. -as
 Nor think it indecorous in Us to avow a further motive is asking you to halt. We wish you to pause that we may look upon you may look on the men who-chosen to the post of honor as part of the nations body-guard-for two years senten
 eled the Capitol; may look on those faces which under their bloody baptism at Cold Harbor, kept their 'eyes straight to the front. until-the only } regiment in the army of the Potomac-they coulG look back from BEHIND the rebel breastworks on three hundred of their comrads fallen in the un
 equalled charge; may look on the soldiers whose gallantry in action, twice led Sherden to pause in the midst of battle, and send an Aid to learn tho name of their regiment
 will not recount the list of your battles,-they are known to all present, from that first bloody
 day to the last unparalled march of over one hun
 dred miles in twenty two marching hours,-endine in Lees surrender, and the final victory. These things-memories to you-are glorious wonders tc us we look upon you with emotion with joy ant gratitude, and bid you welcome
 Would that you had brought with you the honora. ble fragments of those battleags whose silken folds
 were first unfurled at Litchfed, that the beautiful lady whose fair hands bestowed them on you, might see what matchless evidence they afford that those were warriors to whom she gave them! But asso citations inseperabie from.them would dim her eyes with tears For the noblest of Ltchfeld County have gone down beneath them. Soldiers by every means that we possess, we would shame from your thoughts all memory of privation and pain. We would have you recall to-day only your glory Bat we'll yo1 know that to us, your shortened line is sadly eloquent! We miss from among you the stalwart form of him, who, of the four glorious men that have borne your eagles, alone to-day wears the martyrs crown. KELLOGG o- how strange it seems in this place, in the presence of these thy comrads to call upon thy name and hear no answer! Why was spared thus to invoke thy memory? Was it, that from intimate association, . mlgnt De able to declare how we'll that, since it
 s appointed unto all men once to die, thou
 wou!dst have chosen to fall THERE, leading the !ront rank of undaunted men, when the swift flash. ing muskets of the enemy puffed their smoke in
 tny soidiers faces? Heroes! it was we'll done.
 ine place of RICE is vacant in your line Brave man stainless officer! faithful friend! The gen
 tlemanly form of BERRY, gallant WADHAMs. sol. dleriy HosFoRD-but fear lest if spirits are con scious of earthly things, these noble men rebuke
 me sternly Tn their thoughts for daring tbus to gle out their names from hundreds of others met
 as self-sacrihclng, just as devoted just as brave
 Just as deserving of our honor and gratitude vbom'
 time forbids us to mention here O sacred hrotbor- hood of noble men dead for our sakesi How che n
 ever pay the debt of gratitude that is vonr dna , Tell us ye bards in whose verse -Archilles and
 Eneas live, in what immortal numbers shall we
 consecrate their story to eternal fame Histor;ans
 that sleep beneath the shadow of the classic Hex
 and the oleander, what honors shall we pav to
 patriots purer than they that fell at Thermonvia ia
 or Marathon? Sculptors that reared the Parthe. non, on what monument or miracle of art cloud !, piercing, shall we grave the names of our half million dead to be read of men so long as beauty's tears and valor's blood are symboled by the wild flower and the rose. gaa s}s sff1 Alas art able to embelish the careers of nobles.
 kings and conquerers is all unequal to their desess : its greatest triumphs dwindle to artfce befoM the simple grandeur of their deeds! These that we miss from among you, were our neighbors ac- quaintances and friends, unambitious men, free to remain at home. careful of dependant families vet 30 truly and inteligenty loving liberty that when
 they saw it in danger, they freely went to the res
 cue They found being subject to arbitrary mill
 tary rule, a hard thing for citizens, yet for the sake of their country they obeyed. In dull, un. comfortable quarters, weary with routine, sick
 discouraged, they longed for home, yet from prin. ciple remained steadfast. On the march under tue