The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-20
RETURN OF co. D, 18TH ILLS. VOLS
RECEPTION, SUPPER. SPEECHES
&C., &C.

Tuesday evening, the io'h' "o f'''
the following telegram: 10
] EDITOR AReus-PIease let the people nv ha |
~, comnauy D. 18th HIS Yyeteran Vols, VIII De
in town the evening of the lSfh-io men anu
three officers. a IVA
We issued an extra containing the above
and an appeal to the people TO turn oas ana
welcome the boys home. agxs
Col. Williams, and others, made arrange
ments for band Of music and a supper a.
the Island City Hotel. ~.
At tho hour for the arrival OF the tram
,.r,a crowd of people, men, women and
ob;Idren assembled ct the railroad depot and
welcomed the boys in the most hearty and
enthusiastic manner. The company was
formed. and, preceded by Storms fine brass
band. was followed by large procession to
the front Of the Island City Hotel, where the
welcome speech was made BY Col. Williams,
who was the FIRST man to volunteer, in this
county, on the 10th Of April, 1861; who
raised the FIRST company and was its first
captain. Csg's gsCg1s}g sse EEsd6
1t was peculiarly appropriate that Col.
williams should make the welcome speech,
and when called on by the committee he
p mounted the stand in front of the Island
City and was received with three rousing
cheers. lie said the pleasing duty had de.
volyed upon him to extend 70 the veterans of
Co. D, 18th Ill. VOL, IN behalf OF the citizens
of Rock Island, welcome home. He said
the ablest and most eloquent man in the
nation could not express half the good feel
ing and deep gratitude Of tho people of Rock
Island county to their brave and patriotic
defenders. For upwards of four years they
had 1nterposed their bodies, a living wall of
flesh and steel, between US and an implaca-
BILE and reasonable foe, burning and thirst
ing for the destruction of all that is near and
dear to US. Upwards of four year years ago
they had gone forth strong in numbers and
resolute in purpose to save the life of the ma.
ton; to grasp by the throat an Infatuated
and wicked rebellion rebellion having for
its object the overthrow of sacred and
cherished Union, cemensed by the blood of
our revolutionary fathers. To day they re-
turned, sadly reduced in numbers, worn with
toll and exposure, having accomplished the
purpose for which they set out, viz :: The
restoration of the Union to its original in
tegrity; the reestablishmsnt of peace and
fraternal relations from Maine to Texas. from
the great lakes of the north to the roaring
surf of the Gulf of Mexico. 4 3
He reminded those present that we miss
many familiar faces from their midst-noble
spirits who went forth, four years ago, filled
with patriotic srdor and glowing with all the
golden hues of health, generous impulse and
manly youth. The treaoherous foe and the
deadly climate had laid them low in the dust
Their remains lie Wondering in the soil of
every southern state and there they will lie
forever-an offering to the Union from Rock
Island county and seal to the devotion and
patriotism of her sons The cost had been
great, but the prize was immortal.
He said it would be their proud boast, and
their right to transmit il to their children
that they went forth at the first call of their
country, forsaking their several avocations,
families, their kindred and their friends to
battle for the great principles of civil, con-
stitutional and religious liberty and it
would be their proud boast that they belong
ed to an army which opened the Mississippi
river to it's mouth, and blew high in air and
then calamity marched through the ruins of
impregnable Vicksburg. They could boast,
too, that they were part of that immortal
army which rushed from bloody and yictori-
Gus Vicksburg to the relief of their suffering
and beleaguered fellow soldiers of the army of
the Cumberland at Chattanooga They
started amid rain. saow, sleet and mud,
without blankets and with tattsrsd clothing
and worn out shoes they travelled many
hundred miles and crowned their incompara-
BILE achieyments by scaling the frowning
heights of Missionary Ridge and driving
from behind their entertainments the whole
of Bragg's army in headlong rout, nor did
they stop there-they marched 200 miles
further, still in rags, almost shoeless, and
without rations. to the relief of Knoxville
Their approach to the beleagued fortress
was the signal for the enemy's departure,
who fled in dismay before that army which
never encountered an enemy without break. |
ing him in pieces doing all this in the
most Indictment season of the year, without |
regular rations, blankets, shoes and adequate
clothing.
Upon accomplishing these unparalleled re- |
suits they marched back to Chattanooga |
call tattered and torn and went with Sher. |
man on that ever memorable Campaign which |
resulted in the capture Of Atlanta, and the |