New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-17
PRESENTATION OF COLORs
MILITARY DEMONSTRATION

MILITARY DEMONSTRATION
GENERAL LONGsTRRKT's sPKBCH
Yesterday afternoon ceremony Of much
interest to p large portion of our commu-
nifty took place on Canal street. The State
regimental flag was presented to the first
regiment of field artillery, commanded by
Colonel Squires.
The presentation was made On the gallery
in front of Messrs. Barrieie's store, in the
Touro buildings, in the presence Of the first
regiment of the second brigade, commanded
by Colonel Owens, and the first company of
Louisiana cavalry, under command Of Cap
tain H. E. Shropshire.
The presentation was fixed for three
O'Clock, and as the hour approached the
galleries in front of the Touro buildings be-
gan to fill, while in the Street below crowds
of people gradually assembled, until the
whole broad expanse of Canal street, from
Royal to Dauphine, presented pavement
of hats, plug and otherwise.
It was near four o'clock when the military
came filing down Carondelet street and took
a position on Canal street, in front of the
Touro Buildings. Meantime General Long
street, who was to make the presentation,
appeared on the gallery, accompanied by
Colonel f. w. Mason, Commissary General
of the First Division and acting secretary
of the Adjutant General. Messrs. Semmes
| and X. n. Ogden, who were to take part in
| the ceremonial as speakers, followed. We
| noticed also the presence Of Mayor Flanders
and several members of the City Council,
| Colonel Walton, Doctor Ames and Recorder
Dumont from Algiers, with other gentle
men; of course the press was properly rep
| resented. We noticed also, as invited guests,
| Captain Henry Street and Lieptenants Gra-
| ham and Fernald, officers of the newly or
| ganized corps, the first company Of City
| Guards.
| As soon as the military were in position,
| Colonel Squires, accompanied by guard
| and several officers, among whom were
| Captain Sans0ni and others of the Trio al
Bersaglio, appeared on the gallery, and the
regimental flag about to be presented was
brought forward by Colonel Mason, as aid
| to General LOngstreet. In presenting it,
| General LOngstreet said:
| "ColOnel Squires-It is my pleasant duty.
as the representative officer OF his excel
lency, the Governor, to hand you this ban
ner tor your regiment of artillery. The
| Louisiana Legion is the first corps, composed
| of our old comrades, whose services are
| given to the State and the country. None
but those who have had the resolution to
combat and overcome deeply-roOted preju-
dices can appreciate the effort that it has
cost the noble officers and soldiers
of the legion to throw off these
bonds and enrol! themselves on the
side of peace and order. The advan-
| hat ind al
members will receive, do not nppear at
present, but I will assure you that the time
| approaches when you will refer to this Or
| ganizatiOn, with as much interest as You are
wont to consider your former deeds Of valsr:
and will assure you That those who do
! right from a sense Of duty. are sure to re-
ceive their just reward. We give you this
! your State, in the fullest confidence that
! your faith will prove equal to your courage
| and gallantry. 'Audaces fortuna juyat."
General Longstreet then presented the
| flag in due form. The flag is of heavy blue
! silk, bordered with gilt fringe. The arms
Of Louisiana (the pelican and its yOung) are
heavily embroidered in the centre, with
| the words La Field Artillery" The staff
is also ornamented at the top with cannon
in similar position as on the flag. The
| flag as whole is very beautiful, and We
dislike to find fault, but we regret that the
word Louisiana was not brOuGht out in
full, instead of being represented by the IN
significant La" which had not even the
usual mark of abbreyiation at the end. 1t is
to be hoped that in future flags the memOr
able name of Louisiana will not be so nearly
| suppressed.
Mr.. r. n. Ogden then, on behalf of the
ladies, presented the four beautiful 'gui-
dons." These were of heavy red silk, one
with the inscription Headquarters Regi-
ment Field Artillery" the other three with
the letters of the batteries, A, 8, G worked
thereon, and all having the representation
Of cannon placed en- saut0ir.
We have no room for Mr.. Ogden's ad-
dress, which was a graceful and eloquent
effort, but the speaker was not very happy
in his comparison Of the independent-loOk-
ing men before him leach one a sovereign
with the "bold peasansry' of Goldsmith's
Deserted Village.
Mr.. Semmes, in a response on behalf OF
the recipients of the flag and guidons,
repliedtO both the previous speak
ers The gentleman spoke with the
eloquence and impressivness that never fails
him, but there was tone OF reluctant, re-
gretful concession that ill-accOrded with
the occasion, described by the speaker as
one of the most significant, aye. dramatic.
that had been presented to the public OF
Louisiana since Jn0 the lermlnAtlOn u uuo
recent civil conflict; the consideration of the
actors in the scene intensifying. the
dramatic significance. If we did not
greatly mistake the scope of the
speaker, there seemed tos be no heart
in the renewed fealty Of Southern men to
the Union, but loyalty was to be merely a
point of honor, because pledge had been
rendered when the contest was abandoned.
We hope and believe that among Southern
men generally-even among former gallant
opponents is a warmer feeling toward
the flag and the country that belong to US
ala feeling Of which Mr.. Semmes' address
is no type. At the conclusion of the speak
ing the flag was flung to the breeze and
saluted by those present amid the inspirit-
ing music of the band. Then the splendid
looking body of citizen soldiers. corps
which, in organization, drill, military ex-
perience and esprit ae corps, would be
credit to any State or any country, took up
the line of march, and the imposing cere-
mony was at an end.
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