Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-04-23


cutate data, do this in reference to Regiments o
not commanded by me, prefer to specify 4
none by name, lest should omit some who o
could not justly be omitted from such list. v
These and many others like them, living
and dead, were soldiers Of the sternest valOr, l
patriots OF the highest type-whose names and s
tame remain legacies OF glory and honor % \
the gallant state which sent them forth to
represent her. when her best and brRvest we're !
called TO the front. Il
Flags were received By the Delaware troops
from the hands Of the fair ladies Of the State,
which TACT alone would be powerful incen-
tive to those chivalr0us men TO bear them def
antly where the fire was hOttest--the contest
most deadly-tO protect them with their lives,
and toIeturn them proudly to their State, with
tho CONSEQUENCES that, war stained, faded, and
torn, as they are, they would be treasured
among her most precious possessions.
To the keeping Of the Historical Society Of
the State OF Delaware am now instructed to
connde them as proper custodian, feeling |
well assured that they will be preserved with /
jealous care, and that In long years hence /
when ali now present may have passed away, /
these hOnOred banners will, by the glorious |
memories and deeds they symbolic. lncte
again be imperiled by wac-tO emulate the ac- |
tiOnS Of the men who bore them through the
great struggle which called them forth.
At the conclusion of these remarks, three voci-
ferrous cheers were given Gen. Hancock after
which VIM. c. Spruancs, Esq, arose aud received
the celors on behalf Of the Historical Society, In
the following speech
General -
In the presence IF the man to whose valor
and fortitude is due, whatever of interest
IclusterS around these tattered hags-in the
presence Of one whom all men recognize as
among the great leaders In the contest we com
memOrate, and under whose immediate COM
nd "A Irr
which has made these eol0rs historio-it would
be idle in me to attempt anything like mar
ration Of the events with which they are as
I s0ciated.t fEtHt~ III. tMH
) On an occasion such as this, no research,
however dllgent-nO memory, however accur-
ate-nO tongue, however eloquent could fully
!, or ftly portray the sufferings and achieVments
! Of which these cOlOrs have been the silent
a witnesses.
E Under our happy system, the Federal Gov
+ ernment deals mainly with the relations Of the
d States with each other, and with foreign pow
Q ers and while 1t guarantees to the citizen the
= essential rights OF citizenship to each State Is
left the regulation and control Of its domestic
g concerns-and to each is a history which !:
lr hers alone, both in peace and war.
@ Even the great battle for National life wa;
). fought mainly by men under distinct State or
VI ganiZatiOns, and beside the common puFDOsI
. which animated the whole, there remained q
I. each regiment State pride, which was
n powerful incentive to action. Neither tn
:. - actions Of the National Government, nor tn
=, page Of the National historian will suffice t
IN contain full narrative of this great contest
=; in which were millions Of men engaged-e0v
:. eIing an area of thousands of miles-in Whlc
were countless battles and skirmishes, i
do the archives Of each State will the future hi!
torian look for the details, which can be fOun
" nowhere else.
UnhAppiy, our State Government has, {
bt. yet, made no provision whatever for the pr
serVatIon Of the history Of the service Of h'
Z. sons in that great struggle which saved to
all Of country worth the name and It has bee
all wisely determined 70 commit to the keepir
ted of the Historical Society Of Delaware the
ter hOnOred relics and charge that Society spec
Ter ally with the duty Of collecting and preServlT
:, for future generation the record OF the val
INC Of the sons OF Delaware.
'ret When the long agony OF doubt and unce
tainty had ended when Congress and Il
Iei people had reused from their long letharg
nm when men ceased to discuss the qGestl
~ whether coercion was constitutional, and !
,ch ~, country had accepted the fearful aftermath
m OF civil war, and given up forever all thoug
'IA' IN Of peaceable separation, when the flame
~ w patriotism, ktndled at Sumpter, and In
NJ streets Of Baltimore, swept over the land, he
n as throughout the loyal North, men Hooked
i of the standard OF the nation.
ace. Under the arut call Of President Lincoln
ety; rs 900 men to dsfsnd the capital Delaware imI
FORK diatey filled her quota and sent iai regiment
His the hsld. Every subsequent demand upon
den, Ipatriotism met with prompt aud hearty
:; r. lspOnse With population in 1860 Of only ab
lme- Ii9OO0 We sent to the fields in Delaware N
H. Iments 1920 men, making, when reduced &C
,ner; three-yosrs standard, l030O Besides these vi
4 Iarve humber amounting il Is believed to thC
J. e. ands, who, tempted By liberal bountiss, Wers
tered into the regiments OF other States,
Gen. MANY Who served with honor and distinction
ap- the regular army and navy.
nted Whatever credit Is due for the generous I
low- mort Of the national cause in this State in
lrtily hour Of peril whatever ct honor was won
hattls by Delaware sOldiors-bolougs alone TO
loyal people Of Delaware.
ners Daring the whole period Of the great slrul
tha tha LsaislatiVO branch Of ths State 0oVornm
great 4 not hostile, was ct least neutral, and a
lenqa vuted dollar to the cause sent soldier ts
my aeld or spoke one word OF encouragement
lence cheer to the brave men who perllsd their
call under thesa flags, emhlazoned with the arm
long our State Our war debt was creaied nnder
duty al Assembly which exprossly protested agains
as on ohieofs and purposes OF the war, and declared
.tfg ISoe design 70 Be 10 save the people OF the
I'd BY from the operation Of the draft.
krlOk- The same temper and spirit animated the q
Thev Ave Deparkmsnt Ol the StAts Government. dl
OF for the whole period Of the war save 1aIag Ins
I'm ministration Of the loyal and pAkrl0tie Gas
nanee ,-ho. while God spared his llfe, did for the
51fr roraa VVhat he could without the command ol
~ 4 sword or ths pure Of the state.
s1Ior,r These know, are humiliating confessions
Aaa alike 70 the truth Of history and In instis
thav NJ brave and patriotic men who, BY their
49, sonss saeeiIieea and gatherings, not only save
s..i, rams al our State from dishonor, but won fo
nears limpsrishahle fame
EVary man who followei these eoloEs Whs
and az horu V,hetheR on our own soil, OF N . iq
YES of land i true son o. PslarI,I's s9e Sis ~ ~.
1row breath under Iriah akiaa, no ieaa thai
hafoea ( selie Da Pont whose aneaslom Tor gensEl