Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-26
REMNANTS OF HARl
Transfer of the Battle Flags
of Delaware Regiments
to the Historical
Society.
Speeches of Gem. Ham
cock and VIM. c.
Spruance, Esq.
AT THE BANQUET

Second, Third, Fourth and fifth Dela-
ware regiments, and also the nags Of the
Third Brigade, Second Division, Flfth
Corps, and the First Division Of the
Second (Ambulance) Corps, were pre-.
scented by the members Of the Grand
Army Posts Of this city to the Historical
Society Of the State.
The presentation took place at the
Opera House, the stage Of which was
very appropriately decorated. In the
back. ground a group of white tents Wv
idly reminded the soldier Of "tentiug on
the old camp ground" Above and In
front of these q beautiful silk nag was
suspended, and Immediately In front oil
this there was row Of stacked arms,
from the centre stack Of which the dag
Of the Fret Division Second Ambulance
Corps, was floating. The scenery having
been shifted, TO correspond with All
this, everything looked natural, and
indeed, was a duplicate Of many q
thousand such scene during the
four years the nation was fighting to
exist. The scene was still further height
ened by fiags that were laElly suspended
from the upper boxes, and when the
bearers OF the battle eolors fled upon
the stage, au outburst Of applause CANT
from the audience.
The City Cornet Band played airs thai
were appropriate to such an occasion
and at O'Clock Doctors Askew, Bush
and Porter, Vice Presidents Of the meet
ing, accompanying the venerable JudgI
Hall, who presided, appeared upon thu
stage and were seated. Next the gallan
Major-General Hancock and Capt. Whar
ton, of his stat, were escorted to seat
reserved for them, and then came tn
invited guests, Gen. King, Gen. Bingham
Gen. Hoffman AID others. Col. Grim
shaw, Capt. Frank Nolen, Frank A. Taylor
William c. spruance, ESQ.,, Anthem
Higgins, Esq, ard about thirty Others
ex-soldiers or members of the Historica
Society, followed and took their seats
Then the color-bearers hled In and too
up a position just in front Of the tents.
Judge Hall being too feebleto stan
alone and being able to speak only In
whisper, DR.. Askew aided the Judge an
introduced the speakers.
Right Rev. Bishop Lee was first intro
duced, and opened the meeting wit
prayer. He asked the Lords blessing o
the proceedings, and said that but q fe'
ears had elapsed since we were 10 ID
midst of a saDguinaTy war fields wei
saturated with human blood and thor
sands OF wounded soldiers were lying
hospitals. We were Threatened wit
national destruction, but we called on II
Lord to aid us and put our trust in Hin
He heard our prayers and answere
them. That great conflict had taught U
/ q lesson, and the reverend gentlems
hoped that the sword would never aga
be drawn and that all sections of Of
common country hereafter would
united in bonds of affection and brother
love.
s Rev. Fielder Israel being Introduce
! read letters from the following person
, who had been invited 10 be present b
regretted exceedingly their inability
e b., here; P,sldcnt Grant, g ". Pond
I GOV Dix, Gov II tr Mt, AdnHrH Porte
!, Henry Gu Pot, Gen. Loc wood, II.
Bnru,s, e %. W. Babcock, Geo. PluuSel
Gen. BurioN, G,'u. Patterson, Col. FC
uey, Hon. j. b. Lodi lnd. Chancel
= Bales, VIM. Hemphi.l Jones, l. ighI,
y Uleman, Hon. J. 2. Comegys, Hu
l. Wizard S .uisoury tn Preside It's Of t
' NV Yurk. " 'r,l md AID Pcnnsyyai
!, Historical :. oi,ties. and u,g Is.
4 General Niuhelh Sr,Nt II cork W
next Introduced. aud, Oh b .hnil of I
l. Granl Army, deliseied the foloHi
h h.gs IA IA Hlsthrica' SurietS Thu
Al cliors o. the second Delaware Regime'
four col ~ Of the Imnl Delaware, q
q cvlprs Of tue Fourth ne 'awase, one co
IT,. TbrG bTigadl Second Divisi
Fif Cor, :, ami Ole color Of M Fl
ID. isiO., Secon { -bIlnuc,) Corps.
-, 2ei--riug the fags tue Gauaral 10
" OCcuelou a. r y -
- MH. PRESIDENT When look ~
ns these Lattered hanner-,s SO calamity no
y by the Regiments Of his State throt
Is Tie b,oOAiesI bdttius Of our great wal
rt feel very Ateniy that lack OF elOque
n which would enable me fifty to exp
st my own emotions, or to portray To l
of audience the host of glorious memol
Mt which they call forth, and which 81
- cling to them so long AS the story
y. ehivalrous courage and duty nobly d.
~. shall find a place In the records Of
ue Nation.
's These Tags were borne to
l. battle field by men moved by
rs highest motives Of patrlotlsm-by
lie truest love of country. They fought
IN, for gain-not for conquest, not for Il
ter tary renown, but for the integrity Of
It'll union of these United states-the mi
G. tenauce and supremacy of the laws
of the Constitution, and the existence of
mr.. Republic as q great and honored pc
,rn among the nations of the earth.
- Animated by these high purposes,
~ abandoned their peaceful pursults, {
~ leaving all that was most dear in
Gu. cheerfully encountered the toll, privat
or and dangers of war.
Art A vast number did not live to see
end of the prolonged strife, but the
an. ored graves of these attest their i'd
No. to their country IN her time of need.
~ Many others, some Of whom are
~ before mo, returned from the field stril
irp. and manned by wounds which tell l
nus fOrcibly than words Of the name
'ry' which they performed their parts ia
ght tie, and here may state that during
W war II was my fortune to comma
try portion of the Delaware troops, al
pod therefore speak from personal knowl
ARE when / say that their soldierly con
rial and intrepid bearing reflected the hil
and honor upon their State, as well as
vail our whole country,
Many distinguished soldiers of
we ware fell during the war, and the b.
cent deeds of some Of them are well kt
may to me from personal observation, as
served in my command. / should II
the record here the names of those ga
AMY dead, but as / cannot, from lack oil
ID In curate data, do this In reference to
ands ments not commanded by me, pref
arlv specify none by name, lest should
I,IaI some who could not justly be ON
,ta y, from such list.
~ . These and many others like them
sson ing and dead, vera soldiers Of the ste
LOT valor, patriots of the highest type-g
81 OF names and fame, remain legacies Of
10 OF and honor To the gallant State '
rem sent them forth TO represent her,
Is in her best and bravest were called
liuta front.
The It's understood that IN some instl
dis these Flags were received by the
the ware troops from the hands of tn,
ira ~ ladies of the State, which fact
p-t. would be powerful Incentive to
~" chivalrous men to bear them def
cry where the fire was NOTES.-THE c,
-uins most deadly-to protect them with
y Is lives, and TO return them proudly TO
lbert State. with the consciousness tina.
'asip, stained, faded, and torn, as they ART
Ut in would be treasured among her
Phil precious possessions.
phte. To the keeping OF the Historical
ETY. of tue Slate OF Delaware, l au
instructed To coniihe them as q
custodian, feeling well assured tina
rided will be preserved with jealous carr
wyer that in long years hence WHEN sll
than p,p.ept M, have messed away.
Vices honor.d ha,p+rs viii. nv the III
isved memories and deeds trey .ynhota
stior cite cop,iup ,,r,tioH.-should
thAt country again he imperilVd by WI
with emu al, ~, actions oil the men vh
them ihrvugh the great struggle
called ihru turth,
A. the close a. thu q neral's rel
nucn l.iute-vit j. Parss Post o. pr,
,arel thee ere r. ior Hnit tieu.iAl Han
t.b IN 4.d tt,re, s,i,.t,,., -, .f. am 4, IA,