Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-23
FIRST EDITION.
THE DELAWARE BATTLE FLAGS.
The Presentation to the HlstOri-
cal Society.
The Exercises Last Evening
Full Report of Gen. Haucock and Mr.. spru-
anee's speeches,

| were, last evening, presented 10 the Hlstof1cA
Society OF the State Major General winfeldiS
Hancock making the presentation speech, ant
VIM. O. Spruance, Esq, receiving them on be
half of those to whom they were committed
The full text of their speeches are given below
The flags Of the first Delaware Regiment, il
was decided at Are-union of the members, held
some two months ago, will remain under the
control of the Regiment. They will be enclosed
in q case, upon which the names of the battles
through which the flags passed will be panied,
| and inside will be deposited list of the stand
ard bearers on parchment. This case, thus
| filed, il acceptable to the Historical Society,
will be placed in its hands as custodian, to be
| removed only upon the occasion OF the annual
reunion of the Regiment, which it is proposed
/ to keep up. When these reunions shall fail,
/ the flags will then be turned over to the His
| torcal Society for its possession.
Since the return from the war these flags have
been in the possession of the Grand Army OF the
| Republic post of which was established in this
| city Recently, however, this post has died out,
and theidea was conceived that these torn and
tRttered emblems could be reposed in no hands
more worthy or secure, for the perpetuation of
| the traditions connected with them than in the
Historical Society Of the State Accordingly the
transfer of possession was made, last evening, at
the Opera House, in the presence OF about eight
hundred people, independent Of those upon the
stage, about fifty in number, including the
guests OF the occasion, members of the respec-
tive regiments and Of the Historical Society,
representatives of the city press and of tho
Philadelphia Ledger, Inquirer and Press.
At O'Clock, those who we're TO occupy posi-
tions on the stage advanced from behind the
scenes, Judge Willard Hall preceding, supported
by Drs. Askew, Bush and Porter. When these
had been seated the bearers of the flags land
some OF them had borne them aloft amid the
carnage and the strife of many well-fought
battes), filed in from opposite sides OF the stage,
and took up their positions in the rear. The col
ors bore the marks OF aervice and some OF them
were literally torn in shreds and in two instan-
ces the standards upon which they were affixed
we're brcken-the I'd and Sd regiments be-
lieve. Tho flags suspended from the sides OF
the stage, although belonging to the regiments
and much torn, were not battle hags, but come
which had been presented.
In the rear of the color bearers were erected
miniature tents Of canvas from which hung car
fridge boxes and stacked in front of these were
stands of arms, reminding one forcibly Of the
days of active service.
The nags presented to the Historical Society
were rs follows;
flom the Second Regiment
from the Third Regiment.
2 from the Fourth Regiment,
from the Fifth Regiment.
from tho Third Brigade, Second Division,
Fifth Army Corps.
from the First Division, Second Corps, Am
bulance Corps.
The following were the bearers of the flags,
last evening.
second Regiment, Color sergeants Frederick
Frank, Wilhelm Taylor and Orlando Brazo.
Third Regiment Drummer Samuel File, Ser
geant Darby and Lieut. Richard Smith.
Fourth Regiment, CorporaIs Joseph duffy and
Robt. L. Smith.
Fifth Regiment, Corporal Joseph H. Stanton,
Orderly Il. U. Moore and Sergeant Richard Wis-
dom.
General Hancock was accompanied by but two
Of his stan Capt. John s. Wharton and OoL
Isaac W. Parker. These were with him on the
stage. The General was dressed in full military
costume = yellow sash, gold epaulettes and
sword.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Bishop Lee, who returned thanks that the war
was over, tranquility restored and the Union Ife-
served.
Rev Fielder Israel than read letters OF regret
OF their inability to be present from President
Grant; Governor Ponder Governor Dix OF
New York Governor Hartranft Of Penna. Ad-
miral David ID. Porter General j. Henry Pre-
BILE; Gen. Henry dupont; Gen. ii. W,
Lockwood; II. A. Barnes ESD; Geo. W. Bah
cock, Esq A. Shoen, ESD; George Plunkett,
ESD; Gen. W. U, Barlow; Gen. Robt. Patter-
son; Hon. j. W. FUrney; Hon. j. II LOhand
Hon. ID. M. Bates. j. b. l.. Latrobe, President
OF the Nd. Historical Society John W. Wallace,
President of the Pa. Historical Society; Freder-
ick dePresta, President OF tue N Y. Historical
Society Henry Is Dawson, Editor of tile HIS
oricdt Magazine; Hon, john NJ Read, of the Su-
preme Court OF Pa and many others.
The band Getty CorneD then played Hail to
the Chiei,' after which MajOr-General Han
cock was introduced and spoke as follows
SPEECH BY MAJoR-GENERAL HANCOCK.
Mr.. President:
When look upon these tattered banners 80
gallantly born by the Regiments of this State
through the bloOdiest battles OF our great war,
feel very keenly that lack OF eloquence which
would enable me titly to express my own emo
tions, or to portray to this audience the host OF
glorious memories which they call forth, and
which shall cling to them so long as the story
of chiyalrous courage and duty nobly done shall
lind place IN tine records OF our nation
These flags were borne to the battle field by men
moved by the highest motives OF patriotsm-by
tho truest love Of country They fought not
for gain-not for conquest, not for military re-
hown, but for the integrity OF the Union OF
these United States-tho maintenance and SUI
premacy of the Laws and the Constitution, and
the existence OF the Republic as great and
honored power among the nations OF the earth.
Animated by these high purposes, they aban-
doned their peaceful pursuits, and leaving all
that was most dear in life, cheeriully encounter
cd the toll privatious and dangers of war.
A vast number did not live to see the end OF
the prolonged strife, but the honored graves OF
these attest their hdety to their country IN her
time of neod
Many others, some of whom are now before
me, returned from the field, stricken and maim-
ed by wounds which tell more forcby than
words OF the manner IN which they performed
I
during the war it was my fortune to command
portion of the Delaware troops and therefore
speak from personal knowledge, when say that
their soldierly conduct and intrepid bearing re-
| fected the highest honor upon their State, as
well as upon our whole country.
Many distinguished soldiers of Delaware fell
during the war, and tile heroic deeds of some
of them are well known to me from personal OBJ
servation, as they served in my command. l
should like to record here the names of those
| gallant dead, but AZ | cannot, from lack Of ac-
| curate data do this in reference to Regiments
not commanded by me, prefer to specify none
by name, lest | should omit some who could not
| Justly be omitted from such list.
These and many others like them, living and
dead were soldiers of the sternest yalor, patriots
OF the highest type-whose names and fame,
remain egacies of glory and honor to the gal
| liant State which sent them forth to represent
her when her beet and brayest were called to the
front.
II is understood that in some instances these
Flags were received by the Delaware troops
| from the hands of the fair ladies' OF the State,
which fact alone would be powerful incentive
| to those chivalrous men to bear them deiantly
where tile IRE was hottest-the contest most
deadly-to protect them with their lives, and TO
return them proudly to their State, with the con-
| ciousness 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