Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-24

see Regiment; Major d. M. Vance, Cap
tain Charles E Morse, OF the Sixteenth
United States Infantry, now at Nash
vile, were the umpires or judges, and at
the conclusion of the drill Colonel Sc
vier stepped forward to the front of
both commands aud said;
Gentlemen Il am directed BY the
committee TO say that while both ON
panies have drilled admirably, we have
unanimously awarded this cup to the
Porter Rifles"
This announcement was received with
repeated cheers of approval, in which
the Chickasaws most nobly joined to the
extent of their lungs. Captain Donel-
son, of the Rifles, received the prize in a
neat, modest and handsome address, at
the conclusion Of which Colonel John @.
Burch, of the Nashville American, on
behalf of the beautiful wife Of Captain
Donelson, presented q magnificent bou-
quet to Captain Duncan, concluding his
welltimed and felicitous remarks by
saying: II am further authorized by
Mrs. Donelson to say to you, Captain,
that if her husband we're not the cap.
tain of the Porter Rifles, she would wish
that be was captain of the Chickasaw
Guards" (Some wag,. however, tells it
on Colonel Burch that, being full Of en-
thusiasm and things, instead of making
the remarks quoted, he said to Captain
Duncan: "She requests me to say that
if she was not the aoife Of the captain of
the Porter Rifles, she would love to be
the rife of the captain of the Chiekasaw
Guards" which don't believe 10 this
Captain Duncan said:
"SIR: Allow me, in the name of the
Chickasaw Guards, which [ have the
honor to command, to return, through
you, to Mrs. Donelson our most grateful
thanks for this beautiful bouquet, and by
you to say to her that we accept it with
the generous sentiments which inspired
the gift. We shall ever cherish the re-.
collection of its presentation as among
the most pleasing memories of our brief
visit to the capital of the proud old Com.
monwealth. Beaten, as we have been
upon a fair field in this contest, for the
splendid prize we have los., it is natural
that we should entertain feelings of a
regretful disappointment. Yet, | am
proud to say that in this moment of de-.
feat we are cheered by the generous
smiles of woman-the wife of him by
whom we are defeated
ITO you, Captain Donelson, and the
gallant officers and men Of the Porter
Rifles, we gracefully yield the victory
you have achieved, and We shall ever en-
terrain for you sentiments Of the kindest
nature for your cordial reception and
generous hospitality. Yet allow me to
remind you, in the spirit of q generous
and honorable rivalry, that the contest
has only begun, and at another time and
under more suspicious circumstances, we
may claim from you the championship
you have so ~gallaptly won to-day. We,
with pleasure, | can assure you, cheer
and applaud you as the heroes of to-day,
whose martial bearing and skill have ex-
cited the admiration Of this vast assem-.
blage, and while we would not pluck one
feather from the plume which graces
your crest to-day, yet we will at least in
dulge the hope that the laurel wreath
here entwined for your brows may yet
crown our victorious arms"
AS soon as this pleasing episode had
taken place General w. B. Bate, of Nash
Willie, stepped to the front of the Guards
and said:
GENTLEMEN: | have witnessed as an
outsider and citizen the competition
with pleasure and pride. am delegated
by several Of the citizens who are around
me, TO say to you, members Of the Chick
asaw Guards, and 10 doing 80 | utter my
own sentiments, hat while they appro.
bate the decision of the judges, they feel
that your bearing has 80 challenged their
admiration that they cannot AFFORD to
allow you to depart without a recognition
Of your proficiency and excellence in
your movements as citizen soldiers, and
on their behalf, and for myself personally,
| congratulate you and tender to you O
silver cup as evidence of the high appre
citation OF you as gentlemen and as citi-
zen soldiery. The cup will be presented
to you tomorrow afternoon at 5 o'clock,
at the Waverly Club rooms, at which
time the Porter Rifles, and such other
representatives Of military companies as
are presenter this occ lsion. are cordially
invited"
The silver Sc, was duly presented this
afternoon in the presence Of q large as
semblage Of Nashville's hest citizens.
and the %jolliest time was had for several
hours succeeding Il has rarely been
my pleasure to be present on so happy
an occasion IS this one. Not one word
was uttered to mar the smootbness of en-.
Ijoyment, and so well pleased wera the
Chickasaw Guards and the Porter Rifle:
with each other, after the dill, that 81
the cars bore off the former tonight to.
wards their homes, the Porter Rifles
more than half regretted thatthe Guards
we're not the victers Thus ended an
event Of the most pleasing kind, and ]
sincerely trust that this NAV not be the
last time the Guards and Rifles will meeI
in friendly contest. 1t is but justice to
state hat the Chickasaw Guards had buI
a very short time to prepare for the drill
while the Porter Rifles have been hard al
work for the last six months under the
Instructors of a drill sergeant from the
barracks at Nashville. Allof which they
deserve the greatest credit for, but some
allowance is due the Guards for the DIFF
ference In opportunity and time Cor pre-
paration. Nashville has reason to be
proud Of the Rifles and Memphis Of the
Chickasaw Guards aud Professor Ar.
nold's matehless brass band, which Gen.
/ oral p~annvnarker gnva fhaf FIR the num.