The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-20
FENNER'S BATTALION:
m ~ MUSTERED INTO SERVICE TN La
FAYETTE SQUARE.
Presentation Of Battalion COlOFs Mt SC.
Patricks Hall and speeches by Gov.
Nichols, Col. Fenner and Others.

Yesterday evening at o'clock the rollin
or drums and the blare Of trumpets attracte
the attention OF the hundreds gathered O
LAFAYETTE Square, and in few minutes to tn
enlivening strains from brass band the sew
eral companies of Col. Chas. Il. Fenner'
Crescent City Battalion marched from thei
armories in st. Patrlck's Hall out into La
fayette Square. The occasion was the mus
tering in of the several companies OF this bat
talon, and it was celebrated IN military tif
Cles by the presence of an unusual number O
officers from the several military command
OF our city and several United States officers
Before the line was formed the crowd almos
filled the square, and the police detailed wer'
kept busy In securing enough open space To-
the parade
Among many other officers present we no
ticed Colonels Meyer. Glynn, Walton, Majors
Mark Quayle Scott, Pickles, LIE Gardeur
Captains Peyroux, Hollingsworth, Souby
Lord, Planellas and Adtutant Carleton; IL
fact, the turnout Of officers was far greater
occasion Of the kind.
By half-past 6 o'clock the parade was
formed, there being present 228 rifles
and the adiutant turned the battalion over tc
Col Fenner.
It was picturesque sight on the square of
this time. The long line of the gallant boys
the gllstening Of the sun on the guns, the
crowd OF spectators, recalled other days be-
fore the war, when, in the same place the vet
erau Brig. Gen. T. G. Tracy and Adjutant
Gen. Griyot were wont to inspect our citizen
soldiery.
After Col. Fenner had put them through the
manual of arms he ordered them to prepare
10 be mustered In, and the orderly sergeants
called the rolls OF their respective companies
and reported, and the battalion was then
regularly mustered into the State militia.
THE BAND THEN STRUCK UP
lively march and the several companies
marched up into St. Patricks Hall. where the
ceremonies Of the presentation Of the bat
talon colors was to take place.
Here we're assembled q crowd Of the fair
beauties of our city, the guests of the bat
TALON, who had been invited to participate In
the ceremonies Of the evening. The hall was
well filed, and when the companies marched
Iii there was little standing room left. Seated
On the platform were the officers Of the various
commands, and In front Of ALL Gov. Nichols
and COL Fenner and staff. After the band
had discoursed an appropriate air, Major
Bond, stepping forward, said:
Ladies and Gentlemen Comrades of the
Crescent City ButtatiOn-It Is with great pride
and pleasure that l am allowed to contribute
10 your useful and splendid organization, this
battalion flag. Look at It's bright colors
those shlmmering streams of red and white,
and golden stars glitterlng on their sheen OF
bluel IL Is the flag OF the past, the glory OF
our fathers; 1t was their sunbeam to victory
and greatness; 1t Is the flag Of the future, the
hope OF our children; 1t is their RAINBOW to pros
perity and happiness; 1t is the graceful, the
Beautiful flag of our country!
But that you value 1t the more and cling
To 1t the closer, under all circumstances, when
summoned to duty, to vindicate the laws of
the land and the honor Of Louisiana, Il Is
meet that 1t be presented to you through
some one who has added to the lustre of her
fame, both 10 war and In peace, and whose
name ~ cherished by her people.
Therefore, haye the honor to have for
sponsor on this occasion, him know. has al
ways made duty the beacon of ali his acts;
him whose qualities OF mind and heart aTe
chiselled from the solid rock of principle; him
OF whom he OF the fourteenth of September
said on well-remembered day: Nor has
one fold Of that glorious ensign dropped in his
firm grasp from that perilous hour of the
ninth OF January, When he planted it DER the
outward walls OF the State, where you stood
sworn to keep it against all corners, Fran
els q. Nichols, the war-battered soldier, the
patriotic son, the devoted Governor of Louisi-
ana.
Wien Major Bond had concluded 1t was
some minutes before the applause had sub
sided, and Gov. Nichols then addressed the
battalion and Col. Fenner as follows:
Colonel-The Adjutant General has officially
me that the officers and men Of your
command have converted the general reh
uons which they have heretofore borne to the
State into special and direct ones. If the GER
emony through which you have just passed
were an idle formality signifying nothing, or
If believed you so considered it, certainly
would not now address you.
You have publicly announced that should
the Executive of the State, in the legal dis
charge OF his duty of upholding the suprem-
acy OF the law, or vindicating the honor of the
country, have need of stout hearts and ready
ha1adss he can confidently call and rely upon
you.
That you propose to carry out this declara-
ton and faithfully observe all the obligations
you have assumed this day, have reason to
know, through the very best means by which
one man can test the thoughts, purposes, in
tentions and future actions of others-my
own personal experience in the past. The
State has needed you before. You have been
called, tried, and were not found wanting
Through the weary days between the ninth
8
ical troubles of that year came to an end, the
men see before me stood guard over the |
rights and liberties Of Louisiana, and have
come here tonight to express the great |
pleasure l feel as Governor of the State, In |
receiving your battalion formally into her |
service. / congratulate the command upon
having selected as it's officers men of ex-
perience and Judgment, whose course in the
past places beyond q mere matter of con-
lecture and speculation, that it will be rightly |
and properly led.
earnestly hope that no occasion will arise |
to call its services into stern active operation,
for no good citizen can, save with regret, con-
template the possibility OF such an event |
The most effectual method, however, of caus-
ing bad men to respect the right is to have
good men organized to enforce it. AS mere
question of legality and form, the covenant
between the State and your battalion was |
when the men were mustered In :;
but from time immemorial that covenant so
quietly entered into, but which receives it's
fulfllment amidst the upheavings of society
and the deaths of brave men, has had a |
distinctive sign, the flag of the command
That flag waves through the ratings of mus
kerry and the thunders of artillery, represen-
tatfve of country and of duty, and in that tu-
multuous scene around 1t press devoted men