Litchfield enquirer., 1878-09-19
SECRETARIES REPORT.

The 18th Reunion of the 2d Conn. Heavy Artillery and 18th Conn: Infantry was held at Ltchfeld, Sept. Il, 1878.
 The old colors, the State and National Flags, which were given to the regiment by Mrs. Wm. Curtis Moves on the 10th of Sept. 1869, having been loaned to us by special act of the legislature, were displayed under charge of Color Guard from Go. H, of the 4th C.. N. G., in the Town Hall, where also Mrs. Moves, Mrs. Col. Wessells Mrs. Col. Smith, Mrs. J. Hubbard and Mrs. George Richards, were seated beneath the out-spread flags.
 At ten o'clock, Capt. Wm Bissell, on behalf of the Regiment, read to Mrs. Moves the fol. lowing address:
 MRs. MOVES. .-Respected Madgm.-It is just sixteen years since the gallant 18th Conn stood marshalled before you, and received at your hands it's regimental colors. Your memory re- calls the scene and the many hundred sturdy forms, abounding with strength animated with patriotic zeal and youthful hope, who were destined. in but few more days, to exchange the peace and security of their native homes for the dangers of the battle field, where hostile hands were ready to rend to shreds and tram pie with disgrace this your cherished gift; and so the closing hours of our life at home, before entering upon the realities of active service, were lighted up with the beautiful vision of one of Connecticut's nOblest women, whose veins throbbed with the best blood of Ameri- ca's revolutionary heroes, bestowing upon us the banners of our State and Nation, accompa- nied with your prayers and blessings, the best of protection to the christian soldier.
 Time has brought it's inevitable changes to us all. Of the many whose bright eyes looked 1 their gratitude back to yours on that day, only l these few remain, and you can scarcely recog- nize the erect and symmetrical young volunteer l of 1862 in the grey bearded and middle-aged 1 citizen of to-day. Yet we are still the same Our voices cheer you as heartily, if not so loudly, now as then. Our love for our Ceun- | try for Connecticut, and for the hills of old Litchtield, is as sincere and warm as in youth | Our hearts swell with gratitude as we this day, on this familiar ground, unroll to our own, and to your gaze, the once familiar old regi- mental colors. We followed them faithfully in sunshine and in tempest We guarded | them well In camp, and march, and bivouac,
 and field. Their shreds are faded, tattered
 and decayed, but every rent in their folds is g
 record of an honorable action. Time is rapid.
 ly thinning out our ranks and the gallant 18th l Regiment, like its colors, is yielding to the in
 exorable law of natural decay, but the nar- 1 rower our circle grows, the stronger are the
 bonds that binds its survivors together. h
 this fraternal love we have gathered to-day,
 and our hearts would be cold, and ungrateful indeed, did we not embrace this opportunity
 of renewing our expressions of gratitude te
 our early patroness, and again receiving the
 benedictions of the noblest of the matrons oi Connecticut.
 And let me say to the Patriotic Ladies O
 Litchheld in general, who have assembled her
 to-day. that we have not forgotten the niany
 favors we received at your hands, while il
 Camp Dutton, before leaving for the front