The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-04-30
B. W. A..
THE FLAG PRESENTATION YEsTER-
DAY AT ST. PATRICK's HALL.

of Washington Artillery marched out OF their
arsenal and through the principal streets to
Lafayette square The occasion was the
presentation Of their old flag, which has been in
private hands for many years, and has Just
been restored to It's original beauty. Aftera
dress parade in the square. in which the bat
talon attested their proficiency in drill, under
the command Of Col. Owens. marched into st.
Patrick g Hall, where largo crowd Of invited
guests awaited them. On the platform were
Mrs Putnam and Mrs Ealnr, who thirty years
ago presented the same flag to the battalion.
while around sat Gov Nichols and lady. Gen.
W. J. Bshnn and staff Col. Meyer and limo Off
cers Of his regiment, Surgeon Warren Stone,
Louisiana Field Artillery; Cen. John L. Lewis
and Col Ricardo Cespedss of the Cuban army.
The battalion formed three sides Of u hollow
snuara officers In tho centre with the color
guard. Senator Rpof1ord advancing, addressed
the command Hs follows.
The ladies' who contributed to the renovafi ion
of these old colors request me IN tnelr name
and behalf 10 present them to the battalion
cious for such q ceremony; tlrst, because the
two ladies who more than thirty years, ago,
present on this platform to participate IN an
other presentation OF the flag. in whose defense
their brother the lamented hpearing- sa"rl-
feel his life on tho .hirfeenh of December.
1862 upon the immortal heights near Freder-
icksburg: and eecondly. because YOU sir, are
still here to accept the rejuvenated eolots on be-
half of tho Washington Artillery. with whose
name and fame your own are closely Inter
twined from tho BEGINNING OF the war with
Nj. xico TO the present hour.
THE BATTALION
has tho distinguished honor of being the oldest
and probably in the Southern States.
Keorganized in February 1910 the Washing,
ton Artillery became tho right flank company OF
Gen Psrsifer L. Smiths celebrated regiment, or
rather legion. Il embragng intanry dy and eaya al
X as Ws mns legion was called
Under q re1uisition from Con. Zachary Tay-
lor mt the outbreak of hostiliies, the Wash Dg
ton Artillery volunteered Its services, and pro-
oeeded with its battery of six bronze six pound
ers to Corpus Christi, where they remained in
service for three months.
| Under reluisition upsn Louisiana for n
brigade Of four regiments Of infantry for cor
vice against Mexico. Smiths Washington regi, :,
ment volunteered ard was the ilrsf rog,mep OF
sifer L. Smith. being promoted to be- tenera ot
brigade, you, sir became Colonel OF the Wash
ipgton Regiment. of which the artillery was
Company A. The regiment retaained IN ser
vice under Gen. Taylor till the expiration Of
the term for the enlistment of volunteers.
After tho Mexican war the artillery company
kept up its organization under various com
manders. and at its own expense, some
times dwning +" VERY small a is 9W9Sr aways
the case with volunteer military bodies
in time OF peace. Gen; Tracy at ono time
w"s ssesd %R" w the sS
mature explosion Of a cartridge. while he was
superinteDding the firing of asalute upon T. the
levee After that the company languished till II
contained but thire mombers when. carl
in 1857. Col. Walton was elected captain. II ut,
terwards rapidly Increased In numbers and
improved in drill and discipline, SO that at the
outbreak of the war between the sections II
was looked upon rs already ripe for efficient
1T WAS FIRST CALLED
~ pder ia anti nf the Stint
aud sent with four or five other companies. nj
under command Of Capt Walton to take p pos
Baton Rouge. which was promptly surrendered
to them by Major Haskinaa. with all the ORDNANCE
and ordnance stores. This was on tho twelfth
Of January. 1861. Upon its return from this ex
pedition the Washington Artillery company in
, creased In membership 50 rapidly that 1t was
formed into battalion ,d,s9 Of tw9 companesi
: ninth of February, 1861, when lts presen
Colonel; ". NJ Owen was commissioned adlu
'''ie Need [ renaptuiate. in this presence th'
events that followed2 Time would utterly fai
me. and it woull be useless now as we'll as i'm
possible to reote the strange. eventful histoI,
of this battalion from that date onward. 1t |
stamped upon the recollection OF nearly nj
who hear me II has become part and parcel Q
, the history of the country during period 0
alternate agony and glory. such as has beer
seldom oaualled in tho history of the human
race itself.
} suffice it to say. In general. that the speck o
war. at frs no bigger 'hHn mans hand grow
T and spread until it blackened the whole over
archipg sky, This battalion. on tho third u
Nav. is61-then increased to five companies
/ with six con guns tennered Its services for thf
war to the Confederate government, was nc
cepted and four companies Wero mustered int
serviee in yonder square upon the twenty SIKH
of May. ,--.,
} followed as If It were yssterday the impressive
service Mt Christ Church. wtler The flag pre-
scented by tho adiNs on the twenty second o
p. brunry previous through Sen tor Benjamin n
received lis benedicion; tho address of Dr.
: Palmer next day from the sips OF the City
: Hall the march to tho Jackson Railroad depo
t amidst dust and sweterlng heat: the ovation
nil uIOng the march I'd at tho depot, and tn
farewell (how often n last farewell y to tho gnl
liant officers and mon who then departed to tn
First to Lynchburg. then to richmond. an
then, with scarce breathing M spell to tine bank
, twenty first Of July. tho battalion received it
baptism of FIRE. and established it's fame TO
, evermore Thence forward
FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS.
to the end Of the war. its history has become
mari, of tho history of that memorable struggle
a The main body Of the battalion served In mos
9 of the noted mpagns OF the Army OF North
virginia ! m vrxna bs ana Marydhh If the m
= mortal Lee and distinguished itself upon man
g u well fought field: especially at Frederieks
burg Rappahhnnock Station and Sharpsbur
4 were its services conspicuous.
t The Fifth Company. that had been left in Ne
Orleans was afterwards sent to TenDetsee FIR
@ under cOIuIndhu "l uouEt1oi thhu 'noh VI ~
y comb This company in that department. an
t- In numerous and arduous campaigns, adde
d new u4tre to the name of the Washington Al
tillery"
"a It would be preposterous. In the time appr'
n | nriated for this remony, TOR me to attempt
d describe any of tho marches and battles an
ia work In the trenches In which this comman
participated, or to particulartze the meritor
,Ius services and Sacrifices of the individu
members of the command. It is enough to 81
that their mus .ter-roll is roll OF honor; tn
each of1ic + and man felt and still feels that
was an honor to belong to such n comman
40 that they did their duty from first to last rs me
II and sol ies; ana that they look. and have
~ ,mr right to look upon the record the batalif
a. made in the late war as priceless inherthn
for themselves and those who are to Bucce
them.
80 We whom battle spared or Scared.
Safe sheltered now from disregard
Harxen to England's blind old bard
II, Peace hath her victories.
"a Aye, victories that are sorely needed in the