Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-14
SURPRISE AND PRESENTATIONS.
The Artillery Regiment Pays Honors to
it's Colonel.

its Colonel.
1t is not often recorded that a secret
perfectly kept where it is intrusted t
nearly three hundred persons. But tn
First Artillery Regiment, N. G. c., ha
demonstrated that the thing is possible
The companies of the regiment havin!
headquarters in this city, according TO pre-
concerted arrangements, quietly assembled
| and marched to the residence of Colonel I
| w. Sheehan, two miles from the armory
| They were accompanied by the Artillery
Band, which gave its services Ifreely and
! heartily to the occasion. The Colonel had
not the remotest idea of what was about tC
| happen. He was engaged with three
| friends in social converse when the first
notes of the serenade surprised him. Co
ing to the door. his establishment was COM
plete to see by torches light the battalion
in line upon the sward before the door.
The officers were ordered TO the front by
Lieutenant-Colon Guthrie, commanding,
when Captain Weinstock stepped forward
and, addressing Colonel Sheehan, spoke as
follows:
Colonel Sheehan: Four years ago you were
elected commander of our regiment and your
term of service has now nearly expired. If at
any time before your election there existed IN
your own mind or IN the mlnuS OF OlneTS any
doubt of your ability to successfully command
body OF men, that doubt must long since have
vanished
Though the peace and quiet of our common
wealth have been undisturbed, though no OPP
portunities has offered to test your military skill
and courage, we nevertheless all feel that at the
first sound of alarm you would, regardless of
personal sacrifices hold yourself and men in
Instant readiness to enforce the laws and faith
fully obey the orders of Superiors.
1t needed no active service TO inspire us with
confidence III your courage, skill and bravery.
The opportunities afforded even in every day
life of knowing and judging you were sufficient
to make us all feel that in time of need, and in
spired by your pluck and determination, we
could hope to. folloy no Colonel more gal
liant, no officer more considerate of his
men, no commander more deserving the
hearty good will of his subordinates.
You are entitled to the gratitude of every mem
Der in the command for your earnest efforts in
behalf of your corps. If our regiment now ranks
high in the National Guard, TO whom other than
YOU do we owe our standing? II our regiment
now commands the respect of all citizens, to
whom other than you is due the credit? If our
local companies now enjoy the advantages and
comforts OF a e0mmodious aT1nory, unsurpassed
in the State, TO whom other than you are we in
debted for such benetlts2 Thus, you have not
alone raised our military standing, gained for
us goodwill and universal respect, and by your
personal efforts provided us with n military
home, but you have also won our esteem by
your earnest devotion to our interests our re-
spect by your knowledge and ability and our
love by your uniform kindness and sympathy
We feel ourselves largely in your debt, and we
have taken an humble way to somewhat repay
you, if only in slight degree. 1t is for this rea-
son we are here to night, and it is for this pleas
ant duty was chosen. And now, in behalf of
all the commissioned officers in YOUR command
it affords me sin"ere pleasure to pre-
sent you with this pair of military
bronzes. 1t is an unostentatious offering
from band of devoted officers, who trust you
VIII accept their modest gift as slight token of
all they feel for you. Let us hope that, in being
brought TO your constant notice. it may remind
you of our continued love and esteem, and that
it may show We are not unmindful of your
faithful devotion 10 our regiment. Let me fur
Their express the hope that the earnest sincere
and general expression manifested tonight by
rank and file, may cause you to change your
mind and accept at our hands at least one more
term of office. We ask you to consider this re-
quest seriously, and to think twice before set
ting adrift the bark which you so successfully
launched and so Skillfully pilOted through the
breakers of time, and which, if intrusted to less
experienced or less capable hands, may soon
run ashore and go asunder We feel we have no
right to ask sacrifices on your part greater than
you can afford. We also realize that you have
already performed the full share of military
duty 10 your State and country. But we ask
that II without serious loss or inconvenience
you can possibly again accept the position of
Colonel, that you do so. Rest assured that if
you do you viii take with you the earnest devo-
ton and sincere determination on the part of
officers and men to assist in your labors and to
their abilities.
In conclusion, permit me to again express our
highest esteem and regard, and let every officer
and man join me in giving three rousing cheers
for our gallant little Colonel.
The regiment at this point broke into
loud cheers, while two men came forward
and deposited upon the porch of the resi-
dence two large elegant bronzes, represent
ing personal encounters in the Crusades.
Colonel Sheehan was about to reply when
Private Clinton L. White stepped to the
front, and addressed the Colonel. He said
that the men in the ranks were unwilling
that the officers should alone manifest their
esteem for their commander. The privates
are men of character and have as profound
pride in the regiment as anyone can have
They recognized the virtues of obedience,
but times come when they would justify
Such was the present
occasion. From marker and drummer to
sergeant they had resolved to have their
way and not submit to being represented
by the men of shoulder straps. The enlisted
men wanted TO thank their Colonel for the
high grade of proficiency TO which he had
brought the organization. 1t is credit to
the State to the men composing it and to
its officers. 1t is an arm of usefulness. and
any man might be proud to be reckoned
member of it. The men remembered
with gratitude how their Colonel had given
of his time and money and skill for their
good. They could not express all they felt.
Yet they wanted him to say that though
the Colonel is their superior officer, every
man of the command was confident that
he could count Colonel Sheehan as his
friend. Mr.. White referred at length to
the services of the Colonel to the recent
encampment; the conduct of the men
there, and to the splendid record the regi-
ment made, and, i'll the course of his re-
marks recalled humorously the tribulations
of the caterer at the camp, and the recol-
lections of his table. AT this iuncture the
band broke in with Far, far Away" Mr..
White resumed, expressing the thought of
the men, that the band had happily ex
pressed their gratitude that the caterer and
his table were indeed far far away" In
conclusion, he presented to the Colonel. in
behalf of the enlisted men, with a splen-
dld CHINA dlnner-service, consisting of four
sets, dinner fruit, fish and dessert, embrace
ing some two hundred pieces. "This Gift
the speaker said, was intended to typifv
in degree the esteem of the men for
their Colonel, and to serve as memento of
the long and cordial fraternal relation be-
tween the commander and the COM
manded." To this sentiment the battalion
responded with cheers.
Colonel Sheehan, in responding. could
not conceal his embarrassment and his
genuine surprise was perfectly evident In
feeling remarks he testified to his regard
for the regiment and every man in it. He
regretted that the men had taxed them
selves for presents for him. He didn't like
the idea at all. 1t was more than sufficient
that such expressions had been made as
they had just heard; more than sufficient
that the men had marched out to his little
home to greet him. He always had felt,
and still did, that in every man in the regi-
ment he had personal friend. He had
reluctantly accepted the Colonelcy in the
first place. He felt now that he ought to
give it up. He lived far out in the out
skirts OF the city. He had given up all
things and engagements of his private
hours for the regiment. He feared he
could not be with the command so much
as duty and inclination demanded. and so
he had resolved not to stand for election
again. He could not, however. mis-
take this sincere testimonial He
honored the boys of the First
Artillery; he wanted to ever respect
and esteem them all he was proud of
them and their standing. IN conclusion,
he urged them to stack arms and " come
IN and 90 through the house at least, and
partake of such as he had at hand.
The officers here interrupted and said it
had been agreed that the command
would not go in. So many tramping in
would damage his property; the order had
been given and would be obeyed The