The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-30
CAPT. ALLEN HONORED.
TEE COMMANDER OF THE "cHICKs'
PREsENTRD WITH A SWORD.
George CAN'T. Jr's., Eloquent speech
and the Captains Equally Eloquent
Repiy-A Review Of the company's
Past Achievements.

Capt. Allen, said
d. Capt. Allen, feel especially honore,
In having been delegated by my comrade
to act as their spokesman this evening il
expressing to you the respect. admiration
and love which this company entertain
for its commander. They have instructe,
me to convey to you their keen apprecia
tlon OF your interest in the company, o
your strict impartiality, your high sens
OF honor, your firmness without severity
your gentleness without relaxation OF dis
cipline, your modesty without departur,
from captains dignity, and your gener
ally admirable qualities as soldier and
man. In token Of our high regard for yol
have been delegated TO present you witt
this sword, and / beg to assure you that i
! carries with 1t the sincere admiration
love and respect OF the company OF which
you are the honored commander"
I Private CAN'T delivered his neat little
speech with fine feeling, and when h,
concluded the company applauded fol
several minutes. When order had been
restored Capt. Allen, who was apparently
completely overcome by surprise, but
whose impurturbability nothing can dis.
turb, quietly said, after moments pause:
Gentlemen, i am indeed surprised by
this unexpected evidence OF your regard,
and II j felt that l deserved il, my
mind would DO easier. The very
graceful speech Of your spokesman is APP
preciated beyond the power OF words TO
express all the moro 80 because feel
that II Is undeservcd. II there is one
thing more than another that | can't do
successfully, II Is to make a speech, and
having been taken by surprise, must ask
you TO bear with me, and not expect very
much. When review my short connec-
tion with your company, deem Il proper
TO say that l held back when the cap
taincy was rendered me, not because |
did not appreciate the honor in its
fullest sense. but because / feared
that other duties would prevent me
from doing the company justice; but after
some hesitation | accepted the distingu-
ished honor and in accepting made up my
mind TO give the company such attention
rs was necessary. II gratifies me beyond
measure to be able TO say tonight that my
experience rs your captain has been a
pleasure and not a burden, that every
member OF the company has given me his
cordial support at all times and en-
deavorcd faithfully TO tighten my share OF
the labor. am moro than proud Of the
company ms now constituted, aud believe
that Il equals, in individual and collective
merit,any company the Chickasaw Guards
have ever put into the field. All ask
from you in the future Is the support
have received at your hands up 10 this
hour. II Is expected that this company
will shortly make a trip 10 Oconomowac
and 20 into camp for three weeks. II that
plan Is carried out am confident that We
will come back with material better than
we have ever had before.
"lou will excuse me from making any
extended speech, and permit me TO close
my remarks with the assurance that will
rcdouble my Efforts in the future, aud with
Your continued support hope TO lead you
10 victory with this sword" Another
storm Of applause and three cheers for
Capt Allen" followed this speech, after
which the command 10 march was given,
and The company filed OF to tho drill
grounds.
The sword presented TO Capt. Allen is a
sAa'tNAItNNN " Alt lAhNftl = lnU
scabbard Is OF solid silver, richly orna-
menied with gold chasing. The handle OF
gold contains figure Of an eagle, and the
scabbard Is proiusely ornamcnfcd with de-
signs In gold, such rs men in armor, the
national coztof arms and other figures in
has relief beautifully carved. The sword was
pronounced by all who saw II marvel Of
beauty, aud the general verdict was, that
nothing like IL has ever been seen here.
rnE cAITAix 0or EVEN.
Though taken by surprise In tho sword
presentation, Capt Allen inwardly no
solved al the moment and while return
ing his sincercst appreciation, TO get even.
Without intimating by word or deed the
deep purpose In bis heart, he put the boys
through severe and profitable practice
drill, lasting an hour or more. The COM
pany was then marched1 back 10 the
nrmory. While the members were
returning 10 civilization curb, Capt.
Allen slipped down stairs and into the
clubrooms, gave instructions TO the man
In charge, then stationed sontincls 10 sec
that not man escaped from the building
while he also removed his fatigue uniform.
The entire company, with Gen. Carncs and
~ w VI AHN HNNNfaAN hNNAANNNn WIZ MtNN
present, were Ordered 10 report for duty
IN a chamber specified and other than the
drill room. Arrived there, II was found
ferments champagne bottles and their
contents, and the prize impromptu
re-ochoing Of the sentiments expressed
earlier in the evening A number Of
toasis were proposed and drunk with
hearty good will. the responses being
strongly indicative Of unity aud ono
common purpose among the Chickasaw
Guards, such a. will render them invinci-
BILE on any competitive field. IL was a
glorious evening. one the community de- |
lights 10 contemplate after the recent III.
Gle breeze, aud TnE ArPEAL fondly trusts |
the enthusiasm and good fellowship |
cyinced by all will mover wane.
RKNiSIscrNcrs or THE PAST.
Il Is fifteen ycars today that the Chicka-
naw Guards were organized and tho only |
OF the company who are still |
with Il are RATE semmcs aud |
Adlcy II. Proudfi. Capt w. T.. Duncan |
was the irNt enmmandor and under him /
The company WINS defeated nj Nashville by !
Inc Porter Rifles In May, 1875, but the
Chicks turned ne tables on the Poriep nj |
Memphis In October, 1875. In May,
1873. =. 7. caTncs was elected Captain.
md under him the company had glori-
bus rarccr, coming out NcioTS In contests
II the places named below:
Memphis. May %, 1879
Chattanooga. July 4. 1879.
n. Louis, September, ls70
Columbus, o., October 10, 1879.
Nashville, MAY 10, $780,
New Orleans, May 10, 1881.
indianapolis, July .. iSs2.
In addition TO the above Corporal W.