St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-07-16
FLAG PRESENTATION.

FLAG PRESENTATION.
There was large attendance At Camp
Ca6ery, last Sunday afternoon, to wit
ness the presentation Of : regimentai
flag to Col. Hoods regiment.
At 5 O'Clock, Mayor Flower, of New
Orleans, with Judge J. NJ. Thompson, OF
Covington, drove up in carriage, the
Mayor holding the beautiful silken flag.
They took a position in front OF the
regiment, and when Lieutenant Colonel
Grubbs took of his service hat and
bowed to the speaker and his escort,
the silk was thrown to the breeze,
showing in gold on the field OF stripes.
s:Second Regiment, U. S. Vol. Infan-
try"
Judge Thompson in presenting the
colors said:
"Ladies, Fellow-citizens and Soldiers
The ladies', actuated by that patriot
ism of which their sex has given SO
many striking illustrations by deeds OF
daring and heroic sacrifices, are here
for the purpose of presenting this regi-
ment with flag, and upon me mas been
conferred the honor and pleasure OF
being their mouthpiece. o.,
This flag came into existence with
the nation. 1t was baptized In the
blood OF patriots, sanctified by the SUI
ferinys and sacrifices of the Revotu-
tionary War; led the nation to victory,
and flo ated in triumph over the birth
cf our Union. 1t has emerged in tri-
umph from three foreign wars, passed
through the giganic civil struggle that
convulsed a continent and deluged the
nation with blood, and still floats, the
object of love and reverence to those
who fought against it under the South
ern cross, as well as those who fought
under its own glorious folds.
"For more than a centuary it has
been the banner of freedom. A thou
sand battlehelds have witnessed its tri-
umphs, and the bravery of the American
navy has gained its glory on every
ocean. Even now the reverberation
OF the guns of Dewey and his gallant
tars at Manila, of Schley and his seamen
at Santiago, aud the heroic action of
Hobson and his immortal seven are
to the world that the
American navy has lost none of its old
time matchless valor and skill, while the
boys In blue in the trenches of Santi
ago are proving that the American
army is cast in the same heroic mold.
Soldiers. know not to what soil or eli
mate the fortune of war may lead you.
You may tread the soil of the Philip
pines, where tropical nature has stored
amid strange forests and mountains
q wealth of vegetation and minerals,
awaiting the magic touch of American
to make new FL Dorado
arise from the sea. You may carry
succor and relief to the blood-stained
soil of our neighboring isle, where
peace and plenty have long since fed
before the ATROCITIES of the Spanish
butcher. Or yours may be the first
American feet TO press, with martial
tread, the soil of Europe, where the
proud and cruel Spaniard, doing in
dreams past splendOr and crimson with
the blood of millions, is fast dying Of
national decrepitude. Butno matter what
the soil or cline, I charge you to ever
guard this flag as you gaurd your honor
and your lives.
"Kemember that its fair donors will
watch your record to see how you bear
Yourself as men. That they will suffer
with YOU in your sufferings, share in
your cares and rejoice in your success,
and when you return with its staff
wreathed with the laurels of victory, to
receive the thanks of q grateful nation,
ours will not be the weakest voices that
will join in the grand national paean
that welcome the return of the victorious
army of the republic. When its folds
are unfurlcd to the morning breeze OF
reflect the splendors of the setting sun
in the privations of camp and the fatigue
of the march, and when amid the clash
Of arms it is obscured by the smoke Of
battle, let it be YOUR constant inspira-
ton to noble deeds and noble endur-
ance. Remember what glorious mem
cries cluster around its past, what
great hopes are foundered on its future.
"The Spartan mother told her son to
return with his shield or on it. When
look at this body of men and consid 1
the material of which it is composed.
how you have left the comforts
of home, the hopes Of business,
anil the tender ties of love and friend
ship; some OF you first from partings
with mothers, whose eyes, alceady
dimmed with age, are further obscured
with the parting tear; some have torn
themselves from the arms of wives,
who, with pale cheeks and eager eyes,
will scan the bulletins Of every battle
aad think that Yon have done so from
no hopes of personal gain, but solely
actuated by two Of the noblest senti-
ments that can stir the human breast
love of glory and love of country-I feel
that this regiment has no need Of such
caution, but that it will return with its
flag untarnished, and every star shin.
ing with new lustre from the gallant
deeds of its brave followers
'sYou are most of you southern men,
enlisted in = Southern State, and upon
you it dcvolves to show the
loyalty of the South, and that you have
lost none of the valor of your ancestors,
81 hive no fear on this score, and
predict that when the clash of arms
comes, that the soul-inspirins Southern
yell will rise as loud and clear and fl
to the front under the Stars and Stripes
as it did under the War-Staincd banners