The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-19
TO LIGHT BATTERY A. c. v.
Fine Banner Presented by Veteran
First Light Battery C. ".

of the First Light Battery C. ", 1861,
alighted and We're met by Lieutenant
O'Brien of Light Battery, A. c. ", of
1898, and escorted to camp, where they
were received by Captain Honce, off,
GERS and men, who stood in line to re-
ceive them. AS the vets passed the
battery Captain Honce gave his COM
mand the order present arms" and
the vets uncovered. The vets soon pre-
scented themselves in front of the bat
terry and Lieutenant Edward Griswold,
of Guilford, stepped forth and spoke as
follows:
Captain Honce, Officers and Members
of Light Battery, A. C. ":
Volunteers of 1S9S-volunteers under
the dear old flag, The hearts of each of
the surviving men who stood in line
thirty-seven years ago, as you do to-
day, but in union with your hearts to-
day. Sad may have been your parting
with dear friends but inspiring it must
be when with that heaven blessed loyal
ty that bids you go. Every loyal citi-
zen of our land is your friend, but you
as an organization have special friends
scattered over this broad land of ours
who daily scan the papers for any item
concerning Light Battery, A. G. V.
Some of those friends are here to-day.
Captain Honce and members of Battery
A, 1t gives me great pleasure to intro
duce to you a few of the surviving
members of the First Light Battery, G.
", of 1851 and 1865, and special pleasure
to personally introduce to your comrade
Lieutenant S. C. Dickinson, of STRAIT
ford, Conn. who has something to say
to you.
Lieutenant Dickinson stepped for
ward and spoke as follows
Officers and Men of the First Light
Battery, A. c. ":
Thirty-seven years ago our nation
woke to find itself plunged into civil
strife. The north and the south were
arrayed against each other, and for
four years the valor and devotion of
both sections were poured forth unceas-
ingly, only to be swallowed up by the
remorseless maelstronl of war. When
the contest was over it had cost thou
sands of millions in treasure and hun
dreds of thousands of precious lives,
but national unity, the vital principle of
our existence, had been established for
ever and forever. Among the organi-
cations which enlisted at that time was
the First Connecticut Light Battery.
Recruited in October 1861, at West
Meriden, under Lieutenants Seward of
Guilford and Cannon of New Haven, it
was sworn into the service in Novem-
Der, and two months later received it's
marching orders. Thence forward for
three years and eight months, ON many
fields in the department of the south
and in Virginia it answered to the call
of duty, and always with credit to it.
self and with honor to the state.
1t was mustered out at Richmond in
June, IS, where, leaving the horses and
guns, the men returned home, trans
ferred the colors to the custody Of the
state, and the First Connecticut Light
Battery had passed into history.
And now, after this long interval of
peace, another war is thrust upon us
not like the former to reunte dissev-
cred nation, but to rescue from the
clutch of an arrogant and barbarous
government a neighboring people who
have long struggled for freedom, and
under Gods providence to lead it along
the road toward a broader and more
enlightened citizenship.
TO aid in the accomplishment Of this
object you men of this battery are here.
You have chosen the old Guilford or
ganization as a nucleus around which
to rally and in your zeal have swollen
it from a single section to the dignity
of full battery. You have been en-
dowed by the governor with a name
which even now sends thrill through
numerous hearts when it is spoken, and
which Is yet dear to the men who
filled it's ranks so many years ago.
And, believing that you will wear it
Worthily and will, SO far as you have
opportunity, honor the confidence the
state has reposed in you, we of the bat
terry of "'61" greet the battery of "'9S''
as the child of our adoption. Our
thoughts will follow you wherever you
may go, and whatever may be the for
tune of war, be assured no need of
honor can come to you that will not
also bring pride and gladness to the
hearts of those who once trod the path
along which you are now marching.
Wishing to emphasize our regard for
you, we have deemed it good to present
you with this flag. AS it floats over
you let it be an incentive to noble deeds
and a constant reminder of that loyal
ty which graces most Of all the soldier
who serves under it's folds. Tt may be
that 1t shall never wave in the smoke
of battle; not even be kissed by the
soft winds of the south. 1t may be
your destiny to guard our coast, and
your flag may never cast its shadow on
other than New England soil, but
wherever it waves we are confident it
will be the rallying point of men as
brave, as patriotic, as self denying, as
those who bore your name and manned
the guns of the old battery thirty-five
years ago.
Captain Honce selected the tallest
man in the battery, Sanford of Yale
platoon, as temporary color bearer, who
stepped forward and received the flag
from John T. Sloan of New Haven.
Captain Honce received the flag in a
neat manner and with thanks and
turned to his command and called for
three cheers for the veterans of the
First Light Battery, c. ", which were
given heartily.
The flag is a beauty, made of the
very finest bannersilk, nicely trimmed
and on a standard. Upon the band
that goes around the staff are three