Year: 1864

ing a flag to the 205th regiment, Col.
Mathews made the following address:
Capt. Speice, and through you Company
c From your position in the regiment
and from choice of the field officers there
of, you are designated the color company
[ have the honor this day TO acknowledge
the receipt of the national flag from His
Excellency the Governor of Pennsylvania,
aud to assign it to your care and protection,
and particularly in the hour of conflict
with the enemies Of this flag. IF we did
not confde iu your integrity and devotion
to the country you serve, we would not as
s'gn SO important trust to you, but the
patriotism you and yours evince in coming
from your homes of comfort and enio oy-
ment, to undergo the hardships, privations
and dangers incident to this life, argues to
| us that you must be patriots and that the
spirit OF patriotism that prompts you to so
noble duty, will prompt you, one and all,
to die if needs be, in defence of this sa-
cred trust. Sergeant, corporals, you who
compose the color guard, take this flag and
keep it as sacred and as holy as you wonld
the apple OF your eye, and officers, soldiers
of the 205th, swear with me on the altar
of your liberties, this day, to protect that
flag from the encroachments of any and
all of its enemies and Chaplain, here in
the presence of the regiment, ask in our
names and in the name of our country, of
the God of that flag and of the God of our
country, to so inspire us, one and all, with
that spirit of devotion to our cause that
will insure It's return uRtdrniShed to His
Excellency from whom it came


The ceremonies were closed by the
annexed prayer:


Oh God, our Father and Friend We
feel the sacredness of the trust which has
just been committed to US. As regimen.
Of living men, having been marshalled as
soldiers for the defence of our country, we
have, upon this % Holy day" and in thy i'm
mediate presence, received the flag which
floats before US, at the hands of our Col,
from His Excellency the Governor of Penn
sylvania We thank thee that in the wise
dispensations of thy providence, thou hast
moved US to come forth in defence of a
cause which lies SO near every true patri-





lnger, in sweetest repose, our dearest in
terests and fondest recollections 1t en-
blematizes all that is pure and sacred to US
as American citizens The life and vigor
of our civil, political and religious institu.
tions are alike dependent upon the protec-
tion afforded this dear flag. Under it's sa-
cred folds our plenipotentiaries have been
respected, honored ard died in distant
lands. Under it our proud navy has can
vassed the wide oceans, unharmed and hon.
ored. And bathed in its rich and varie-
gated shadows many brave heart has felt
his lifeblood ooze away, during the progress
of this unprovoked and sanguinary war
And now, as the God of our revolutionary
fathers, as the God Of our liberties, as the
God of the mighty army of brave men
who have shown their love for their coun-
try by dying for it, we pray thee, make us
as soldiers worthy recipients of trust SO
sacred. And may it be the chief glory of
the bearer of this banner to carry it Gin
the fear of God) through the thickest of
the smoke in the fercest battle, and bring
it out in triumph, without single rent
from its enemies, with victory, in letters of
living light, written upon every stripe and
blazing from every star. Oh God we
pray thee, bless the Captain of the color
company, with all his officers and men.
Bless each Captain and each officer of all
the companies in the regiment. Bless our
Colonel, with all the regimental and staff
officers. Oh, God may our commanding
officer be inspired from above with true
and patriotic yalor, that he may successful
ly lead these noble men to victory, glory
and peace. Preserve his life with the
lives of his men, and may we all, when
peace shall have been restored to our coun-
try, now drenched in blood, return to our
quiet homes and loved friends, to enjoy
the rich boon for which our lives are i'm.
perilled. Oh, God we pray thee, guide
the President of these United States, with
all his advisers, in the solution of the in
tricate problem of war; which now so agi-
tates their minds. And grant to them the
Holy Spirit, that it may direct them in the
use of the most judicious means for the
speedy and permanent termination of this
bloody strife. Bless the commanding Off
Ger of the great Union armies now in the
field. Oh, God give him proper appre-
citation of the responsible position he holds.
And under his wise generalship, in con-
junction with the united and harmonious
efforts of those under him, may peace
quickly spread her halcyon beams over our
entire land. All these unmerited favors
we ask alone through the merits and in the
name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.


FHrts-If young ladies who pride
themselves on their skill and tact in
the art of Irritation could only hear all