Year: 1863

yet the work is notcompIete. Other bat.
ties are to be fought, and other victories
to be won, and they will be fought a.d
won. and that speedily, for the armies
which have accomplished these grand
achievements, have thereby demonssra-
ted their ability 20 take and hold any
position which cur enemy may essay to
defend


1t Is to take part With such an army,
engaged in such cause, that you 90
from us. We believe most sincerely that
you go to aid in giving the death blow
TO the monster, treason. And We bid
you God speed, trusting that you may
go with the Old Flag Of our fathers to
the last stronghold Of the rebellion, and
plant 1t there 6Emly 10 wave in triumph.
terror 20 traitors ever, and q sure pro-
tection 10 oil who are faithful and true TO
the cause of our country. am COM
missioned by large number of our fel.
low citizens. to present you this sword
and these pistols, which they request that
you Will receive as q token of their re-
gard for you as soldier and an officer.
and ~ an expression Of their devotion to
the great cause in which you are en-
gagged and for which you 60 forth to bat
tie. Take these, Lieutenant, in the spiri.
OF kindness and confidence in which they
are rendered, and let them ever remind
you that wherever your duty may call
you, the donors viii follow you with their
earnest prayers for your safety and pros
psrity.


To which Lieutenant Ball responded :


SrR Through you address the citi-
Iens OF Keokuk. am man more prompt
In act than speech ye, would be recre-
ant to the best emotions that sxell an
honorable beart were / not to give some
expression to my feelings on this occa-
sion.


That / have endeayored to perform my
duties at this pos, faithfully and fearless
ly, without respect to parties or persons,
Is true but ! never dreamed that nv
conduct would win such high appreciation
from those among whom have lived and
labored, and therefore receive this testi-
nonial OF your regard with q gratitude
not less fervent that | have no language
to give II utterance, and q promise that
this sword shall only be drawn in a loyal
csuse-that Of liberty and union. A SOL
der knows no political parties. But il
were n general, unconditional surrender
should be my motto, and if President,
unconditional submission. But as peith-
or OF those exalted positions are likely to
be my lot, an content to draw my sword
in my countrys cause in whatever capac-
liy may be assigned me, nor sheath it un-
I'll her proud banner unfurls to the breeze,
from every lake, from every mountain,
until II waves over every acre of Secessis,
and every traitor, North and South, shall
bite the dust.


That ''eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty WAS never SO we'll exemplifed.
A great aud prosperous nation lay upon
the bosom of the world IN seeming peace,
all unconscious Of the volcanoes within.
The so-called wise men labored sssidu-
ously to close the crater mp. But all the
power thus applied served only to force
the virus Through the unseen veins
Of the entire republic, poisoning the life
blood and forming new mouths from which
TO burst forth with increased fury. On
the very verge OF the horizon was seen
the first cloud that darkened our prosper
iiy. AS the 6rst peals from Ft. Sumter
reverberated through the land the nation
sprsng to arms, eagerly, earnestly; not
realizing the nature Of the impending
struggle, nor it's magnitude. While the
rebelllous States laid claim TO injnred
rights, the border States sympathized,
and finally joined their "wayward sis
ters' But when, through this additional
strength, they expected to carry the war
into Africa, and the flash of the musk OF
and the roar of cannon might be seen and
heard from the Kissing fAngs to the ever
active tail Of the great anaconda, the
mask was torn from the hideous monster,
which thus stood in bold relief, an arts-
tocracy, a schits head and black body.
A nation may be unanimous on some
points, but never in the prosecution of
war /: nor is the present struggle IN ex-
ception. The rattlesnake of the South is
defiant, and warns you on approach. But
you only know the presence Of the cop
perhead when his hiss is heard among the
smouldeIing ruins Of your domestic a.
tars. With an exterior as fair as that
serpent of old which 6rst brought sin
into the world, he winds bis willy folds
around the weak and the unwsry, and
under the sacred name Of Democracy be
crushes out the light Of truth and ravens
in the blood and plunder of burning cities
aud murdered women and children--ss
fiendishly, as cowardly he skulks at mid
night to secret societies to urge on atroc
tiles that he is too cowsrdly to commit in
the day. Beware Of them Watch them!
Hold them as the deadliest foes to free
government Look at New York, and
let Iowa take warming
am ordered to Join my regiment in
the field, and who, in these troublou.
times, can say that We shall meet again |
But be sure, friends, that carry to III.
field loyal heart and . willing hand ts
WELD this, yourgift ! accept this sword
and these pistols as . testimonial of you,
appreciation apd friendship; and while
am thrilled with emotions Of delight a