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Welcome To The "michigan First."

Welcome To The "michigan First." image
Parent Issue
Day
9
Month
August
Year
1861
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

I of f', i. Wai.Ki ::, )■ : . Ule ;:iTi 1.1 ''. ' Hinent :- "VItli : . ■ d einotions of exultimt pride, and decp yot cliasteued sorrów, we bid vo;i a eordial wolcouie on your return to tlio State ftl i.-h yuu ua'va ku grcatly !■;;- . urcd by your lieroic valor, aud j'our JeeJ.s of noble daring, On, thia occasion our miu-'s naturally revei-t to the time and tho cil-ciimstaucus when, leas than tlireo luocllis siuce, wc took our leavc of yon, und bid you i hearty God sgecd Ln noble enterpriso. A great eor.spiracy bad boca Tganieed, , toöverthröw Ihe freest, tl' ,_ (])0 Lest guVin:'iK'i:t eVW rearcd Oy hum:in ' wiistbnj, Th'. yerj l'.cnos.s aod 1 dess of ilic scltCtite seeiued a time to : paralyzü n hoarts save thosc; ongnged in ' the wotk if desti-ucttoc. ]5ut the lorid jrlare lli;vt liglited up tho fail of Sumtor, ] and t1 e fierce storm of iroi h;;il that foll : u_ on tier düvotcd battlomtjnti, ■' l'. . ■ :i unto i a inan lAÍliag, artfugéd tho natioi: frora its pèvllous lt!iargy, to the quick bcating tbrobs of ; triutic devotioii. The terrible bat inevitable issue, cornet like, aimost withoal warning, blazed upon us in ail ís fultneds. xbe days of diplomácy ai.d ! proniii-o ai-u pa8scá,ftDd kb e iííue, to anus, is upon vi?. ïhis Government, fouoded by our fatliers, cemonted by thcir blood, I is attacked by parrtcidal bands, and its vory eaisteaco is. to ba defended by tho Bword. TIk.' Natiooel Capital is in imïnroent danger ot' nttaok. Rebel forcea, armer) by trêaobery, cquipped by robbery and fraud. ure ttkead-y gttlioring for thé blow. Tho imminence of tho dangoi br 110 del;y. Tho President issues liis proolamation, calling i'ur voluo teers. 'J'hc t'iesin of alarm, like the groat bc!l Kblftnd of Ghent, süuirLs tbrbttgb the land its iron strukc stuking dcup iutoovery lieart, piving wnrning tliat liberty is in danger. lts tonca pive ccteraje oven to t! o t'uiid, aad' stern rcsolve eïcrywliere tajkea tLe )laee 6Í weak iiwlccision. War's sfcriil clamor ealls ilie peaceful citizen tb artns, in dtfouso of thü Capital - the Governiiieut - of Co'.is'.iiutioiial Libcüy - of Civilization itsflfonU.it Wcsteru Coutiuenti lts notus are ecUoöd froin the hills of New Euglaiid; t'uey penetrntè ibe reoesacs of tbo Alleghaniea ; ihey roll in still increasii'g volume aloug the s'iores of the greai lkes, and spread over tha pcairiès of the migUty West. The öational liearl is i'ully arouscd. The patriotic tir.. s that bur'.sed in the souls of uur revulutionary fatliers are ea-kindled in thosc of thcir sous, and blaze with undiiuini.shed lustre. The ordiuary avocatiuns of the firin, Üic work-sh'.ip, he eouuiiiig ro iin and the office, are abaiuloued, and tho oharuis of home are all deserted for the hardships of the camp, and the daugers of tho tented field, Even tliose all unaceustomed to toil uervo up their softeued iiUHoies by the forod of stroug hearts, nnd with unflir.ch) .o s'ioulder the heavy inusket. ín this subliiae uprising of a groat pcoplu in defense of national e.xistenco, our Ovn Peninsular St-ito has borne a conspieuous pait. Uowhere has tuero been a more iised resohe, al all hazards, to vindícate the Government and maintaiu the national uuity than here, VVhilo yet the storm of war was pouripg its tieree tempest of hot iron upon ÉMimter, it burst forth, melting bafore ita gluwiür heat all party unes and personal diffjr"ences in llie oue great purpos?,' and from ihat hour there luis beenno falteriug. - Mor.ey and men have been freely offered upon our country s altar, a.-id ivill ív, until this great Btiuggle is over, and wc have triumphantly proved -that a freo govcrnir.cnt is equal to its own pfotebtion. We belicvc that 'T, l!.;hIn i just cause aad foroac country' fïcedcni, ift the bost office of the be-t ol imn.1' You. patriot soldicrs, aro tbe first fruit s of our sacred ofitering - our iirst born of tlio war. Freely you offored yourselvos, and wc held you not back i'rom tlic s.icrifice, aud wii'i yenruing r.ffectioD the motiier, and wiih glowing pride tho father, watch the glorioua career of their iirst boni, so have e j w:ituhcd yours. Yon wero, too, the first rich installajont froni the abounding wcalth of men, which the North-west ís rcady to poar out in the iiational defenso. With uobounding confidence, and pro phetic pride, we bade you farewell, and gent you forth as our representatives to the field of danger, and ui' conflict - a field which to you has provcd oue of uudying glory. We watched your tri■umphaut progress to the Capita], your honorabla reception therc, aud shed tears of gratcful pride and sympatbctio 'yy :t the enthusiastic ndmirution everywhere clicited by your uianly conduct, and your gallaut and martial bearin. 2Tot for a moment have wc lost sigh't of you. - Your slihtest moveir.ents liavc been chrouicled, and the record grcedily read by tons of thüusands. We followed you with brcathless iutcrest as you led the advanee on to the soil of Virginia, and raised our glorious flag over Alexandria. Without ay ostentation of valor, brave]y yet humanely did you perfonn the delicate and responsible dutios imposed upon you. With the calm Cöuragi ef trtte beroism, you faced tiie neejful danger of your position, anrl with the persevcring energy and enduring patiencc of an elevütud patriotisiu, you performcd its o.rduous toüs and subinittcd to its many privationg and hardships It is not too mucb to say that tbe uation rang with the praisos of the ability and gallantry of your offirjnrs,, and tha bravery and soldierly eonduct of vour iron, Your reputation became "an inspiiing power to the noble rogiiccnta that havo followed you in to the field, and its inflacue? will still be Eelt in those who are vet to follow. They will scek to emulato your virtue aud your v;ilor. A great example never dies. lts influenco Ís a perpetual and inercasing power. Your experiencc at Alexnndria was a fitting preparation for your part in the battle of Manassas. You had beco-.uo veterans in our hastily iinprovised army, and upon you was thrown tho duty and ihe danger of veterans. Nobly, beyond all power of languago to express, did you perform that duty. With an intrepid courage that knew no flinchiog, did you meet that danger. JOxhausted by a twelve miles forced marcii, suifering from huuger aud thirst, with an inviuciblo impetuousity, you charged upon the enemy's batteries. once, again and yet again faciug the terriflc storm of iron aud lead tliat bro.ight your leader to the ground and more than doeimatcd your ranks. - 'i'hftt battle was lost - how and why concerns upt this occasion, except to say that thus njuch is clear. It was not for the want of maiily courago and noble duriug on tbc part of our soldiers. With stout boarts and stahvart hands they fought with tho ïnpetuosity of youtb, and the steady, detenniued bravery of veterans, and against fearful odds forced tho intreuched foo oven to tbc eannou's mouth. .Nor did any fault rest upon our ofljcers, - nobly did they perform their duty, and their devoted gallantry is attested by their heavy loss. But tbe race is not filways to the swift, nor the battle to the Wo ïii.vt uot always e.om -; Ij ut we imu do woro, we v it. Tliis our soldievs di-l ;it Manassas.-- The popular verdict alre:uly possed ha but an.ticipated Ibe ealni vurdiot of , '1 proQounco tlioir decds wurthy nraortül fume. YjU u-o 'nero, i turncd trom the bloody i field ; but you nro nol all hero - soine, ' alus, mai.y are Hot. ÏOUT OCOomplished and gallaut CVouel, wliom wq all knew, and lovcd, BB(J hoooréi, wa woundc-l in the disi-bai-jjo of lus dptbs upon the üeld ? uatilo vuid in the Wee of tbe foe, ; ábljii, and is now a prisoae. Short as h;is boon hid ourcer witll vuu, it has been long enotigli to win hhn a briglit placo opon tbc pago of history. But we trust a still more glqrious oareer yet awaits liini in the service of bis couu'ry. Othcr offieere and men are also priso.iers. wliüe erthers are sufiferiug iVotn severo ' w-DUiids teeeived upcui the iiuld of true honor. These sufle'rings and wour.ds aro ! bftdges of glory higher and n oro real tliaii tl)os0 insignia of glory eoiiferrod by roya) Lrafitis. Witb these suFc rings, I wliether from imprrsoamèiit or wounds, tbere is oVéryvhbre a deep and gencrous syinpatííy - a .-vmpatliy which will not ' expend itself in words nierely, but will rukeitóelf feit in deeds of kiuducss. Oihers of yoi': mciiiVers havo fallen upon the field, ncVcr moro to risc; bravo comniaDder?, taitirful, eflieient officers - valiant men. Their loss bas brouglU bitter irriefs to many hearts, desolación to otany liousehold, arid has spread a deep glooni throughout the entire State. Ve are all monrners, and kèenly sympathise wit!) thoso cspeoially bereavcd. Heneel'jrlh the famüies ut' ;he dlïhd are tho fainilica of tlie State. But t!ie death of these brave ihO is not without its glörious consoiations. For this end if it need bo, you and they went forth. Your country ealtod and you all responded, and placed your livcs at her service. You Lavo retamal, and ikey ii:,v fallen, but t'u-y liavc not failed in their great missiou. They have died gloriously for tbeir country, and tJjeir leatli. inay havo been i;e v to arouso us to the ful) importaüce of the contest upon us; and to "stir slill more deej.ily our bWt'e deopest emotions. The metnery of the dead of .NFaassas bclougs to the State - nay, to tlie nution itself. It is an iiihoritance fhat v,v proudly tiansniit to our ehildren, Their uamesshall become a wateh-word, and an inspiration. A grpteful pepplo will insêiibe thc-.n upop the mo;:umeutul pile, '■ Chat iilll ;; t..i.i i gè ■■■ lia iyr :;■..■:;■ counti'j vil " To you brave survivors, wo giye unbouüded honor, t-uoh honor have j-ou coufüried upoa the State, a:;d each iuan of us - nay. eaeh man, womao aud ehild feela ennoiled by your conituct, bapired by your example. Bal Ilío gacráon o' floiy's.'oi tUosè whofal: ": lieir l'unurttl ail Aud the ir.'. . ;url bjjew, Thatcuvcvj tticü heitU so ioU uad triie.'1 In couclnsion, let mo agaiu bid you a cordial and an honored welconie home. In this I butppeak tlie voice of the wholc State. Hencefórtli it sball be an honor to have been a ineinbef of the Michigan First during the eveutful three moutba tlmt !kv:o just pasacd, Your regimeul has more than met out expectations; it has fully realized our bigliest hopo. - You have not cnly doue your duty, of whieh vg entertaiued 110 doubt, but you have ec-vered yourseivts with glory. The time for whieh you enlisted has passod, and you arn to be honorably discharged Some of you juay havo duties that will provoutyour agaia serving in its rauks, lul the regiment must Is maiutaincd. lt and you belong to our history. The work for wliich il vas organized bas not yet been accomplished, and ijOV, cauuot bc sparb'd. The heroisjn tbat sbono at Alexandria, that culminated at Manassaa, uirght still give it charaoter. Good men and truc are ready to lili its broken rauks, but they need your inspiration. - God graut that your futuro may be loss bloody but no less glorious than your PM8t. __

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus