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ORGANIZATION OF THE THIRTY-THIRD.

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Lieutenant Colonel-CALVIN WALKER, Geneva. Resigned at Camp Lyon.

Major-ROBERT J. MANN, Seneca Falls. Resigned at Camp Griffin.

Adjutant-CHARLES T. SUTTON, New York City. Resigned at Hagerstown.

Quarter-Master-H. L. SUYDAM, Geneva. Resigned at Camp Lyon.

Chaplain-Rev. G. N. CHENEY, Rochester. Resigned at Camp Lyon.

Surgeon-T. RUSH SPENCER. Resigned at Camp Granger.

Assistant Surgeon-S. S. MULFORD, Cherry Valley. Resigned at Stafford Court House.

The regiment was designated as the Thirty-third New York State Volunteers, and assigned to barrack number five, at Southport, where it remained until the departure for Washington.

The entire change in the mode of life occasioned some uneasiness, at first, on the part of the men. They were not made up of the refuse material of our large cities," the scum that rises uppermost when the nation boils," but had come from homes supplied with every comfort. A few days, however, served to inure them to the change, and they learned to sleep soundly in the rude hammocks, and thrive on the plain bill of fare.

As a general thing they were supplied with wholesome and nutritious food; but an occasional . oversight would occur, when, woe to the unlucky purveyor. On one occasion some meat was sent to

32

PRESENTATION OF A BANNER.

them, which, imparting a suspicious odor to their olfactories, the boys immediately collected, and bearing it away to a prepared receptacle, deposited the stuff with all the funeral pomp and ceremony which formerly attended the burial of Euclid at Yale College. The funeral oration abounded in not the most complimentary allusion to the Commissariat, who, improving on the wholesome advice administered, ever afterwards furnished the Regiment with beef that would pass muster.

The principal event connected with the sojourn of the Thirty-third here, was the reception of a splendid banner from the patriotic ladies of Canandaigua. The Regiment being formed into a hollow square, Mrs. Chesebro, of Canandaigua, stepped forward and presented the flag to Colonel Taylor, in the following felicitous remarks:

"Colonel Taylor, and Members of the Ontario Regiment: In behalf of the wives, mothers and daughters of Canandaigua, I ask your acceptance of this Regimental Banner. On the one side is the coat of arms of our noble Empire State; on the reverse, the Seal of old Ontario, adopted by your forefathers shortly after the Revolution, in 1790. And who-seeing the sudden transformation of her peaceful citizens into armed soldiers-can doubt the loyalty and patriotism of the men of Ontario? Soldiers in assuming the name of a time-honored county as the bond of union for this Regiment, you assume to emulate the virtues which characterized the pioneers of civilization in Western New York,

COLONEL TAYLOR'S RESPONSE.

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Let

and like them, let forbearance and moderation actuate your motives and temper your zeal. the thought that brave hearts at home, have, with more than Roman heroism, parted with those most dear to them, inspire each soul to acts of courage, and nerve each arm to deeds of daring. And though the pomp and circumstance of war' are, to woman's timid nature, but other terms for death and desolation, this banner is the assurance of our sympathy with the cause of Liberty and our Country. Bear it forth with you in the heat of battle, where each soldier may fix his eye upon it, and if it comes back riddled with bullets and defaced with smoke, we shall know that a traitor has answered with his life for every stain upon it. Bear it forth, as you go, followed by our best wishes, and our earnest prayers; and the God of Battles premay serve and bless you, and crown your efforts and those of all our brave defenders of the stars and stripes with speedy and signal victory! Take it, and may God's blessing go with you and it?"

Colonel Taylor responded:

"Mrs. Chesebro, and Members of the Committee from Canandaigua: I thank you most heartily for the beautiful gift which you have presented to the Thirty-third Regiment. It shall be most gratefully prized as a token of the kind interest and loyalty of the ladies of Canandaigua; and I promise that it shall never be dishonored or disgraced. But, unfortunately, I am not much given to talking; my business lies in another direction; and I am willing

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CHAPLAIN CHENEY'S SPEECH.

to let the acts and doings of the Ontario Regiment speak for me. I have the pleasure of introducing to you the Chaplain of the Thirty-third, the Rev. Mr. Cheney, who will address you more fully."

He then introduced Chaplain Cheney, who addressed Mrs. Chesebro and the delegation accompanying her, as follows:

“I think that I hardly need an introduction to those who hail from Canandaigua; and although I might well wish that the part I now undertake to discharge, had been conferred upon one better able to do justice to the occasion and the theme, yet, belonging as I do by birth and early associations to Ontario County, the task is to me one of pleasantAnd when I strive, as I now do, to return most heartfelt acknowledgments to the ladies of Canandaigua for this token of interest and confidence in our Regiment, I only strive to utter the sentiment which fills every soldier's breast this

ness.

moment.

"It is an old proverb, and one which has been more than once graven on the warrior's shield “ NOT WORDS BUT DEEDS," and I would be mindful of the spirit of the saying; and yet I hazard nothing in assuring the patriotic women of Canandaigua that they shall never see the day when they will regret the confidence which they have placed in the men of the Thirty-third. It may be, that in the fortunes of war no opportunity will be given them of great distinction, and I cannot promise for them that under these colors they shall win bloody fields and

CANANDAIGUA'S ILLUSTRIOUS SONS.

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achieve splendid victories. I cannot promise in their behalf, feats of arms which future poets shall sing, and future historians record; but I can, and I do here pledge them, never, in camp or in field, to bring disgrace on this banner, nor on the name 'ONTARIO' which its folds display. I cannot promise you a glorious and safe return of this Banner, but I think that I can, in behalf of every man in these ranks, declare that death shall be welcome sooner than its dishonor. Storms may disfigure it, shot may pierce and rend its silken folds, brave blood may wet and stain its blue and gold, but the men of the Ontario Regiment will guard it with their lives; and their arms shall be nerved, and their souls inspired, not only by the love of their imperilled country, but also by the remembrance of the confidence and expectation which the gift implies. They will guard it. They will fight for it, not only because it is entrusted to their keeping by loyal women, but also because it comes to them from that beautiful old town which never yet has been dishonored by a traitor-son, but which has been famous in all the land as the home of Spencer, and Howell, and Sibley, and Worden, and Granger, and others whose names are part of the history of our State and Country.

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'Perhaps we do not appreciate the part that woman bears in every great struggle for national existence. We are too apt to consider all as achieved by the work and sacrifice of men. And yet, noble and heroic as they are who go forth to battle for the

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