soldiers on the plains of Appomattox, when the 'Red Cross' of the South went down in gloom and in defeat, never again to be unfurled; when the Confederate soldiers accepted the liberal terms of General Grant's conditions in faith, truth and steadfastness; when a new era dawned upon this now prosperous, happy and reunited country; when the Southern soldier stacked his arms, leaving all behind him, and turned his face toward his ruined and deserted home, endeavoring to look to the future with hope that arises from the despair of the moment-I, after journeying over a country made desolate by the ruthless hand of war, reached my home on the south bank of the Potomac, and upon the walls of my hall I unfurled these emblems, and they have graced my home ever since.

"Though not a member of your organization, no one of the Sixth New York could have guarded these flags more faithfully or more sacredly through all these years of a generation than I, awaiting just such an opportunity as is presented here to-day to return them to the command to which they properly belonged. These flags, like you and me, show age and hardship. The chemical composition of the coloring matter seems to have eaten up the fabric in places.

"And now I will discharge the last duty of these emblems, and with the best wishes of friendship of the men and officers of the First Virginia Cavalry, I return to the Sixth New York these time-honored guidons-take them and carry them to your homes and show them to your old comrades. Tell them how they have been so sacredly, so faithfully guarded all these long years by an old rebel, awaiting an opportunity to return them. Be assured, my friends and fellow countrymen, my interest and my good feelings will still cling to them wherever you may carry them, and also be assured that my kindest feelings and my best wishes will accompany you upon your pilgrimage through your old battle-grounds, and will return with you to your northern homes."

The hearts of both Union and Confederate veterans were full to overflowing at the close of the speech, and Mr. Easton voiced the gratitude of the Union soldiers in an eloquent speech of acceptance, in which he said that the guidons were accepted in the same spirit in which they were given. He touched upon the clearing up of old animosities, and on the future of the united country as the greatest English-speaking country on earth. The occasion was one of great moment to the veterans of the Sixth New York, and the following extract from the letter of Sergt. J. A. Hewitt (a gold miner) of Missouri, in acceptance of the invitation to be present by Mr. Easton, expressed the feelings of all:

"Now the time of your excursion comes, when I usually go to the mountains, but they may grow taller, their snowcrowned tops melt, and their gold go untouched, but I must be with you."

Mr. Easton, in company with Lieut.-col. George M. Van Buren, Sergt. W. H. Roston, Sergt. J. A. Hewitt, Felix MeGloin and Sergt. D. A. Babcock, went over the battle-fields of Chancellorsville and Todd's Tavern, seeking the places where their old comrades fell in the bloody struggle. He will shortly write the story of his trip in book form, which will be of paramount interest, not only to the veterans of the Civil War, but also to the public at large. The old battle-fields were clearly recalled, and the familiar scenes brought up memories of the past in the mind of the veteran Adjutant. He was one of the first twenty to go into the State of Virginia after the opening of the war. He is a most interesting writer and conversationalist, and the publication of his book, which is intended for the members of the Sixth New York Cavalry, will be looked forward to with much anticipation.

The guidons which were returned are at present at the home of Mr. Easton on Elm Street. As Colonel Morgan said, they have been much damaged since the war, principally on account of the coloring matter in them. They are

of silk, in the form of a square flag, with a triangle cut out of the end. There are a number of bullet-holes through them, and some of the silk has rotted away. The guidons have been taken good care of, however, and the coloring is still clear. The flags are in good condition, considering that they have passed through some of the hottest cavalry fights of the Civil War.

It was with feelings of regret that we bade good-by to Colonel Morgan. We may never see him again, but the remembrance of his noble nature will continue a bright spot in our experience.

Some one present may have been with me on the morning of Sept. 17th, 1862. when twenty men under my command crossed the Central Bridge at Antietam to reconnoitre the Confederate position. The scenes and incidents of this reconnoissance were of so much interest that we delayed too long and lost our train for Washington. It is thirteen miles over the mountains from Antietam to Harper's Ferry, but if you had ridden as we did, you would have thought it was one hundred and thirteen. We arrived in Washington that night, however, and found several members of the Sixth New York waiting to welcome us, and with them the widow of that sterling officer, John Kegan Malone.

We spent the next day viewing the city, and about four o'clock we took the train for Fredericksburg. The party consisted of Col. Geo. M. Van Buren, Sergts. W. H. Roston, D. A. Babcock, J. A. Hewitt, Felix McGloin and Adjt. F. A. Easton.

We arrived at Fredericksburg in time to drive over the city before dinner. Next morning we started for Chancellorsville, having for a guide a Confederate lieutenant who was engaged at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. I had advertised for some of the Johnnies to meet us, and during our thirty-six mile drive many of them met us at the points of interest. Chancellorsville remains the same, except that its one house has been burned down and another erected.

Our visit to Alsop's Field was of deep interest, and many points were cleared up with the assistance of the Confederates present. Boys, we could have remained there the entire day, the memories were so absorbing. Incident upon incident crowded thick and fast upon each other, for the recollections of that night thirty-six years ago will be with us to our graves.

Here we had expected to meet a gentleman who figured conspicuously in this engagement, but the Spanish War, to which he had sent two sons, made him so busy that we had to forego the pleasure of his company. This gentleman, although a Confederate, is an honorary member of the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry.

But for him the Sixth New York would have made a still better showing on the night of April 30th, 1863. His command took fifty-one of our men prisoners. That is glory enough, considering it was the Sixth New York he opposed. This gentleman is now as good a citizen of the United States as can be found from Maine to Texas. You will hear from him later, and you will agree with me that manhood, pure and simple, is embodied in the person of Gen. Thos. T. Munford.

Comrades, as you are aware, I have been authorized by this Association to write the history of the engagement near Todd's Tavern. I have not been idle, but have accumulated a mass of correspondence from which facts are to be gleaned. There is, however, still a missing link which I hope to connect before long. After that the story can be easily put together.

So I can safely say that at our next reunion the tale can be told.

I have done what I could as your President to further the objects of our Association, and will gladly turn over the office to the man of your choice.

F. A. EASTON,

Pres. Vet. Assoc. Sixth N. Y. Cav.

GENERAL MEADE :

CITY POINT, Sept. 23, 1864.

Order a salute of 100 guns, shotted, at daylight to-morrow morning, in honor of Sheridan's second great victory.

(Same to General Butler.)

U. S. GRANT,
Lieut.-general.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

LIEUT.-GEN 'L U. S. GRANT:

Sept. 23, 1864.

I congratulate you and the country most heartily on the glorious news from Sheridan. I have ordered a salute of 100 shotted guns from Hancock's batteries, the centre of my line, at sunrise to-morrow.

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-general Comdg.

CHARACTERISTIC LETTERS.

Boys, there is good common sense in the following letters:

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,

GENERAL LORENZO THOMAS,

Harrisburg, Pa.:

July 8th, 1863.

Your dispatch of this morning to the Secretary of War is before me. The forces you speak of will be of no imaginable service if they cannot go forward with a little more expedition. Lee is now passing the Potomac faster than the forces you mention are passing Carlisle. Forces now beyond Carlisle to be joined by regiments still at Harrisburg, and the united force again to join Pierce somewhere, and the whole to move down the Cumberland Valley, will, in my unprofessional opinion, be quite as likely to capture the "man in the moon' as any part of Lee's army.

A. LINCOLN.