PUBLISHED EVERY Tl
Stir
NUMBER 841--NEW SE]
NORWALK GAZETTE.
OFFICE IN GAZETTE BUILDING.
— A. HBYINGTON & co.
A. B. BYINGTON, J. B. ELLs, G. N. ELLs.
Advertising Rates. ‘
one insertion,
two insertions,
three insertions,
“ one month, ‘
‘- two months, . '
“ “"99 31.1.9391“). . '
” si‘x months, ,
-‘ one year—with paper
Two Sgsres, one year—with paper,
Sacha ,ltionual Sguare, .per year,
“shalt-salssissoae year. -
On’d—Qolhmii; one" year, j - . ,
mun " 7‘ 100 words,'makeasquare. Fraction-7..
I1 one of a square charged for as a whole. : , -.
I .. ,ertzsemonts payable 1st of January daluly.
Y _ gr; ,aers 'restrictfe'd to the business-contem-
‘ 'at“ hc'tlme of contract. ' ' '
5: These terms will be inflexibly adhered to._a
Q
o
a
.U‘I'NHHHH
One Square,
SQSSSS'SSESR
33098
t:
ifiiiusss omscroav
I
NV
-\_ "V\.'\"~’\- ‘.~\‘ a “JV \aNmN
Nor-walk Post Office.
MAILS CLOSE.
West 7.50 A. M.-_—2.80 P. M.
East 8.80 A. Mir—5.00 RIM.
Danbury & Norwalk Railroad 8.50 A. M.
Weston,- Bedding- and Bedding Ridge, Tues-
days, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 12 M.
ms DUE.
West 9.10 A. M.——6.CC P. M.
East 8.20 A. Mir—3.30 P. M.
Danbury'& Norwalk Railroad 8.00 A. M.
.Pos'r OFFICE nouns.
From too A. M. to 8.00 P. M.
» » Cmnns OLMSTEAD, r. n.
D. PRITCHAR D, M. D.,
rhYaIcian and Surgeon, .
Residence next door to Ruggles’ Store,
MAIN STREET,~ "
SOUTH NORWALK, CONN.
'N e w
HARDWARE 8:. PAINT STORE,
leaiu Street,
Opposite I. H. Cdmpell’s Confectionery,
unavnv a raowrrr,
Wholesale and retail Dealers in Hardware,
Cutlery, Paints, Oils, Glass, Paper Hang-
ings, Window Shades, &c.
JAMES G. HARBOUR,
SURGICAL AND MECHANICAL
'D E N '1' I S '1' .
Teeth extracted without pain by the use
Of Nitrous Oxide or Laughing Gas.
Office at Residence, East Avenue, Norwalk,
Connecticut.
- Architecture. .
SIDNEY M. STONE,
ARCHITECT,
Will furnish Plans, Specifications, Detail
Drawings, and superintend the erection of
public and private buildings. Ofilce in Mar-
ble Block, Chapel-st, New Haven, Ct. tf52
.130. F. BELDEN, Norwalk, Conn.,Man-
LT ufacturer of Tin, Copper, and Sheet
Iron Ware; and dealer in toves, Ranges,
Furn Cutlery, Brittannia, Wooden and
Willow, are, Crockery; and a full assort-
ment (of House Keeping articles generally.
0., s. Locnwoon,
Fashionable Draper & Tailor,
and
.GENTLEMEN’S FURNISHING
'fiMPonmum :
Main-st, Norwalk, Conn.
:13. 3. Oman” a co.,
Wholesale and Retail Dealers in
Groceries, Flour, Peed, he,
14 and 16 Main-st, Norwalk, Conn.
ETNA INSURANCE COMPANY,
0f Hartford.
Incorporated in 1819, Charter Perpetual.-
cashCapital $1,500,000
Insure against loss and damage by Fire
"on Terms adapted to the hazard,and
consistent with the laws of
compensation.
GEORGE R. COWLES, Sole Agent
lv8 For Norwalk and vicinity.
DENTAL cm.
N impression having gone abroad that
‘ the undersigned has relinquished his
profession, this is to inform his friends and
the public that he still continues the practice
of his profession of his oll stand, foot of
«i Main-st, N orwalk, where he will be happy
to tender them his best services. In case of
temporary absence,n skillful assistant will be
found in attendance at the Office, ready and
willing to serve all that may call.
‘ A ILL, D. D. S.
_ ‘ o
'7 A. racnsonr a 330.
No. l Gazette Building.
‘NI-OULD respectfully announce to the
public and their old customers, that
the have recently made extensive additions
to their stock of goods. We are now prepar-
ed to offer an assortment not to be surpassed
in It airfield County, in quality or price. We
would call particular attention to our stock of
Watches, which is larger than ever before.—
We have a fine lot of Ladies’ Swiss Watches,
in gold cases, at prices varying from $20 to
$75, which we, can recommend as being cor-
recttime keepers. Also, Gentlemen’s Watch.
es, in silver and gold cases, at any price from
$5 to $.00. We buy of the best importers in
.New York, and altogether for cash, so that
our facilities for selling cheap could not be
reater. Our stock of Jewelry, Silver and
I'lateu Wares was never better than at pres-
ent. and comprises all of the latest styles that
are manufactured. A. JACKSON & BRO.
ran SALE.
THE Real Estate formerly owned by
WILLIAM SEYMOUR, deceased, situated
in this town, on White Oak Shade Street,
about4 miles from Norwalk or Darien, to
.thz—one . .
'I-arse new Dwelling House,
_ with out-buildings and 12 or 14 acres of very
superior Land, W811 adapted to Gardening
purposes? Also a Small House with two
acres of land attached—and 4 acres of land
situated in or near “ Hanford’s Swamp,” so
called. -. _ ,
The property will be sold all together or
' din. separate parcels as may suit purchasers,
and on accommodating terms; two thirds of
--_. the purchase money can remain secured on
. the premises for a term of years, if desired.
, . For further particulars appxlry to
’ S.
. New Canaan, Feb 10th, 186?;
ST.JOHN.
tf’l
Allow turner for kerosene
.' 1‘0 use'withoul a chimney, and will litany
Fluid Lamp; it makes a ood substitute
for Fluid. Price. of burner on 20 cents.
. , C.&E.K.LOCKWUOD&CO.
GAZET
h!
2:1 to good gum and gamers, (annual gutrlligwrr, groom, gunfire, glgtimlturc, fictitious. titan-Established in tam).
1 improved, is now open for the reception
of permanent or transient boarders, and will
be kept as afirst class Hotel. This Hotel is
very pleasantly situated in one of the most
beautiful towns on Long Island Sound, and
is especially attractive for Summer Board-
ers.
' The Proprietor would assure the public,
that it will be his constant endeavor to
keep his house in such a style, as will ensure
satisfaction to all.
NEW FURNISHING STORE,
NEAR UPPER END OF MAIN ST.
East Side of the Bridge.
HAVE at my Store in N orwalk the largest
assortment of
Household Furniture
in this county,~consistin of Bureaus of all
kinds, Lounges, Sofas, ete-a-Tetes, Card
Tables, Marble top pier Tables and Center
Tables, Wash Stands,
EXTENSION TABLES,
ammo and ROCKERS of all kinds,
looking Glasses,
Picture Frames, and everything else in the
Furniture line cheap for Cash.
Repairing,
done promptly and by experienced workmen.
Undertaking,
I have on hand a large assortment of
COFFINS, of the best materials, and will
furnish shrouds, carriages, hearse, and every-
thing necessary for the burial of the dead,
cheaper than can be obtained elsewhere. I
have as good a Hearse as there is in the
county; and will attend Funerals in neigh-
boring towns, without extra charge.
ELBERT RAYMOND.
Norwalk, Sept. lst, 1863. 44
NORWAIJK
Steam Sawing and Plaining
M I In I. .
THE subscriber has fitted up and is now
prepared to execute all orders for Pla-
ning); Scroll and other Sawing; manufacture
of oors, Sash, Blinds,&c., &c., in the best
and most expeditious manner, and at satis-
factory prices. Orders by mail prompt] at-
tended to. 1y17 TIMOTHY B. FITC .
E. onus-ram: a sons,
CABINET MAKERS, &c,
ARE now prepared to offer to the public
the largest and best assortment of
Good Furniture,
comprising every article usually kept in a
Furniture Store, evcr oflcred in Norwalk,
which will be sold
AT THE VERY LOWEST PRICES.
Our customers and the public generally who
want anything we keep, will find it to their
interest to give us a call. Spring Mattresses
of 3 6r 4 different kinds, very cheap. Hair
Mattresses, made to order, and old ones made
over as good as new.
UN DERTAKING,
We keep on hand a very large assortment of
Collins of every description, furnish shrouds,
scarfs, carriages, and everything necessary
for the interment of the dead, and at very
low prices. We are just completing another
splendid Hearse, which will ., give us two
Hearses equal to any in the State, which we
shalluse whenever our services are required,
without extra chaage.
E. QUINTARD do SONS.
N orwalk, March 15th 1862.
Wheeler 'a‘Wilson’s = '
C 0 3 N E '1' 3 A N D ,
Bridgeport, Conn.
ARE prepared to furnish first-class MUSIC
for Military, Fireman’s and Civic Pa-
rades, Concerts, Promenade‘s, Pie N ics, doc.
Orders addressed to F. J. THOMAS, Leader
or J. E. MORRIS, Scab], will meet with
prompt attention. 22
N. B.—-Address Letters, care Wheeler do
Wilson M. F. G. Co.,East Bridgeport, Ct.
srovssmmrsasmmoss,
VER FORTY VARIETIES and sizes of
Cooking Stoves and Ranges; over thir-
ty varieties and sizes of Parlor and Ofllce
Stoves, not excelled in beauty of design, per-
fection of operation, or variet ,by any Stove
in the State. Manufactures in, Sheet, Iron
and Copper Wares, deals in J appan, Brittan-
ia, Crockery, Wooden, and Silver Plated
Wares, Stove Blocking, Coal Hods, Shovels
and Riddles, Brass Kettles, Sausa e Cutters,
Matts, Brooms, Bells, Fire Place rates, Sad
Irons, Sheet Lead, Lead Pipe, Fruit Jars,
Fluid and Coal Oil Lamps, Stove Castings,
in fact, all that constitutes a well filled Kitch-
en Furnishing Store. Books, describing prin
ciple and management of Stove, free. Lar
gest assortment of Pumps in the State. Call
at F H. NASH’S,
1v4
South Norwalk, Ct.
Hammer’s Champagne Ale.
THE attention of the public is solicited to
the'superior quality of
H A M M E it ’ S
Fresh Brewed Champagne Ale.
This Ale is brewed fresh at all Seasons of the
year, and its keeping quality, especially of
that brewed during the most excessive hot
weather, is guaranteed for any length oftime.
For sale in Barrels and half-Barrels, at
Selleck’s Packet Office,'Norwalk.
JEHIEL GRUMMAN,
Agent for the sale of Hammer’s Champagne
Ale, Wilton, Conn. 2
Notice.
THE Subscriber has the pleasure of inform-
ing the public that he has purchased the
interest of Ebenezer Crissey in the Boot and
Shoe Business lately carried on at the Store
corner of all and Water Street, where he
will continue the business. He trusts that
the liberal patronage given to this Store
while under his control as partner and man-
ager, will be continued to him as proprietor.
9 J. N. LOCKWOOD.
GashlS-ystem adopted for
Photographs 8:. Cartcs de Visits
AT WHITNEY & BECKWITH’S.
IN consequence of the great rise in chem-
icals, metals, and paper, used In our bilSl-
neSs, that can only be bought_ for cash, we
had either to increase our prices, or adopt
the Cash system. We choose the latter, as it
will alike benefit the customer and suit us.
Hereafter, when a proof is accepted, the
order for prints must be accompanied With
the CASH. -
WHITNEY & BECK WITH.
Norwalk, Conn, June 15.
WM. T. BARNUM,
‘0'. 3. War Claim Agent,
Will prom tly collect Bounty Money,
Back Pay, ensions for Disabled, Dis-
.charged Soldiers, Widows and Children,
Mothers and Sisters, and all other Claims
against Government. Ofllce opposite Con-
cert Hall. All business letters promptly
answered. -
Danbury, Conn.
VERY BODY wants the .Tax Pay-
er’s Manual, containing all the
items of Taxation, the mode of proceeding,
and the dutiesof the 01! at OK’S.
1y86
r.
A. H. BYINGTON & 00., '
AT TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM, IN AD VANCE.
:
VOLUMEII XLV--N UMBER 8.
N ORWALK, CONN ., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23. 1864.
a
i, Norwalk. ~
llllllllllll L'lllll'lll,
nonwann CONN,
Chartered Capital, $500. 000
Paid up Capital, $100,000
WM. 0. STREET, President.
GEO. R. Coma, Secretary.
Eran. HILL, Treasurer.
Norwalkyd an 1st. 1864
INSURANOI.
HE subscriber havin taken the agency
of the New England 're and Marine In-
surance 00. of Hartford, is pre ared to insure
all kinds of property against ass or damage
by fire on as accommodating terms as any
other Company.
The New England Fire and Marine Insu-
rance Company has been recent] established
1!
with a pai in capital of $200, and has a
surplus of $6,295.00.
JOSEPH W. HUBBELL,
Agent for N orwalk and vicinity.
N orwalk, Feb. 1st, 1861. tf5
Nor-walk
0LASSIOA|_.__INSTITUTE.
REV. R. BAYARD SNOWDEN,A. M.,
Instructor.
HIS DAY SCHOOL, located next
door to the Bank of Norwalk, has
been put upon a firm basis by the confidence
and support of the public. Instruction is
imparted in the Latin and Greek Classics,
French, Mathematics, and English Studies.
An important feature is the teaching of the
Spencerian System of Penmanship under
the careful supervision of an experienced
Chirographist. Lectures will be occasionally
given on History, English. Literature, and
kindred subjects. Terms $11.00 and $8.00
per quarter of eleven weeks. Students may
enter at any time and be charged from time
of admission. tf‘l
New Meat Market.
THE Subscriber would respectfully inform
the public that he has bought out the
MARKET late] kept by Mr. James Byxbee
in SKIDD Y’S LOOK Main Street, and in-
tends keepin constantly on hand the choi-
cest of Beef, ork, Mutton, Poultry, &c., drc.
Having had long experience in the business
he is confident of his ability to please. A
share of the public patronage is res ectfully
solicited. JULIUS F. PART ICK.
Norwalk, Sept. 21st, 1863. 38
NOTICI.
HE Subscriber having purchased the
Hardware business, formerly conducted
by Edwin V. A. Chichester, hopes by fair
dealing, and close attention to business, to
retain all the customers of the old stand, and
add many new ones.
.THEODORE FITCH.
——
A CARD.
HE subscriber takes this ' method of
thanking his friends for their good will,
during the past ten years. At the same time
requesting them, and the public, to extend
their patronage to his successor, Mr. Theo-
dore itch.
» EDWIN V. A. CHICHESTER.
Norwalk, Dec. 15th, 1863.
Business Change l
51
WATERBURY 8:. DUNCAN,
OULD announce to the public that
they have purchased the Carriage Ma-
king Business formerly conducted by Mr.
Edson Beers, and connected it with their
Blacksmith Shop, making one complete es-
tablishment. They are now prepared to exe-
cute in the best manner, and with reater
dispatch than ever before, anything to the
line of
Carnage Makmg and Blacksmith-
mg.
Carriages made to order, and Painting,
Trimming, Repairing, &c., done by experi-
enced workmen, with dispatch.
@Good Carriage timber taken in ex-
change for work.
Norwalk, Nov. 23d, ’63. Ml?
'\
Grocery Store l
East side of ' Main Street.
The subscriber having moved from his
old stand at Winnipauk, and taken the Store
formerly occupied by C. S. Lockwood, in
Main Street, has replenished the same with a
New GI. I‘resh Assortment of
' GROCERIES.
\
Which he will sell on as reasonable terms as
can be obtained elsewhere.
A share of the public patronage is respect-
fully solicited.
J. C. RANDLE.
Norwalk, April 10, 1863= 1y15
3 II M O V A I. .
fl
ONthe 1st of January 1864, the subscri-
ber will remove his Blacksmithing es-
tablishment from the old stand near the
foot of Mill Hill to the new Brick Building
of the
NOB WALK HORSE BAIL WAY 00.
Thankful for past favors, he confidently ex-
pects, by prompt personal attention to the
wants of the community, a continuance of
the public patronage.
JAMES D. SHEA
Norwalk, Dec. 2lst. 1863. ' an
MILHNERY.
M I S S P I L G R I M
Has Removed
to the new Store between the Bank of Nor-
walk and the Danbury B. R. Depot it:
The Reception of Veterans.
As promised in our last, we this week
publish the substance of DE. A. HILL’S ad-
dress Of welcome, and the speech delivered
by Ray. ALFRED N. GILBERT, of Danbury,
at the grand reception of re-enlisted Veter-
ans, at Lockwood’s Hall, Friday evening,
Feb. 12th.
Address of Welcome.
We want machinery for writing History.
The “Pen of the ready writer,” will scarcely
do. We are making history so fast thata
thousand penswill not suflice to record its
merest outlines, much less to gather up its
countless details and round it out to its full-
est proportions.
Less than three years ago the tocsin of
War was sounded in the ears of the Ameri-
can people, for the first time, as pertaining
to the present strife. But who can contem-
plate the sublime march of events since that
time, without astonishment. Then all was
alarm and confusion. The Nation called to
arms. The people were flocking to her stab»
dards. The integrity of the national life
was hanging in fearful suspense. The dark
pal] of doubt and uncertainty was falling
heavily upon the public mind. A Govern-
ment—an'Army and Navy Were to be crea-
ted. Questions of great delicacy were to be
handled and determined.
The stirring notes of martial music rung
out upon the air—gallant hands seized the
sword and musket and dashed forward to
meet the foe. The Capitol was saved—the
Government was saved. The national life,
and what is more, and better still, the na-
tional honor and integrity were saved.
And to-night, although this frightful war
still drags its slow length along, its terrible
proportions are ,‘greatly diminished, and the
issue, thank God, is no longer doubtful. It
is now simply a question of time. Confesa-
edly, this infernal rebellion has received its
death wound.
Soldiers, you, who, after weary marches
and painful watchings, have been so often
summoned from your hasty bivouac's by
the well known signal of “long-roll,” are
tO-night summoned together by the cordial
invitations of your friends and fellow-citi-
zens, to receive their warmest welcome and
affectionate greetings. Amid the delights of
home and friends, with the bright eyes of
wives, mothers, sisters and brothcrabeaming
joyously upon you, you are summoned to
this Hall to receive the congratulations of
our people, and the evidence of their high
appreciation of your heroic services. And
Iam charged with the delightful duty of
tendering to you, on this occasion on their
behalf, their most sincere and cordial we]-
come.
And before I conclude these remarks, I
beg the privilege of saying to you, that we
have followed you in all your wanderings,
from the period of your leaving us until
your return, with a noble pride—with af-
fectionate solicitude and with earnest prayers
for your preservation and welfare.
Let me. speak to you with more particu-
larity. I see before me to-night the repre-
sentatives of the old 5th, that glorious old
Regiment whose name and services are
deeply graven upon the hearts of our citi-
zens. We follow them from Hartford un-
der the leadership of the gallant Col. Ferry,
to Sandy Hook and Harper’s Ferry.—
Wc see them marching and countermarching
through the far-famed valley of the Shenan.
doah,'foot-sore and weary, yet always brave
and faithful. They reach Edward’s Ferry
just in time to send one boat load across the
River, when they are ordered to withdraw,
just in time to escape the carnage for which-
Ball’s Bluff will be famous in history. We
next find them at “Muddy Branch” and the
battle of Winchester. At “Columbia Fur-
nace,” Co. E. (of which the gallant Chinery
is now Captain) take sixty prisoners of
Ashley’s Cavalry.
We find them in the second battle of
Winchester and mark them as they fight
their way in the masterly retreat of Gen.
Banks. Losing seven of their cOmrades, they
retreat, marching forty-seven miles in one
day. Aug. 9th, 1862, we find them bravely
fighting in the battle of Slaughter Mountain.
Here one hundred and seventy of their
number are left dead upon the field. Lo-
sing fourteen line officers and among them
the heroic Lieut.‘ Col. Stone, who was se-
verely wounded and subsequently died a
prisoner in the hands of the rebels. In
this battle the accomplished and lamented
Maj. Blake, with his brother officer Adjt.
Dutton, were slain. Capt. Chapman and
Capt. Packer Were wounded, and here
bravely holding aloft his country’s banner,
fell heroic Sergeant Jones of this place.—
Here too, from Co. E, fell Corp. Brady and
private Owen Murphy. Herc Sargt. Wm.
A. Ambler was wounded and taken a pris-
oner to Richmond. But after suffering the
horrors of incarceration in the Libby Pris-
on was subsequently exchangcd and is here
to receive the congratulations of his com-
‘ rades. Again we find them in the sangui-
nary conflicts'of Rope’s memorable cam‘
paign. In the battle of Chancellorville they
lost a large number of their comrades.—
Pausing a little at Stafford C. H. they next
move to Gettysburg and mingle their blood
with the thousands who have forever con-
secrated that spot to freedom and to history.
We next track them from Raccoon Ford
to Tennessee. Riding eight days and nights
in box cars, without a chance for rest or
sleep, they halt at Stephenson, Ala.
They started from Hartford, Ct, with
1040, recruited up to 1150, rank and file.
-They come back with 319, all told. And it
is a singular circumstance that the only ofll-
cer that went out with his company and re-
turned to Hartford with them was Capt.
Chinery of Co. E.
Here, too, I see before me, the represen-
tatives of the 7th Ct. We trace the history
of the 7th from New Haven to Washington,
from thence in the Sherman Expedition to
Port Royal, under Col. Terry, now Brig.
Gen. On their way they encountered a
tremendous Gale and came well nigh get-
ting shipwrecked. They landed at Hilton
Head and were the first to take possession
after the terrible bombardment of that fa-
mous place by Dupont’s Fleet. They were
at the bombardment of Fort Pulaski, and
were the first in the Fort.
We next find them in that terrible and
disastrous fight on James Island, under Gen.
Benham. Here the gallant Lieut. Hooton
from this town, received his death wound
and died, asplendid martyr toliberty. At
the battle of Pocataligo they bravely strut,
gled with the minions of Jefl’s confedera‘cy
and nobly vindicated their claim to our af-
fectionate consideration. Subsequently we
trace them to the coast of Florida and from
thence-to Morris Island, near Chmlestena-
And at the storming of batteries _Wagner
and Gregg, where amid the ,flaming of
bombs, :the screaming of shells and all oth-
er kinds “death-dealing missels, Co’s. :A.-,B_.
K. and] I. of the noble 7th march , -nob_ly._up
.to do and die for their country. About one
hundred men of this gallantRegt... were.
swept away-in this dreadful tempest? of war
and. death. And here stood these braves
uponthe shattered ramparts Of Wagner,
amidst this frightful storm Of leaden hail,
tones-themselves cowardly deserted by their
brethren who ware expected to come to
their support.
The curse and the tear of history will be
sure to follow the details of this unequal yet
most heroic struggle. Among the number
constituting that brave band was the mod-
est, gentle-hearted James Gregory, of this
town, whose friends and kindred grace this
occasion with their presence.
Here, too, are a portion of the gallant 8th.
We can hey-gr forget with what deep solici-
tude we followed the Burnside Expedition
to North Carolina, in which the gallant 8th
were to constitute a part. We trembled
with fearful anxiety to know the results of
that dreadful gale, encountered off the shoals
of Cape Hatteras. We almost worshiped
the superhuman energy with which Burn-
side wrestled with the opposing elements,
and we rejoiced with all true hearts when
we learned of the safety of the fleet in Pam-
lico Sound. Then came the battle Of Roan-
oke Island, and the thrilling notes of victory.
The nation waselectrified by the news,'and
Burnside was the hero of the hour.
But there were present in that strife ob-
jects of special interest to the citizens of
Norwalk and vicinity. The gallant and la-
mented FOWLER led a band of Norwalk
' braves (and subsequently fell at the battle of
Getteysburg, July 2, 1863). And many an
anxious'heart was throbbing to learn the
fate of their dear ones in this brilliant con-
test. Soon we heard the army was en route
for Newborn, and we almost suspended our
breathings to hear the result. The tidings
came; they were glorious; Newborn was
captured, and the hearts of our people were
made glad indeed. Next came the bombard-
ment of Fort Macon, where the gallant 8th
were again heard from, Following these
came the renowned battle of Antietam, and
the battle of South Mountain; Fredericks-
burg, the siege of Suffolk, and the capture
of Fort Hugo, on the Nansemond; Corp.
Stephen H. Ferris died at Roanoke Island.
Such is the simplest outline of the glori-
ous 8th Connecticut Volunteers. We greet
you with pleasure here tO-night, and ex-
claim, Well done] Bear aloft your flag,
with Roanoke, Newborn, Fort Mabon, An-
tietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg and
Fort Hugo upon its folds. Soldiers Of the
5th, 7th and 8th, who have won the proud
distinction of “Veterans ” in the service of
your country, and who have so bravely
borne aloft the old flag on many a hard
fought field, I greet you on this occasion
with. the most unfeigned pleasure; and, on
behalf of your fellow-citizens, I bid‘ you
welcome to our homes, our hearts, and the
festivities 0] this occasion.
Rev. ALFRED N. GILEEaT, of Danbury,
having been invited to address the meeting,
delivered an earnest and most eloquent
speech which we give below. Mr. Gilbert
is a Southerner, and was living in Ken-
tucky at the time the war broke out. By his
own confession, he was aprO-slavery man,
buton account of his devotion to the Union,
was obliged to leave his pastorate and take
refuge in the north. He has been settled in
Danbury about two years, but by the urgent
request of his former friends he has re-
turned to address the people of that State
on the great questions of the day. '
Mr. Gilbert’s Address.
Life is made up of varying and many
times conflicting scenes, and our heart
experience minglesf within the compass
of a moment, emotions the most dissimi-
lar. .Such is my experience to-night.—
I am glad, truly, heartily glad, to see
this audience, to look in the faces of these
brave soldiers, remembering who and
what they are. I am glad to see you,
defenders of my country, because you
have been to the front ; because you have
faced rebel shot and looked into rebel
eyes,‘aud told to rebel ears and hearts,
by many a stentorian shout, that New
England produced something besides
workmen and traders; that those who,
amid her hills, talked about liberty, were
as ready to maintain liberty, though it
should be at the expense of, all they held
dear, and the surrender of life itself. I
am glad to see anybody who has been to
the front, and we are glad to see you.’
I am doubly glad to see you, because
you have been to the front and are spar—
ed to return ; because it is your privilege
to see, in such gatherings as these, the
deep sympathy we who stay at home feel
for you. We are not all under arms, we
do not all literally and physically fight
battles; and yet, in one sense of the
word, the loyal people of the entire North
are , in the field. We follow and watch
you in those days of fearful suspense that
precede the opening of a great. battle,
more anxiously than you care for your-
selves ; and when, bcrne to our cars by
the telegraph, come the reports of the
dread artillery, and the rush and conflict
of serried hosts, the ebb and flow of bat-
tle is not more painful and anxious than
the ebb and flow of the great beating
heart of the people of the North. And
when your work-is done and the enemy
defeated, the wildest cheer that went up
from the ranks in the field was but faint,
compared with the thrill of exultation
that went rippling from heart to heart,
growing and deepening till it becamea
very ocean-swell of triumph, rolling up-
wards to the great throne of the Eternal,
and thanking Him for the manhood mar-
dialed in defence of the right.
this is an unholy war.
Yes, I am glad that you have come
back, that we maytell you allthis ; that
we may tell you how we have watched
you amid the die and smoke of battle,
and amid the grease of the wounded, in
the humiliation of unavoidable defeat and
the flush of proudly earned victory ; how
we have pointed to you with glowing
pride and exclaimed, “ weltace a coun-
-try, and boys who are worthy of it.” I
am doubly glad that such is your and our
privilege to-nigbt. ; , j .
' But lam not only singly and doubly,
but trebly glad to see you tonight. This
is a festival in honor of ’reenlisted men,—
What does that mean? What are re-
enlisted men? They are men who, hav-
ing been to the front, are not afraid to
go again. They are men who, having
been close up to this rebellion and smell-
ed its noisome breath, are determined to
prevent a pestilence by destroying it out-
right. They are men‘ who, having con-
tracted to give one life to the country,
and almost given it (for three years of
active soldier’s work is a life), have con-
tracted to give another. They are men
who are determined to see this rebellion
to its death-bed, and dance at the funer-
al. They are men, in short (and I speak
from the heart), to whom we owe a debt
of gratitude we shall never be able to
pay. I am, therefore, singly glad, be-
cause you have been to the front ; doubly
glad that you have been spared to come
back; trebly glad that you are going
back again, and, as I firmly believe, to
certain victory.
And yet, with it all, I am sorry to—
night. Frankly, I don’t like your trade.
I don’t like the idea of butchering men.
Bloodshed is abhorrent to my nature.
It is terrible to kill and be killed. Ter-
rible to assume the prerogative of Deity
in taking life, when we do not possess the
prerogative of giving it. I am sad in
the thought that so many of my country-
men (and I mean my countrymen both
North and South) must bleed in the next
few months. I can but remember that
many who went forth with you return no
more. They lie here, there, everywhere.
Their cheerful voices silent, their gleam-
ing eyes lusterless, corruption efl'aciog
every trace of the features we once loved.
They are'gone; and weeping hearts in
every city, and town, and village, and all
through the Open country, mourn the
forms they shall never see again. I am
sad for the desolate homes all over the
land, in the North and in the South. I
am sad in the thought that a necessity
exists that calls for this reenlistment,
and'in the thought that we may have
other names of fallen brave ones to reg
later on the tablet of our hearts.
This is February, 1864 We have
been almost three years at war. We,
who thought war an impossibility; we,
who wondered, as we saw other nations
madly sacrificing myriad lives, why they
did thus; we, who‘ had, so imbibed the
spirit and studied and practiced the arts
of peace, that when war first cameopon
us we stood like one who in the night
has seen a horrible vision ; we, for three
years, have been waging the most gigan-
tic war of modern times, and, most won-
derful of all, waging it against each
other.
What does it mean? Is it some horri-
ble nightmare? Are we asleep? Shall
we Wake and find it all a fearful dream?
Alas i it is not a dream. It is a fearful
reality. There is war in the land, bitter,
bloody, uncompromising war, Death is
gathering great harvests of, lives, and
tears are shed like torrents of agony.—
Men’s forms are cut and gushed and
bruised, and crushed out of all semblance
of humanity, and women’s hearts are
torn with ruthless hands, to glut the fe—
rocity of red war. Homesteads blaze,
and fertile farms are trampled and beaten
under the feet of contending hosts. The
grey-haired sire of eighty reac es out in
vain for the manly shoulder on which he
was wont to lean, and the tearful wife
and mother bushes with choked voice the
little ones, who say, “father, father,” but
will never say it again in father’s ears.
And so there are some who tell us that
Yes, it is an un—
holy war on one side. Every war is
unholy on one side or the other. Those
were unholy hands that plotted treason
in the midnight conclaves of the last ten
years; those were unholy fingers that
robbed the national treasury ; that was
an unholy tongue and pen that, sworn to
uphold the government, labored to de-
stroy its credit in the money markets of
New York; those were unholy hands
that tore down Sumter’s proud flag;
those were unholy arms that reached
forth 'to clasp the pillars of the national
edifice, and bar] it into irretrieva'ble ruin ;
those were unholy wretches who, without
one charge to bring against the govern-
ment of the United States, with no re-
membrance'but that of favors received at
‘aer hands, stirred up the people of the
South to deadly insurrection, and with
their armed forces confronting us on
every field. Yes, it is an unholy war on
the part of the South; 3 war which, if
successful on their side, would blot out
the beacon-light of the nations, would
move the bands upon the dial-plate of
human progress back two hundred years,
and cause the Genius of Liberty to spread
her snOWy. piniona and flee to some other
sphere. where freedom was set a mock-
ery, and freemen were not despots. The,
echoes Of Southern shouts of, success,
should they be triumphant in the ulti-
mate of this war, will be the hoarse cries
of excitation of the monarchies and aris-
tocracies Of the Old World, the agonized
screams of despair of the masses, and
the ringing cloak of fetters newly forged
and firmly fastened on their very souls.
And new we arrive at the meat won-
derful of all the wondrous things of this
nineteenth century of ours. It is the,
fact that six millions of the people of this'
country are directly or indirectly engaged:
in the forcible advocacy of such a cause:
as this ; that six millions Americans have"
pledged life, fortune, honor, to a cause
whose only advocates are tyrants and
their myrmidons on one side the water,
and truckling, unprincipled demagognes,
or poor idiots without brains to compre-
hend a principle or understand a truth,
on this side, in the North.
Is this not passing strange? Is it not
pitifully strange ? The gathered light of
the noble deeds of the Revolution irradi-
ated Southern heads as truly as our own.
They had their Washington, their J effer-
son, their Jackson. They had their sa-
cred spots, where reposed the bones of
dead heroes and patriots, and where the
air was rich and fragrant with the mem-
ory of precious deeds. Side by side, at
the foot of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, are the names of Northern and of
Southern men, names that are household
treasures all over the Union. The same
blood runs in their veins as in ours. The
same language is taught to their infancy
as to ours. The same institutions, with
one horrible exception, model their views
as ours. We are linked and interlinked
by marriage and consanguinity, and yet
we are engaged in bloody, unsparing
war, and they are arrayed on their part
in a cause which is the execratioa of the
angels and the pride of demons.
Why is this? I will tell you, fellow.
citizens. They are mad; as truly and
literally mad as ever lunatic in your asy-
lum. They have drank from a cup of
poison mixed by Satan, compounded of
all that could inflame the blood, and rot
the tissues, and corrupt the principles,
and outrage the decencies of national
life ; a cup under whose deadly influence
men call evil good, and call good evil ;
call falsehood truth, and injustice justice,
and grinding tyranny free institutions.—
A false idol has been set up, not carved
of wood or stone, but a living, breathing,
fearful monster, with the head of a man,
with the body of a serpent, with the ex-
tremeties of the most loathsome of
brules, and a noisome breath of pesti-
lence that made a very desolation of
beauty and truth where’er destroying
winds'have carried it. . On the altar that
flames before it, manhood has crackled
aud honor aud justice and lrulh been
burned.
We stood and looked upon. the wor-
shipers, filled with fear at their mad or-
gies. They demanded that we, loo,
should contribute to the costly firs upon
its altar, and we did so. They asked for
territory, and we gave it. They asked
for a part of our honor, and we gave it.
They asked for our sense of justice, and
we game it ; and, as we gave and gazed,
the mad scene of worship grew wilder
and wilder. At length they demanded
that we, too, should worship; that we
shOuldbow down before their false deity,
and degrade ourselves by homage; that
we should make our children pass through
the fire to Moloch ; and we would not,
and we will not.
Then with frenzied bands they seized
upon the pillars of the stately Temple of
Liberty, in which we worship the God of
our fathers, the God of the free, and
swore they would burn it upon the altar
of their idol if we would not worship.—
And when, in the majesty of our man-
hood, we said we would not do it, and
said if they tore down our grand old
temple and rent our star-gemmed. flag it
must be only when we slumbered in a
bloody death, they accepted the gage,
and the war is upon us.
And such is its character ; a war be-
tween madmen and sane men; a war
that could never been inaugurated upon
the soil of our country but for the exist-
ence of slavery upon its soil There was
no question in all the universe of earth
or Heaven, or hell itself, that could have
marshaled in deadly opposing array the
armies upon which We now gaze, but that
of slavery. Some say it was personal
ambition. There was as much personal
ambition North as South ; but it would
have been as impossible for that ambition
to use the masses of the North to carry
out its purposes, as for Archimedes to
find the pea sto from which he should
move the globe. There were men in the
North who expressed as deadly hatred
to the Union as any in the South, but
where were the followars and what would
have been the proportions of any war
they might have inaugurated ? It would
have been a ridiculous failure. Thirty
years ago another question was used as a_
lever upon the ‘cxcitable Southern mind,
used by skilfnl and reckless hands; and
what was its result ? An emote in South
Carolina, that could be'digoified by no
higher name, and was utterly suppressed
by an intense Southern man.
He argues against the facts of history
who assumes that any can» but slavery
{allowable institution (new ;-
did or could induce the Southern III.
to espouse this war, and wage it wltbtbo
desperation and ferocity that amass:
exhibited. Some will tell us that slut]
could never have produced the war fillet
abolitionism was the cause, and shell“-
istv the responsible agents in its produc—
tion. It is just as’ if a man should-atoll
us that the cause of a madma‘n’a'cuh‘l-
ment in the asylum was not his no“,
but the violence of those who In“
him. There could be, no abolitldnlltlifl
there Were no sldvery ; and while in!!!
or anything else exists which" I We“
be wicked and abominable, it is in] fight
as a freeman and an Anetic‘au'to cila-
cise and condemn it. The abolition“
did no more. And surely, if insulted
the right upon Northern free soil to-do-
fend and adulate and uphold slavery,
they had the equal right, upon that oath
soil, to decry slavery if they believed it
wrong. Once an abolitionist took arms;
he went upon Southern soil ; ho tooktllo
some means to extend and pom
freedom that the rebels in arms are tak-
ing to extend and perpetuate slavery ;
and he was hanged for his crime. W
the North rise and demand his release?
did they march an army to Charleston
and seize him? No l Recognising ”the
guarantees of the Constitution, they lift
him to his fate. ‘
Southern Presidents, one after soothe,
have occupied the Chair of State; II.
pledged by birth, by prejudice, and Italy
times by written promise, to be tumble
to the institutions of the South. '15.
North has never done more than criticise
them by tongue or pen. When the Ad-
ministration of James Buchanan was in
power, we knew that we were being I0".
body and soul, to the antocratl of the
South ; yet such was our traditional re-
spect for law and order, that we let the
infamous work go on, and never rolled I
hand against it. ‘ ,
By all the efi'orts that could be made
by those with radical views upon the
subject of slavery, all that could be ob-
tained from the Republican party of the
North was, that new soil should not be
polluted by the onward tread of slavery.
And yet the South rebelled ; not simply
the leaders, but the people, the ma“;
and, at a point Of time equi—distant bo-
tweeu the beginning of the rebellion old
the present moment were, as I firmly be-
lieve, almost a unit. I assert, than, as:
the people of the Confederacy are mad;
that they have drank from a hellish po-
tion, mixed for them by the hand of' Sac
tan, and‘contaiued in the pup they’coll
slat-erg ,- that the cop is still full, for Its
author renews the potion ; and that just
as truly as wounds and beating will never
cure the madman of his insanity, so hat-
ties without number, victory and blood-
shed, wlll not curethe Southern people
of the madness of rebellion, unless you
tear from their hands the cup from Which
they drink this madness.
I speak new, not as an anti~slavory
man, but as a friend to North and South.
and, above all, as a friend to the govern-
*nent l dearly love. And from that
point of view, without any reference to
the. moral aspects of slavery; without
any reference to its blighting influence
upon communities in which it is located;
without any reference to its outrages
upon the rights of men; wildest any
reference to these, but simply with Mf-
ence to the great truth that this country
ought and must be one; that this war,
once ended, ought never to be renewed
again; that we cannot aford to wage
another war, either North or Sell ;-
simply from that point of view I assert
that slavery must die. ’
I speak to you, not as Republicalk
only, but as Americans, as Whip, as
Democrats ; as representing every abode
of opiniOn ; as met: who love my «entry
as dearly as I do; as men whodeslro
her prosperity as ardently ; as men who
would risk as much or more for her solo.
vation. I ask you to look at this qgeo-
tion cal-1y. Suppose the war to havo
ended in the triumph of the battens!
arms; suppose the supremacy of the
Union to be reestablished ; suppose “all-
very to be reestablished with it. . What
then? You can never repress lulled.-
very agitation in the North without'vlo-
lating one of the fundamental rightao‘
Americans, free speech; and you go-
never prevent the echoes of these agita.
tions from being heard in the South;
and, being heard, you can never prov.“
them from agitating, exciting, outfit-
hops, infuriating the Southern mind M
heart. The same causes that produced
this rebellion will be in full operatig .to
produce another. In fifteen, perhapi'l‘l
ten years, when ten years of p _ ' > _
shall have dimmed the recollection‘ert'ie
sufl'eriog of the present, a new man
tinder will be ready laid for the in
ry spark of ambitious demagogueo,_'§§§
another rebellion be inaugurated, allot”:
harvest of desolation and ruin be gather-
ed by our Southern brethren, and It
hecatombs of Northern life, and mm
of Northern treasure be axpendédtdggs
repair the blunder of 1864 gangstaffi
Can we, can the South afl'or'd to go
through this experience periodically lb
Does not a broad and conprohaajlvowfi
manity demand that the fires of no“
ordeal shall destroy the drum tkat fl-
made it necessary? Make-lava] ‘aa
I.
v» ..
9y ,.‘,.-,
M
v
‘4.
“’5??- r- ~ .
Wists
.41]: av“
Norwalk Chronicler