I am commissioned by the citizens of this city to bid you a cordial welcome upon your return, and to tell you that Cleveland fully appreciates the value of your services and feels herself honored by your achievements. She feels that some portion of the glory which has fallen upon the noble men of the Cleveland Artillery rests also upon herself.
Whenever you have appeared the rebels have fled and have not dared to show their faces. The Cleveland and Geneva artillery were among the first to answer the call of the government to put down rebellion; and when it was sought to destroy the banner of our country, you, gentlemen of the artillery, rushed forth to the field to fight for its rescue, and you did not return from that field until you saw that beautiful banner floating from every Virginia hilltop.
We have not been ignorant of the trials through which you have passed, and we have admired the firmness with which you overcame all obstacles that presented themselves to you and incumbered your path, whether rugged mountains or rushing rivers, or hunger or fatigue.
We have heard of you at Philippi—and the rebels heard of you, too, and with even more lasting impressions. We have heard of you also at Laurel Hill and Carrick’s Ford. I am happy, too, that we have not heard of any violation of the rights of justice or of humanity on your part toward a conquered foe. This has shown that you are actuated by the same motives which have prompted our whole people. It is not the object of this contest to interfere with the institutions of any state, but it is our purpose to defend and preserve the banner, that not a star may be blotted out or a stripe defaced. It is to enforce laws to which we all owe our safety, our protection and our happiness, and I know I speak your sentiments when I say that whoever takes a part in this contest from other motives is unworthy the name of a patriot.
There is now being enacted a drama which is attracting the eyes of the whole civilized world, and I am proud to say that the members of this company have well played their part therein; and when the last scene is ended no name will more adorn the history of these events than that of the Cleveland Artillery; no achievements will rank higher than those in which its members, our own gallant soldiers, bore so conspicuous a part.
Under the circumstances Judge Starkweather may be pardoned for drawing a long bow, but candor compels the admission that when the boys came home the “beautiful banner” was not, strictly speaking, “floating from every Virginia hill-top.” There were still a few hill-tops left over which the star spangled flag was not floating, nor did it float till some years later.
At the close of the loud and prolonged applause which greeted the Judge’s address, showing how clearly the feelings of the people were in harmony with the sentiments he expressed. Colonel Barnett made the following brief reply:
Allow me, sir, on behalf of my command, as well as for myself, to thank you, and through you the citizens of Cleveland, for this greeting, which was wholly unexpected by us. I have no words to express the gratitude of our hearts toward our fellow citizens. We have the satisfaction of knowing that we have borne our banner in the van, and that we have endeavored to do our duty; and so we return to you with a consciousness that we are not entirely unworthy the confidence which we know you have placed in us.
There was loud cheering and plenty of it as Colonel Barnett bowed and retired, and the band struck up “The Bowld Soger Boy.” The exercises over, the companies were variously taken care of and the crowd slowly dispersed. A committee of German citizens took charge of Company E, Captain Heckman, and Company B, Captain Mack, and escorted them to Haltnorth’s, where they were filled up with refreshments, solid and liquid. The four other companies were escorted to the Weddell House, where a sumptuous dinner was served them in fine style. It made up in some degree for the many times during the previous three months when they had yearned unspeakably for a “square meal.”
Later in the day the members of Company C, Captain Pelton, were banqueted at their armory in Brooklyn Village, a committee of fifteen ladies doing the honors of the occasion. In the afternoon Company F, Captain Kenny, took a train to Geneva, where its members were right royally welcomed.