The official celebration in honor of the return of the volunteers took place on April 11th, when a parade was formed in the following order: Captain W. E. Perry, chief marshal, and staff; Beverly Cadet Band; John H. Chipman Post, 89, G. A. R.; John Low Camp, Sons of Veterans; Preston Post, 188, G. A. R; Charles Haddock Camp, Sons of Veterans; barouches containing disabled Civil War veterans and Mayor Webber and members of the city government; Lynn Brass Band; Company E, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Beverly fire department, apparatus and men; Bass River Lodge, I. O. O. F.; letter carriers; Excelsior Drum Corps; Golden Star Council, O. U. A. M.; Young Men's Catholic Temperance Society; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Bass River Court of Forresters; carriages containing members of Roger Conant Council, Royal Arcanum, and Beverly Lodge, Knights of Pythias; four-horse drag with members of Jubilee Yacht Club; carriages containing citizens.
After the parade, the members of the company enjoyed a New England boiled dinner at the armory, and in the evening attended exercises at the City Hall. Mayor Webber presided, speeches were made by representative citizens, and the school children sang patriotic songs.
On the evening of April 28th, the members of the company were tendered a banquet at City Hall, Mayor Webber making a speech of welcome and presiding the remainder of the evening, during which various prominent citizens responded to toasts. The galleries were filled with people, they having been thrown open to the public.
Company F, of Haverhill, arrived home rather unexpectedly at 8.15 P. M., but Mayor Chase was awake and the city was not caught napping. There was a good-sized crowd present at the depot, and it enlarged every minute, so that by the time the parade moved, the streets were filled with a shouting, cheering people. The parade formed as follows: Haverhill City Band; Major How Post, 47, G. A. R.; General Burnside Command, Veterans' Union; Provisional Company, State Militia; Eighth Regiment Drum Corps; Company F, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; carriages containing Mayor Chase and members of the city government.
It was 11.15 P. M. before the members of Company G returned once more to Gloucester. For several hours a crowd had awaited their coming at the depot, the military call on the fire alarm having notified the citizens that the company was on its way home. Although the hour was late, there was plenty of enthusiasm, and salutes were fired and red fire burned. A parade was formed, made up in the following order: Gloucester Band; Massachusetts Naval Brigade, mounted detachment of citizens; Colonel Allen Post 45, G. A. R.; Company G, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; delegations from the various fire companies; Wingaersheek Band; Wingaersheek Tribe of Red Men; Gloucester Council Knights of Columbus; Portuguese Acoriana Society; carriages containing prominent citizens.
On April 14th, the official celebration took place, when a big parade passed through the principal streets of the city, in the following order: Fitz E. Oaks, chief marshal, and staff; Gloucester Band; Company M, Massachusetts Naval Brigade; High School Cadet Battalion; Colonel Allen Post 45, G. A. R.; Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V. Band; Company G, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; members of the fire department; J. Franklin Dyer Camp, Sons of Veterans; Hutchinson's Military Band; Ocean Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Wingaersheek Tribe, Red Men; Fernwood Lodge, A. O. U. W.; Gloucester Council, Knights of Columbus; St. Angelo Council, Knights of Malta; Acoriana Beneficiary Society; carriages containing distinguished citizens; mounted men.
In the evening there was a big banquet, at which time Judge Taft presided and there were speeches by men in the public life of Gloucester, and men in military circles.
When Company H, of Salem, reached home, it found thousands of people awaiting its return. The churches had dismissed their congregations that the members might unite with the other citizens in a royal welcoming of the soldier boys. Red fire was burned freely and there were salutes. At the station, a big parade awaited the volunteers, and taking the company under escort, marched to the Armory, where the men were dismissed. The parade was as follows: Salem Cadet Band; Second Corps Cadets, M. V. M.; Phil H. Sheridan Post 34, G. A. R.; postal clerks and carriers; Salem Light Infantry Veteran Association; Mayor James H. Turner and members of the city government; Army and Navy League; Company H, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V. The fire alarm had sounded an agreed upon signal, which gave those intending to parade time enough to gather at the various headquarters. Mayor Turner had met the company in Boston and made the arrangements for the affair.
Tuesday, April 11th, was the day set aside for the official celebration, and the streets were lined with thousands, who cheered and shouted, but it was not the spontaneous outburst that had been given the company when it first arrived home.