The Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel T. L. Barker, arrived in this city yesterday, and were formally received and welcomed home by the city authorities in the afternoon. The State Guard, Captain Fitch, and Captain Chamberlain's Company of State Militia, with Goddard and Riedle's band, performed escort duty. The line was formed on Front street, and the procession, accompanied by the city government and a large number of past officers who have been in the service from this city, marched down Main street and countermarched to Mechanics' hall, where the formal reception took place, and the returned veterans partook of a collation provided by Hudson, under the direction of the city government.
Many of the buildings on Main street were decorated with the national colors, and flags were flying in all directions. The returned soldiers were welcomed with hearty cheers along the line of march, and on entering the hall were greeted with waving of handkerchiefs and prolonged applause by the crowd of ladies that filled the galleries. After the veterans and their escort had taken their places at the tables, His Honor Mayor Ball addressed the regiment as follows:—
Officers and Soldiers of the Thirty-sixth Regiment:—
Gentlemen,—We are assembled to congratulate you upon your auspicious return from the field of conflict, honor, and danger which has witnessed your daring, your valor, and your heroism, for the past three years. Now we see, consummated in your return, the ardent longing of your hearts when you left us. In this we share with you your joy. Joy, that you should have been preserved to return once more to enjoy the blessings and humanities of civil life, the fruits of your labors. For the honorable part you have borne in the great civil war, accept our acknowledgments of high appreciation of the noble service you have rendered a noble and just cause. Allow us to share with you some of your intense joy at the victories, in achieving which you have borne such a memorable part. In these victories we have rejoiced, as the pealing bell, the booming cannon, and the glaring bonfire have attested. These have been our oratory and have furnished our eloquence. At your success our joy has been too deep for human speech, and our elation too excited to be bounded or measured by mere human speech. We know this to be your joy, and in its realization we congratulate you most cordially, most earnestly; and here we welcome you, in behalf of the city, to this hospitality, in token of our appreciation of the high service you have rendered the city, the State, and the country. We welcome you cordially again to the bosom of civil life. With you we rejoice again in the return of so many of you safe from the perils of the camp and the battle-field to your homes and your friends. With you we join in your sorrow for the noble and the brave that you have left on the battle-field. Their eyes longed to see this hour,—a privilege they have been denied. You have been blessed in the seeing, and with you we will honor their names and respect their memories. We welcome you again to the pursuits of civil life, where victories attend activity, resolution, and energy, as well as in the exciting scenes and service of the camp; and we rejoice with you that you have aided in giving a new meaning to the dear old flag, in whose defence you have endured so much. Be it ours to cherish it evermore with vastly more increased love than ever we did before. Great is our rejoicing that yours is the memory of that great day when Richmond fell. Proud may you be of the recollection of that mighty event; and long may the years remain to you in which to enjoy the peace of your labors; and may we all be one in purpose and aim, hero and civilian, to rightfully cherish these memories, and to use, with pure motives, these blessings vouchsafed to us by kind and indulgent Heaven, through your valor, your sufferings, your patriotism.
The divine blessing was then invoked by Rev. Nathaniel Richardson, Chaplain of the Thirty-sixth, after which the company did ample justice to the collation. During the repast Mr. C. C. Starring performed upon the organ a variety of national and patriotic music, and a quartette of male voices from Dale Hospital, members of the Warren Phalanx of Charlestown (Company B), gave two patriotic songs, which were warmly applauded.
At the close of the repast, in behalf of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith returned thanks to the city authorities for the courtesies and welcome extended to them. He said it was a proud day for American soldiers, and a proud day for the Thirty-sixth to return and to receive the approbation of the city from which they went away three years ago to fight the battles of the Republic. When we then left this city we received our flag from the ladies of Worcester, and our commander pledged himself and us that it should be honorably defended and returned. He has long since left us; but the promise was binding, and to-day we return it without dishonor. We count it a matter of pride that in all our arduous service and on many hard-fought fields the Thirty-sixth Regiment has never lost a color or a flag.
On account of the lateness of the hour the speech-making was abbreviated; and after the soldiers had cheered for the mayor, the ladies, and the citizens of Worcester, and the spectators had given nine hearty cheers for the Thirty-sixth Regiment, the assembly dispersed.
The following is a list of the officers who have returned with the regiment:—
Colonel.—Thaddeus L. Barker.