On the 26th instant, that fine body of troops, the Second Regiment of North Carolina volunteers, commanded by
Col. Williams, lately of the United States Army, on its way from its camp, at the
Grove, to the
Petersburg station, to take the cars for
Norfolk, halted at the
Exchange Hotel.
fronting the building, in close columns.
Lieutenant Colonel Cantwell ascended the steps, and stated to the troops that at the request of several officers of the Regiment, and at the command of the
Colonel, they had halted to pay a compliment to a distinguished son of the gallant
State of South Carolina,
the Hon. Franklin J. Moses, who had lately visited their own State, as
Commissioner from the land of the
Palmetto.
He proceeded to pass some eloquent encomiums on the gallant and patriotic
State of South Carolina, and on its representatives in the city.
and concluded by proposing three cheers for both of them, which were given with a hearty zest by the troops and the citizens assemble around.
Colonel Moses was then introduced to the command, and received with repeated huzzas, the windows of the
Hotel, on both sides of the street, being filled with the representatives of the fairer and better sex. After silence had been obtained, he proceeded to address the troops.
He said--
He recognized and appreciated the compliment tendered, not as to himself, but to his State, whose good fortune it had been to initiate the event which was so full of hope and promise to her Southern sisters.
He referred to the gallant and patriotic cause in which they were engaged — contending for principles, in the support of which their ancestors had perilled their lives, their fortunes, and everything but their sacred honor.
That their mission was a glorious one;--that on the soil of
Virginia, the mother of States and of statesmen, they were about to vindicate the memories of Henry and of
Jefferson, and would make around the hallowed tomb of
Washington a rampart which would save the sacred soil on which it was erected from the footprints of the mercenary foe who had threatened to conquer it. That their mission was to free
Maryland from the subjection to which traitors had forced it; and in such a cause, and with motives thus impelling them, their triumph was certain.--That the soldiers of
South Carolina would be at their side, and the descendants of the Shelbys, the Williamses and the Clevelands, would emulate the deeds of their ancestors at
Kings Mountain.
He alluded to the sacred day on which he was addressing them, and referred to the holy associations which their cause suggested.
He continued in an eloquent and captivating strain to address them for about twenty-five minutes amid loud and repeated interruptions of cheering, and at the close the troops and spectators joined in three hearty cheers for the
Palmetto State.
The Regiment then wheeled, marched to the depot, and took its departure for
Norfolk.
When it meets the foe, good tidings will be heard from it.
