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had been returned, some of them to the State authorities, and were tastefully displayed on the columns of the Doric Hall in the State House.
Some of them were held by the United-States mustering officer, who had received orders to forward them to Washington; which order was subsequently revoked, and authority given to have them placed in the hands of the Governor to be preserved in the archives of the Commonwealth.
It was then determined by Governor Andrew to have these colors received with all the honors which the cause they symbolized, and the battle-fields over which they had waved, made proper; and he selected the twenty-second day of December, the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620, as the day on which the ceremony should take place.
Major-General Couch was selected to command, and Brevet-Major-General Hinks was appointed chief of his staff.
The day was a common New-England wintry day; the ground was covered with snow to the depth of about six inches. Early in the morning of the 22d, the veteran officers and men of our gallant commands assembled in Boston, and formed in military order.
All were represented: and when placed in column of march with their old uniforms, each command carrying its tattered flags, some of which had waved over fifty battle-fields, in the valleys of Virginia, and on the mountains of Tennessee; had followed the fortunes of Butler and Banks in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas; and had been unfurled where Burnside and Sherman had led in the Carolinas and in Georgia,—a sight was presented which awakened the most patriotic and sublime thoughts in the heart of every loyal person.
As the procession moved through the different streets, business was suspended, the sidewalks were crowded with spectators, banners were displayed from almost every house, and everywhere cheers went up of welcome and of gratitude; a salute was fired by a detachment of light artillery, bands of music played inspiring airs.
The whole scene was one which will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it.
The procession reached the State House about one o'clock in
1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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