The staff officers of the Regiment are as follows:
Timothy Monroe of
Lynn,
Colonel;
Edward W. Hinks of
Lynn,
Lieutenant-Colonel;
Andrew Elwell of
Gloucester,
Major;
C. M. Merritt of
Lynn,
Sergeant-Major;
E. A. Ingalls of
Lynn, Quartermaster;
H. E. Monroe of
Lynn,
Quartermaster's Sergeant;
R. G. Asher of
Lynn,
Paymaster;
Dr. B. B. Breed of
Lynn,
Surgeon;
Warren Tapley of
Lynn,
Surgeon's Mate;
John T. Cole of
Lynn, Regiment Clerk.
On the route of the Regiment at the
Jersey City depot, an affecting incident occurred.
Col. Monroe being loudly called for, appeared, surrounded by
Gen. Butler,
Quartermaster-General John Moran,
Col. Hinks, and the rest of the staff.
A. W. Griswold,
Esq., a prominent member of the New York bar, stepped forward, holding in his hand a magnificent silk flag, mounted on a massive hickory staff.
He addressed the commandant of the 8th Regiment as follows:
Col. Monroe--Sir, you. are from
Massachusetts; “God bless you!”
Her sons everywhere are proud of her history, and, while her armies are commanded by such officers as are now at their head, we have faith in her future.
As a son of
Massachusetts, I beg to present this standard as a token of my appreciation of the cause in which you are engaged.
I confide it to your keeping.
“Stand by it.”
Col. Monroe responded with the following appropriate and eloquent remarks;
“As a son of
Massachusetts, I receive it from a son of her soil, and I will defend it, ‘ God help me.’
”
The cheering which followed was deafening--nine cheers were proposed and given for the flag, and at that moment 800 hardy troops, just arrived from the sacred precincts of
Bunker Hill, vowed solemnly to defend that flag with their lives and honor.
[
82]
The flag is made of silk; heavy crimson tassels hanging from the spear of the staff.--
Tribune, April 20.
