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193.-Seventh N. Y. Volunteer Regiment.
The following are the officers of the regiment:
Colonel, John E. Bendix;
Lieut.-Colonel,
Ed. Kapf;
Major, C. Reller; Adjutant,
Schaffner;
Sergeant Major, Emil Bodicker;
Surgeon, Eisenlard;
Assistant Surgeon, Jaeckel;
Chaplain,
Rev. Dr. Foersch. Company A, 77 men:
Capt., F. . Gaebel;
1st Lieut., Ed. Becker;
2d Lieut.,
Thibault.
Company B, 77 men:
Capt.,
H. Baecht;
1st Lieut., Ch. Karbaum;
2d Lieut.,
H. Rothe. Company C, .77 men:
Capt.,
Charles Brestel;
1st Lieut., Victor Traxmarer;
2d Lieut.,
Chas. Hensler. Company D, 77 men:
Capt.,
E. Pfeiffer;
1st Lieut., Anton Herman;
2d Lieut.,
William Krager.
Company E, 77 men:
Capt., Rud Anselm;
1st Lieut., Oscar Van Herringen;
2d Lieut.,
Fred. Mosebach. Company F, 77 men:
Capt.,
Louis Hochheim; 1st.
Lieut.,
Gustav Von Branssen;
2d Lieut., C. Von Hohenhausen. Company G, 77 men:
Capt.,
Sixtus Kapp;
1st Lieut., Wm. Dietz;
2d Lieut.,
Emil Edler.
Company H, 77 men:
Capt.,
Jacob Schoenleber;
1st Lieut., Augustus Feilon;
2d Lieut.,
Theo. Glaubensklee. Company I, 77 men:
Capt.,
Charles Bethon;
1st Lieut., Theo. Schaedle;
2d Lieut.,
Joseph Allen.
Company K., 77 men:
Capt.,
Edward Wratislaw;
1st Lieut., Louis Wiederhold;
2d Lieut., Julius de Boeshe.
This regiment is composed of German riflemen.
Previous to their departure they were presented with a stand of colors by
Judge Daly of New York, who, at the presentation, delivered the following speech:
Colonel Bendix: The flags which I have the honor, to offer for the acceptance of your regiment are the gifts of women, members of some of our oldest families, whose ancestors came from Germany and settled in this country before the Revolution.
Though separated by several generations from those of German birth, the German blood still running in their veins recognizes the promptitude with which the countrymen of their ancestors have taken up arms when the unity of these States is threatened.
The principle of national unity is a deeply-implanted German sentiment.
Gibbon tells us that when the ancestors of the present Germans first appeared upon the banks of the Maine, they were made up of distinct tribes, who gradually coalesced into a great and permanent nation, calling themselves by the name of Allemanni, or all kinds of men, to denote their various lineage and common bravery.
From that united condition they became broken into small nationalities; and to bring them back again, to unite all speaking the German tongue in one confederated Germany, is an object for which German patriots have struggled for three hundred years, and struggled in vain.
The American people have presented a similar spectacle on this side of the water — a new Allemanni — a people composed of many races confederated together in one nationality, and having hitherto a common destiny.
By the establishment of the Constitution and Government of the United States we made ourselves a nation, and those who raise the flag of secession would make us what Germany now is — a body of contiguous but several States, with no other tie than a common language.
The present condition of Germany is the work of her aristocracy, and those who would accomplish a similar work here proclaim to the world that they are the aristocracy of the country.
You are not the first of the German race who have taken up arms in defence of this country.
On that balcony before you, arrayed in the old Continental uniform of a Major-General, is the portrait of that noble German soldier whose honored name you bear.
The aide-de-camp of Frederick the Great, and profoundly skilled in the art of war, acquired under the leadership of his great commander, Baron Steuben quitted a life of luxurious ease, and came to this country at a critical period to offer his services as a volunteer.
He was the tactician of our Revolution.
As Inspector-General of the American armies he revised our imperfectly disciplined troops, and taught them the art of war. His name is, and ever will be, associated with Monmouth and Valley Forge, and with the heights of Yorktown; and when the Revolution was over he selected our country as his home, and his body lies buried in its soil.
At this time, when officers of the United States army hold so lightly to the obligation of their honor and their oath, it may be well to remember how Steuben regarded this class of traitors.
When acting as Inspector-General in Virginia, he heard among the roll of recruits the name of Arnold.
He ordered the young man to the front, and said: “I cannot, sir, enlist you by the name of a traitor.”
“It is not my fault,” said the recruit, “what other name can I take?”
“ Take mine,” was the reply, and the soldier enlisted by the name of Steuben.
This detestation of traitors is an old intrinsic German feeling.
Tacitus tells us that the German tribes regarded as among the highest of crimes, and as a disgrace which could never be wiped out, the voluntary abandonment by a soldier of his shield.
What was true then is true now; for no soldiers have surpassed the Germans in fidelity.
Steuben was preeminently distinguished for this German virtue, and s a mark of especial merit received the cross of the Order of Fidelity.
It was the only one of his decorations that he: ever valued.
It was the one he always wore, and by his request it was buried with him.
The ladies whom I represent thought that you could carry no worthier symbol than Steuben's Cross of Fidelity.
They have accordingly had it copied from the portrait in the City Hall, and emblazoned on this small flag, which I now present you.
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I commit also to your charge this flag of the United States, with its clustered stars and its many memories.
It now depends upon you, and all arrayed like you in defence of the Union, whether a star shall be effaced or not from its blue field.
You are American citizens; you are soldiers; you are Germans; you require no exhortation from me to stand faithfully by your colors.
The history of your country for seventeen hundred years answers for you.
--
N. Y. Evening Post, May 25.
