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From Springfield,
Glorious Reception to Returned Illinois Veterans. [1864]
[Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.]
Springfield, Ill., Tuesday, July 19.
The 29th regiment Illinois volunteers arrived here on Saturday, 340 strong, re-enlisted as veterans, under command of Colonel Lenor Kent. they had a glorious reception here to-day at 11 o'clock. The regiment was marched from Camp Yates to the hall of the House of Representatives, where the reception ceremonies took place. His Excellency Gov. Yates, in welcoming the regiment home, gave a most interesting history of its organization, movements and battles, in which these brave men have for three years been engaged.
Cols. Reordan, Brayman, Ferrell and Kent, Lieut. Col. Callicott, and Major Curtis, and the officers and gallant private soldiers of the command, received that notice which the ever watchful Executive of Illinois is able, from his intimate knowledge of the sources and "scribers" of the officers and soldiers of our regiments, to give upon such occasions. He said that we were stronger to-day in the faithfulness and attachment exhibited by the veteran volunteers to the cause and the country than at any period during the war, and that they gave evidence in their veteran vows that the soldiers were willing to fight as long to save the Union as our patriot sires in achieving it. His portraiture of the contrast between the citizen in arms for the preservation of the people's government and the selfish and disloyal peace sneaks, who stay at home and conspire against them and the Government and thus afford practical and material aid to Jeff Davis and his hellish rebellion, was received with resounding cheers by the soldiers.
The Governor paid a high tribute to the character and services of Lieutenant General Grant, attributing his successes to the purity of his private character and to his superior generalship and the inspiring confidence he commanded from the President and every General officer down to the humblest private soldier in the ranks.
Richard Yates is at home with the soldiers, and it is only necessary to witness one of these veteran reception ceremonials to feel the magnetic tie which binds them together.
After the Governor, Col. Kent responded in behalf of the regiment, in a short, stirring, soldier-like speech. He said that every officer and soldier of the 29th had nobly performed every task assigned them, and intended to stand by the Government until the rebellion was crushed and the old flag floated honored and respected, as it had been, over every State and Territory in the Union. He said that the 29th and 131st regiments, as consolidated and veteranized, represent Egyptian Illinois, and that seven-tenths of them took up arms radically Democratic, but that they were now nine-tenths for Lincoln and the Union forever; that there is not a man in the regiment but heartily despises Copperheads, and would knock starlight from the K.G.C.'s and deliver the emancipation proclamation by the illumination. The Colonel brings home the highest testimonials from General officers as to his energy, skill and bravery in the field, and the evidences of respect and affection manifested towards him by his men, stamp him as among our best regimental commanders.
D.L. Phillips, Esq., followed Col. Kent in an earnest and eloquent speech, which stirred the boys to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.
At 12 o'clock the ladies of the Loyal League of Springfield served a splendid dinner to the regiment, which the boys partook of with fine relish.
Every luxury of the season was set out in the best style, and the veteran soldier was made to feel the depth of sympathy entertained by the loyal women of Illinois for the nations defenders.
The regiment was paid off in full by Majors Wilson and McClaughry, and receive their thirty days' furloughs and leave for their homes to-night.