THE BUCKS COUNTY INTELLIGENCER - October 22, 1861 - Page 3

 

LOCAL AFFAIRS.

REPORTED FOR THE INTELLIGENCER

Flag Presentation.—Yesterday afternoon a splen-

did American flag, procured by the contributions of the

patriotic ladies of Doylestown vicinity, was presented

to the Ringgold Regiment of volunteers, now at Camp

Lacey.  The flag was made expressly for the purpose by

Horstman and Sons, of Philadelphia, who stand at the

head of manufacturers of military goods in the coun-

try.  It is six feet six inches in length and about five feet

wide, being strictly in accordance with the army regula-

tions.  The stripes are made of heavy and glossy white

blue field.  The whole is bordered with a heavy yellow

silk fringe.  The flag is mounted on an ashen staff, about

nine feet long, surmounted by a gilded spear head and

ornamented with mixed blue and and white silk tassels.  A

belt and socket for the standard bearer is also provided. 

On one of the red stripes, worked in silver bullion, is the

legend “RINGOLD REGIMENT, P. V.”—to which is to be

added the number of the regiment, in figures when it is

definitely ascertained.  The flag and its mountings are

truly beautiful, and must ever be prized and cherished

by the brave boys to whose hands it has been cherished

by the brave boys to whose hands it has been committed. 

With this emblem of our beloved country floating over

them, the soldier from Bucks county can never be un-

faithful to their mission as the defenders and vindicators

of our Government against the attacks of all its enemies. 

Coming from the ladies, as it does, this standard will have

a peculiar value to the gallant young men who have left

their mothers,  their sisters, and their wives, to carry it

triumphantly forward until it shall wave over every foot

of American soil.

The presentation ceremonies took place on the camp

ground a 3 o’clock.  During the day immense numbers

of carriages, loaded with people, poured into Doylestown

to witness the proceedings.  We doubt whether the place

was ever more thronged than on this occasion.  It seemed

as if the whole population of the surrounding country had

turned out.  Long before the hour fixed upon for the pre-

sentation arrived, thousands upon thousands of people

had collected around the spot where the ceremonies were

to take place, which was near the centre of the encamp-

ment ground, where a temporary platform had been erec-

ted.  The volunteers were formed in close order directly

in front of the stand, the vast crowd of spectators tak-

ing positon to the rear and right and left of it.  At three

o’clock; precisely, the committee having charge of the

flag arrived on the ground with it.  The Rev. Jacob Bel-

ville, of Hartsville, on behalf of the ladies of Bucks

county, presented the flag to the regiment in a speech of

touching eloquence.  It was one of this eloquent divine’s

finest efforts.  The flag was received by Colonel Davis in

a very neat speech, declaring for himself, and the men un-

der his command that it should never be dishonored in

their hands, and that they would shed their best heart’s

blood in its defence, if necessary.  The beautiful banner

was then handed to the regiment, Sergeant John Macdon-

ald Laughlin being assigned the honor of standard-bearer.