5 013 760 462 Hollinger Corp. pH8.5 E 523 .5 9th .T Copy 2 TESTIMONIAL COL. RUSH C. HAWKINS NINTH liKGIMKNT N. Y. V., ii HAWKINS' ZOUAVES." NEW YORK: LATIMER BROTHERS & SEY^FOUR, LAW STATIONERS, -21 NASSAU STREET. 18 6 3. V TESTIMONIAL (M)L. RUSH 0. HAWKINS, NINTH RliGIJlKNT N; Y. V., H AWKINS' ZOUAVES/' KEW YORK: LATIMER BROTHERS & SEYMOUR, LAW STATION'ERS, '21 NASSAU STREET. 1863. (Wu^ C^. I A '06 ♦ Ob TESTIMONIAL. The following gentleman of the city of IS'ew York united in the presentation to Col, Hawkins of an elegant sword : GEORGE OPDYKE, WILSON G. HUNT, JOHN JACOB ASTOR, Jr., CHARLES P. KIRKLAND, MOSES H. GRINNELL, SIMEON DRAPER, WILLIAM M. EVERTS. HIRAM BARNEY, ROBERT B. MINTURN, GEORGE ORIS WOLD, E. DELAFIELD SMITH, WM. CURTIS NOYES, EDWARD P. COWLES, WM. F. HAVERMEYER, JOSEPH LAWRENCE, AMBROSE C. KINGSLAND, EDWIN D. MORGAN, MARSHALL 0. ROBERTS, HENRY G. STEBBINS, H. B. CLAFLIN, WM. w. Deforest, AUGUST BELMONT, JOHN STEWARD, JONATHAN STURGES, WM. H. WEBB, DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, SHEPHERD KNAPP, GEORGE W. BLUNT, G. VAN CLEEF, A. A LOW, JAMES R. WHITING, RUFUSF. ANDREWS, MORRIS KETCHUM, CYRUS W. FIELD, EDWARD COOPER, GEORGE FOX, DANIEL F. TIEMAN, WILLrAM V. BRADY, SPOFFORD A TILESTON, J. N. PHELPS, C. V. S. ROOSEVELT, JAMES GALLATIN, GEORGE DENISON, R. HOE, WILLAM E. DODGE, ROBERT L. STUART, ABRAM WAKEMAN, SAMUEL L. MITCHELL, CHARLES H. MARSHALL, JOHN C. GREEN, HENRY E. PIERREPONT. The presentation was made at the Fifth Avenue Hote] on the evening of the 20th of May, 1863, in the presence of the donors and a number of invited guests. Mayor Opdyke announced, that the presentation and the address, in belialf of the donors, would be made by the Honorable Charles P. Kikklaxd, who then stepped foi*- ward and addressed Col. Hawkins as follows : CoL. Hawkins : — The history of the world records no contest more important than that in which you and your companions in arms have been engaged. It is, indeed, a contest for a nation's life, — a contest for the very existence of Republican Government, not only here but every where, for if our experiment fails, it surely can never be re- peated, — it is a contest in behalf of civil and religiousl ib- erty, and it is to determine the question of mcui's capacity for self-government. It is to decide the question whether there shall be on the globe a place of refuge for the lovers of liberty in all lands, — one spot where man can assert his manhood, and where Kings and despots cannot grind him to the earth. It is vain to say that this contest does not involve and will not decfde these momentous questions ; for if this Republic is dismembered and a distinct, independent nation is established and recognized within our present bor- ders, it requires no prophet to foretell the total disintegra- tion of the country — the extinction forever of the proud name of American citizen and the division of " the United States of America" into numerous pett}", Avarring, insig- nificant provinces, without power, without position, influ- ence or respect,— 1^2 ^Ao 2/^ a national name. The first gun fired at Fort Sumpter in April, ISGl, in- augurated this contest, and literally aroused the nation. It was under these circumstances and in such a contest, that you and your gallant regiment, inspired with the magnitude of the interests at stake, flew to the defence of your country and her institutions, thus rudely assailed by parricidal hands. Within thirty days after that event the regiment was organized, and yours was among the very first of the vol. unteer regiments to enter the field of actual service. How many fervent prayers ascended for you all, on your depar- ture from this city for the National Capital, I well remem- ber. That you and they have " done your duty well," is abun- dantly testified by many hard fought fields in North Caro- lina, Maryland and Virginia, by Hatteras Inlet, Roanoke Island, Camden, Sonth Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Suffolk, and other minor fields of conflict. The clear though mournful evidence of the valor of this regiment is found in the fact of its four hundred killed and wounded in the various battles in Avhich it has participated. I can- not omit to mention that during a large part of your term of service, though with the rank only of Colonel, you have performed the duties of Brigadier-General. While numer- ous other regiments, and tens of thousands of others of our patriotic soldiers have covered themselves with glory, 3'et I may truly say that none have surpassed, in any quality of the soldier, the Ninth New York \^olunteers whom 3'ou had the privilege to lead. All honor to them and their commander ! The officers and soldiers of the Republic, in the present M'ar, will have the same grateful remembrance from those wlio come after us, that the heroes of the War of the Rev- olution have from us of this generation. The men of the Revolution fought to create and establish our blessed in- stitutions ; the men of this day fight to protect and main- tain them ; they transmitted them to us — you will transmit them to the generations to come. Will transmit them, I say. Yes ! for who can doubt the Ji^ial result of this con- flict ? Our cause cannot fail, for it is the cause of truth and justice, of civil and religious liberty, the cause of humanity and of God I Reverses there may be and there have been — errors, mismanagement, misfortune — and in what great conflict have not such occurred ? Yet, with all these draw- l)acks, this nation has accomplished wonders ; it has pre- sented to an admiring world a sublime spectacle in the ma- terial and moral power, the -s'ast resources in men and money, the innumerable instances of valor and heroism it 6 has exhibited. Truly and beautifully has this been called by a distinguished and impartial foreigner, the " Uprising of a great People." What a noble example has been set to the generous youth of all nations, in the multitude of spirited high-soided, heroic young men, -u'lio have, thus far in this contest, offered themselves up on the altar of their country, and given their dying testimony to the sacredness of our cause. I have, this very day attended the funeral obsequies of one of those gifted and lamented young heroes * Ever blessed be their memories I jS^othing is more grateful to a just and enlightened people than to do honor to the brave and gallant men who have perilled their health, their liv^es, and all they hold dear, in defence of their country and its inestimable institutions. And surely nothing could be more pleasing to me personally than to be charged with the duty of presenting to you, as one of those brave defenders, a fitting token of the estimation in which your services are held. I now accordingly present to you, in the name and on behalf of fifty of you fellow- citizens of this metropolis, this sword and its accompani- ments. (Pie then presented the sword and continued.) While you will regard it as a testimony of grateful appre- ciation of services rendered and dangers encountered in be- half of onr beloved country, it will, should your services be again required, inspire you with redoubled zeal and ardor, as it will assure you, that your future deeds will be, as your past now are, heartily acknowledged and remembered. The patriot soldier's highest reward is the approbation and grateful consideration of his countrymen. The donors of this tribute of regard trust that }ou may long live to enjoy the honors you have won. And should this contest be continued, and should your country require it, we hope again to hear, from the fields of honor and of Aictory, of Colonel TTawkins and his glorious Zouave Eegi- ment. * Lieut Franklin Butler Crosby, who has just fallen at the battle of Chancellorsville, at tho age of twentv-two. Col. Ha-wkests then replied — It is quite useless for me to tell you how grateful I am for this kind expression of your esteem ; a gift so valuable and precious was unexpected, but I hope not undeserved. It is not for pay, gifts, or hope of reward, that men, in times like these, should serve their country ; all who are true, and love liberty more than slavery, and their countrv better than themselves, should be thankful that an oppor- tunity has come up which gives them a chance to aid in such a noble cause. I have always envied the reputation of those great men Avho fought to establish this govern- ment ; they struggled to inaugurate free institutions, and now we must fight to maintain them, if necessary, a hun- dred vears, until the last man and the last dollar are scone : better that all else should perish rather than liberty. I am for bringing these rebels to their knees at the point of the bayonet; we must conquer peace, and not com-- promise it. He who says he can patch up an honorable end to this rebellion, is fool or traitor, and knows notliing of the causes which have led to this wicked war. I believe that almost to the last man, woman, and child, in the South, we are regarded with a blind, ignorant, and fanatical hatred, which Would do honor to the Turks, and the more we con- cede, the stronger grows their hate, and the more arrogant their assumption of superiorit}-. When we conquer and drive them into that last ditch we have heard so much about, then they will respect us, and not before. The history of this nation will tell the story of a j^eoi^le enjoying liberty with all its glorious attributes, or it will record their downfall and gradual sinking into a state of anarchy and most abject slavery ; if the latter, human free- dom will be considered impossible, and the whole world -will exclaim that man is incapable of self-government ; with us will live of die all hope of liberty throughout the world. It is not proper for us to say that we will not support the Government because it does not carry out individual or party ideas ; We must support it, and every good and loj'al citizen will, to the last extent of his ability. There should be but one party, and that devoted to the suppression of thi> horrible rebellion. The only thing I object to is, the long continuation of what seems to nie to be useless blundering in the manage- ment of campaigns, and an almost total absence of a fixed and intelligent policy on the part of the Government. I am persuaded that it would be well if we had better men in many high places of public trust ; I should like to see men of brains and good character everywhere, if we can get them. 3nt, uncle)- an 1/ and ail circu instances, amidst blundering, political scheming and thieving, let us all work to accom- plish the great end. Again allow me to thank yuu for this testimonial, and I can only promise that my future conduct, either as a soldier or citizen, shall not be unworthy of your good consideration. After the applause had subsided, there was a general crowding around the table to examine the beautiful present. With the exception of the blade it is of sterling silver, and the style is that prescribed by army regulations for a Gen- eral. The hilt of the weapon is most elaborately orna- mented, and all the artistic resources of Messrs. Tiffany & Co. appear to have been expended. The especial feature of the hilt is its statuesque grip, on each face of which stands, in the prominence of nearly full relief, a member of the gallant USTinth. The effect of the sculpture is heightened by the fact that the figure is in oxydized silver — all the re- mainder of the hilt being heavily gilded. The Zouave is evidently on sentry duty, his piece borne at the right shoul- der, his left foot advanced, and general demeanor strikingly illustrating the keen vigilance of his class. Back of him are skillfully wrought the folds of his quickly-raised tent. The other parts of the hilt are in proper keeping, the grip terminating in an eagle, splendidly sculptured. The wrist- 9 guards being of a simple, tliougli finely executed design, and the scabbard-guard a broad shield of matted gold, bordered bv a laurel wreath, and bearing un its centre the initials R. 0. H., raised in a deftly conceived monogram. The scabbard is chastely and appropriately ornamented. The upper band, obverse, presents the familiar face of the war- like Medusa, oxydized and in full relief A trophy of na- tional ensigns pendant on either hand, battle-axes and par- tisans, is a fitting surrounding for this classic ornament. The reverse is a coil of serpents, conveniently disposed, for the practical purpose of holding the belt-rings. The lower band is on both sides a conventional laurel wreath, raised on a matted ground. The scabbard teraiinates in an appro- priate decoration of Roman faces and battle-axes, raised and matted. Between the bands, on the obverse face, is engraved the following inscription ; PRESENTED TO COL. RUSH C. HAWKINS, OF HAWKINS' ZOUAVES, For las gallantry and devotion to his country. By fifty of his fellow-citizens of New York, May, 1863. The blade is of fine steel, beautifully etched and gilt, and bears the names of the battles of the regiment — Hatteras, Roanoke, Camden, Antietam, Fredericksburgh, Accompanying the sword is a richly framed parchment, on which are handsomely engraved the names of the sub- scribers to the testimonial. The proceedings were very interesting, and will long be remembered by those who participated in them. This trib- ute to a meritorious officer is, at the same time, a tribute to all the gallant men — officers and soldiers — who have fought the battles of their country in this great struggle for its protection, its honor, and its salvaUon. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS illlillllllll IHi III! 013 760 462 ^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 760 462