the world
that the patriotism of '61 is not less than that of '76; that the noble
impulses of those patriot hearts have descended to us."

On the eighteenth of July, 1861, Edward Everett presented to Colonel
Webster a splendid regimental flag, the gift of the ladies of Boston to
the Twelfth Regiment.[1] It need not be said that the presentation
speech of Mr. Everett, and the reception speech of Colonel Webster, were
of the first order. But not even the words of a Webster or an Everett
could adequately express the profound emotion of the vast concourse of
people then assembled. For it was one of those occasions when, as the
elder Webster said, "Words have lost their power, rhetoric is vain, and
all elaborate oratory contemptible."

History will transmit the fact that on that day the simple, homely,
stirring, and inspiring melody of Old John Brown was heard for the first
time by the people of Boston. It was a surprising and a gladsome
spectacle--a regiment bearing Daniel Webster's talismanic name,
commanded by his only surviving son, carrying a banner prepared by the
fairest daughters of Massachusetts, carrying also the benediction of
Edward Everett, and of "the solid men of Boston," and marching to the
tune of Old John Brown! Did the weird prophet-orator who spoke of
"carrying the flag and keeping step to the music of the Union" ever
dream of such a strange combination?

On the seventeenth of June, 1861, by invitation of Governor Andrew,
Colonel Webster spoke on Bunker Hill: "From this spot I take my
departure, like the mariner commencing his voyage, and wherever my eyes
close, they will be turned hitherward towards this North; and, in
whatever event, grateful will be the reflection, that this monument
still stands--still, still is glided by the earliest beams of the rising
sun, and that still departing day lingers and plays upon its summit."

After referring to the two former occasions when he had visited that
historic shaft, when his father had spoken there, he added, "I now stand
again at its base, and renew once more, on this national altar, vows,
not for the first time made, of devotion to my country, its Constitution
and Union."

With these words upon his lips, with these sentiments in his heart, and
in the hearts of the thousand brave men of his command, Colonel Webster
went forth, the dauntless champion and willing martyr of the Union.
Except that the death of a beloved daughter brought him back for a few
d