le of Newport had turned out to greet us. Services
were omitted by the churches, all evidently regarding it as a duty
appropriate to the Sabbath to welcome to their homes those who had
gone forth to peril their lives at their country's call. Tears
dropped from many eyes, as those were remembered who had left home
with us, but would never return.
We marched up Thames street, our sick and wounded in carriages,
through Touro street and Bellevue Avenue, to Touro Park, where we
were welcomed in addresses by Mayor Cranston and other city
officials. On invitation of Mr. William Newton, proprietor of the
Atlantic house, we partook of an excellent dinner at that hostelry,
after which a short street parade was made to the armory on Clarke
street, where we were dismissed, with orders to report again on the
2d of August.
On Friday, August 2d, we reported at the armory and proceeded to
Providence; we received our pay and were mustered out of the United
States service, by Colonel Loomis, of the 5th United States Infantry.
In the afternoon a final parade was made by the entire regiment, but
F Company were obliged to leave the line before its conclusion, in
order to take the 5 P. M. boat for home.
A few days after the arrival home of the company, a beautiful set of
flags was received by Mayor Cranston, a gift from Rhode Islanders
residing in California to the color company of the 1st Rhode Island
Regiment, and were accompanied by the following explanatory letter:
San Francisco, Cal., Aug. 30, 1861.
Hon. Wm. H. Cranston, Mayor City Newport:--
_Sir_,--At a meeting of the natives and citizens of Rhode Island
now residents of California, we, the undersigned, were appointed
a committee to forward to your Honor a set of regimental colors
for the First Rhode Island Regiment, to be by you presented to
them in person as a token of our esteem and admiration for the
prompt, noble and efficient response made by them to the
patriotic call of our country to fight for constitutional
liberty, and for the brave, honorable and veteran-like manner in
which they have performed their duties.
Very Respectfully, your obedient servants,
WILLIAM SHERMAN,
E. P. PECKHAM,
JAS. M. OLNEY,
B. H. RANDOLPH,
C. V. S. GIBBS.
On Tuesday, October 29th, 1861, a formal presentation of the flags
to Company F took place on Touro Park. The company were present in
good numbers, and Colone
|