Description:

Civil War
Massachusetts Governor, John Albion Andrew's, Rousing Speech at Civil War's End



Mostly complete draft of speech delivered by 25th Governor of Massachusetts John Albion Andrew (1818-1867) on December 22, 1865 at the Massachusetts State House in Boston upon return of state regimental flags. 4pp AM on cream blue lined stationery, the first page with embossed “Carson’s Congress” mark in upper left corner. Inscribed overall in Andrew’s clear and uniform handwriting. The handwritten speech is missing ninety-two words between “achievement of arms” and “future, as mementoes of brave men and noble actions”. The existing text shows a few crossed out words and last-minute edits. In very good to near fine condition, each page measuring 5” x 8”. Page backs show some old discolored glue residue.



Governor Andrew delivered this speech eight months after the end of the Civil War, or, as he called it, “the overthrow of the Rebellion”. The speech is an elegy commemorating the 13,000 Massachusetts servicemen who died of combat wounds and disease during the Civil War. The soldiers’ and sailors’ sacrifices were symbolized by their regimental flags. In sometimes melodramatic but often poignant language, Andrew mourns for “our fallen brothers and sons, whose dying eyes looked last upon their flaming folds”.



A five-mile parade of approximately 2,000 Civil War veterans, including double amputee and Medal of Honor recipient 21st Massachusetts Infantry Sergeant Thomas Plunkett (1841-1885), processed to the State House on December 22, 1865 carrying their flags. At war’s end, the tattered and blood-stained banners were displayed in the State House as grisly artifacts. American Impressionist painter Edward Simmons (1852-1931) later depicted the 1865 “Return of the Flags” ceremony in a mural in the State House (a photo here attached).



Governor Andrew addressed his remarks to “General”, referring to Major-General Darius Couch (1822-1897), the state’s highest ranking military official and a veteran of the Battles of Seven Pines, Oak Grove, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg as well as the Carolinas Campaign. Couch oversaw the hand-off of the 166 Massachusetts flags. Interestingly, Couch was the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts Governor in 1865, where he failed to oust the Republican incumbent Andrew.



John A. Andrew was elected as Governor of Massachusetts in January 1861. Andrew, known for his vociferous views on abolishing slavery, helped organize legal aid for wayward abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859) after the latter’s aborted attempt to raid the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. “War Governor” Andrew mustered Massachusetts militias, secured loans to bolster state shoreline defenses, and promoted raising all black regiments like the celebrated 54th. He retired from politics in 1866, and died of a stroke the following year.



December 22, 1865 is known as Forefather’s Day in Massachusetts. The return of the Civil War flags is occasionally reenacted. There are now over 400 state flags in the State House Collection with the most recent dating from the Vietnam War. 



The full text of Andrew’s speech can be found below:

“Address on Receptions of the Massachusetts battle flags, Decr. 22/65

General,



This pageant, so full of pathos and of Glory, forms the concluding scene in the long series of visible actions and events, in which Massachusetts has borne a part, for the overthrow of the Rebellion, and the vindication of the Union.



These banners return to the Government of the Commonwealth through welcome hands. Borne, one by one, out of this Capital, during more than four years of Civil War – as the symbols of the Nation and the Commonwealth under which the battalions of Massachusetts departed to the field – they come back again, borne hither by surviving representatives of the same heroic regiments and companies to
whom which they were entrusted. At the hands, General, of yourself – the ranking officer of the Volunteers of the Commonwealth (one of the earliest who accepted a Regimental Command under appointment of the Governor of Massachusetts), and of this grand column of scarred and heroic veterans who guard them home – they are returned with honors becoming relics so venerable, soldiers so brave and citizens so beloved.



Proud memories of many a field; sweet memories alike of valor and friendship; sad memories of fraternal strife; tender memories of our fallen brothers and sons, whose dying eyes looked last upon their flaming folds; grand memories of heroic virtues sublimed by grief; exultant memories of the great and final Victory of our Country, our Union and the Righteous Cause; thankful memories of a deliverance wrought out for Human nature itself, unexampled by any former achievement of arms; … future, as mementoes of brave men and noble actions”.



A typed copy of the missing excerpt of Andrew's speech is also included.



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