No festive occasion nor holiday ceremony has gathered us here to-day; but at the beat of the drum we meet to respond to our country’s call. You, sons of Illinois, worthy children of a noble mother, are preparing to march where duty points. We, mothers, daughters and sisters, come to cheer you on in the noble work you have undertaken.

An era has arrived in the history of our country which has been unexpected. But a few months ago our country, united, was prosperous and happy. To-day, dissevered, it only looks to the sword as the bloody mediator between her friends and her foes. As the true friends of our glorious Union, go forth to give battle to its enemies. That step ranks you with the heroes of the past. As an organized band of patriot soldiery, go forth from your peaceful homes, to the glory field. Take with you this banner, the Star-Spangled Banner, the pride of your country’s honor, a priceless gift which the mothers and daughters of McLean place in your keeping. Its majestic stripes are the souvenirs of Revolutionary days, the thirteen original States, - while the glittering stars so brightly shine ever to remind us of our unbounded increase and prosperity as a nation, under our glorious Union.

Take the banner; bear it proudly forward – always aloft! Remember that never yet has stain of dishonor fallen on its ample folds. Behold it waving on the battle fields of our early history, bringing victory to our country, and defeat to her enemies, wherever it was borne. The success of the flag is the history of our country, and never has it been borne to victory by truer soldiers than the hosts marshaled on our prairies. Mexican battle fields are yet moistened in our memories by the purest blood, and, her soil honored by the noblest graves, of Illinois’ immortal sons. And though the dark clouds of War hover over you, and the red glow of battle glimmer around you, and death assume command of the battle field, oh, let there be a noble and loyal hand to uphold this standard amid all the desolation.

Soldiers, you fight to preserve and maintain inviolate the liberties of your country; and though the contest be long, and the strife bloody, yet the result is not doubtful, -

“For Freedom’s battle once begun
Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son,
Tho’ baffled oft, is ever won!”

Go forward then to the performance of a stern duty, never flinching, never yielding, until the enemies of our country are silenced. Bear with you the prayers and blessings of all those you leave behind. Add honor to the already overflowing history of our country. And as you bear this glorious banner to the presence of the enemy, oh may they, once our brethren, remembering our common history, the noble deeds of the past, the torrents of blood of the North and the South which have intermingled their golden streams on the same battle field, in honor of the same flag, and from devotion to the same country, the long catalogue of immortal names gleaned from the patriot homes of both sections of the country, and common heritage of the whole, - remembering and recognizing all of these, and this emblem of our nation’s progress and proud position, oh may they lay down their arms and return again to the loyalty and love of our common country which they have so shamefully deserted, and, filled with the glorious recollections of the past, may we again unite in love for our country, -- again:

“The Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”