August 28, 1875. 
325 
Samuells, of 14th Regiment ; Capt. Crane, of 11th Bri. 
gade ; Capt. Maxwell, of 5th Brigade ; Major H. S. 
Johnson, Major Gill, Col. Porter, formerly of Gen. 
Bank’s stafi ; Dr. Mosher, Dep. Health Officer ; Capt. 
Roberts, U. S. A., Major Perry, late Assistant-Adjt.- 
Gen. Department of the Bast ; Col. Haight, of 5th 
Division ; Major Green, of Ordnance Department ; Col. 
Matthew H. Ellis, Assistant- Adjt. -Gen. 5th Division ; 
Col. E. D. Haight, Col. Dickey, of Iflth Battalion ; Gen. 
Kidhoo, U. S. A., Lieut. -Col. C. B. Mitchell, Col. Carl 
Jussen, Col. John Ward, Col. James R. Hitchcock, Col. 
^leaghan, Capt. E. Fackner, Col. W. R. Green, Adjt. 
W. H. Murphy, Col. W. C. Church, Brig. -Gen. Mes- 
serole, Capt. W. L. B. Steers, of 14th Regiment; W. 
C. Carey, J. C. Carey, Gen. J. R. Hawley, ex-Governor 
of Connecticut; Col. W. Van Wyck, Capt. J. G. Storey, 
Col. Alfred E. Taylor, Assistant-Adjutant-Gen. of the 
State ; Major Gill, of Fort Wadsworth ; Gen. John H. 
King, U. S. A., Gen. A. G. McCook, Wilbur Raymond, 
Major Smith, Col. Lockwood, Col. Gouverneur Morris, 
Jr., Lieut. Kelly, U. S. A., Capt. P. Finnerly, Dr. 
Arthur. T. Hills, H. P. Carrington, Major W. G. Wil- 
son, J. S. Conlin, of Conlin’s Rifle Gallery ; Lieut. Col. 
Briggs, Col. J. T. ruderhill. Major P. M. Haverty, 
.Major J. M. Bundy, Mr. Henry Gildersleeve, father of 
the celebrated Col. Gildersleeve ; Mr. R. C. Coleman’s 
father and brother, C’ol. W. G. Behan, of New Orleans ; 
Aldermen Purroy, Billings, Seery and Bowel's, ex-Con- 
gressman John Haskins, -Major Colville, Supt. Dix’s 
Island ; A. V. Canfield, Sr., J. P. JI. Richards, who 
drafted the first resolution accepting the challenge of 
the Irish Team in 1874 ; Col. IMitchell, the referee of 
the team in Ireland ; T. C. Moore, of the American Off- 
hand Rifle Association ; Wm. B. Somerville, manager 
American Press Association ; C. A. O’Rourke, manager 
City Press Association, who represented the Associated 
Press with the American Team in Europe ; Mr. Hickey, 
of the CathoUe RetUw; Walter C. Collins, Agent Reuter’s 
Telegram Co., London, and many others. The trip 
down the bay was delightful, and the first excitement 
was in passing the Bremen steamer Neckar, outward 
bound, with the band playing “ The Watch on the 
Rhine,” calling a salute from the steamer’s whistle, 
which was answered by a few discharges from the 12- 
pounder, and responded to by the guns on the police 
boat Seneca, which accompanied our craft on the round 
trip. On arriving at Sandy Hook we learned that the 
steamer had been signaled, and was coming in, which 
(■aused great excitement and anxiety to get under way 
once more. At half-past four w’e swung clear from ^le 
dock, and were soon steaming for the ocean, in sight of 
the steamer City of Berlin coming toward us. She soon 
crossed our bow amid such a roar of cannon and heart- 
felt cheers as *re seldom heard, and as we followed her 
uj) to Quarantine, the salutes from the forts, passing 
steamers and the numerons craft that were trying to 
keep up, created a wild enthusiasm, and cheers upon 
cheers were given until nearly every one was hoarse. 
We came alongside the steamer at Quarantine amid the 
roar of cannon, rockets, cheering, waving of handker- 
chiefs, hats and the shrill scream of steam whistles. Ev- 
ery one was in a stale of excitement, and a number 
tried to board the steamer with the health officer, but 
were firmly repulsed by the sailors, and we soon drop- 
ped a.stern, waiting for the formalities of the officials, 
preparatory to the departure of the team from the steam- 
er. While Ij’iug there yachts and boats of all grades 
crowded around, every one being anxious for a glimpse 
at the victorious riflemen. We soon steamed alongside 
again, and the American team, led by Col. Gildersleeve, 
and accompanied by Mr. J. E. Whitley, European cor- 
respondent of the Rod and Gun; Capt. Bogardus, the 
champion bird shot of the world, and a few friends, 
were formally welcomed on board the Hopkins with a 
hand-shaking and “How are you? How well you look! 
1 am so glad to see you ! Well, you did your work well !” 
and other cordial greetings that made the blood tingle 
in our veins. Gen. Shaler requested them to assemble 
on the after-deck, which was illuminated with Chinese 
lanterns, and addressed them as follows: 
THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 
(’OL. Gildersleeve and Gentlemen of the Amer- 
ican Team of Riflemen : You recognize in the faces 
of the gentlemen assembled before you this evening 
those of old intimate personal friends and acquaintances 
— members of the National Rifle Association and of the 
Amateur Club, and other friends, representative gentle- 
men of the military and civic life, and some of you 
recognize comrades of arms in the gentler sex who, true 
to the instincts of their nature, have accepted our invi- 
tation to meet you in the harbor of New York this even- 
ing, and thus affording them the earliest opportunity of 
saluting you with joyous kisses, and with their assur- 
ances of affectionate devotion. [Applause.] The Na- 
tional Rifle Association and the Auiateur Rifle Club, 
who are proud and feel honored in having within their 
oreanization the ability and the skill which you h'ave 
shown in your visit to Europe, and who glory in the re- 
sult of your visit, have appointed a joint committee for 
the purpose of expressing in an humble way their deep 
sense of the pride and gratification with which they 
contemplate the result of your visit to Europe. We 
feel, sir, that the maul)-, independent and consistent 
spirit which characterized your official intercourse with 
the representative riflemen abroad, no less than the skill 
which you displa 3 'ed in the great international match at 
Creedmoor, were no le.ss creditable to you as American 
riflemen than honorable to j’ou as American citizens. 
[Applause.] This feeling is shared not only by our as- 
sociates of the organization, whom I have the honor to 
represent, but bj' every American citizen who takes the 
slightest interest in rifle practice. Our people are anx- 
ious; they are impatient to greet their fellow-country- 
men and do honor to those who have thus honored them. 
[Applause.] Presuming upon j'our ,concurrence, the 
committee thus propose to honor you; Upon I'our ar- 
rival in the city you will be landed at the Battery, where 
carriages are in waiting, and you will be transported to 
your private residences or to your hotels, wherever you 
may elect, and you will remain undisturbed by this com- 
mittee until Monday at 1 o’clock, and on that day it is 
the desire of this committee to meet you in the parlors 
of the Brunswick House, and that you be escorted to 
the City Hall, where his honor, the Mayor, will address 
and receive you in behalf of the citizens of New York. 
[Applause.] Immediately thereafter one hour will be 
given by you to the reception of such citizens of New 
York as desire to pay their re.spects to you, and at the 
cud of that time you will be escorted in company with 
this committee through the City by three regiments of 
the National Guard, by the Rifle Association of the City 
of New York and vicinity through Broadway, Four- 
teenth street. Fifth avenue and Twenty-seventh street 
to the Army and Navy Club, where the procession will 
pass in review before you, and then you will be invited 
to partake of a private lunch or dinner. At 7:30 on that 
evening it is the desire of the committee that you be 
present at the parlors of the Brunswick House again, 
where you will be accompanied to Gilmore’s Gardens, 
the proprietors of w'hich have very kindly offered an 
extraordinary programme on that evening for your 
honor. Subsequently, and at no very distant date, it is 
proposed to tender the Team a complimentary banquet, 
which will be attended by the representative gentlemen 
of New York, and presided over by his Honor, the 
Mayor. At a day not very far distant, when the obli- 
gations of the Team will admit, it is the intention to 
present to each member of the Team a suitable testimo- 
nial which will commemorate the circumstance of your 
having been the first American team of rifleniM that 
ever left these shores to contend with foreign riflemen, 
and to commemorate also the signal victory which you 
achieved there. 
Now, Col. Gildersleeve, and members of the Ameri- 
can Team, let me congratulate you upon the glory of 
your achievements — let me thank you for the honor you 
have conferred upon American riflemen, and the able 
and dignified manner in which you have maintained the 
dignitj' of American citizens abroad, and to extend to 
you in behalf of American riflemen a most cordial and 
hearty welcome. [Cheers.] 
Col. Gildersleeve, who was received with cheers, 
said: 
Gen. Sn.ALER, Gentlemen of the Committee .vnd 
Friends: 1 feel that there is only one appellation with 
which we can address you to-night and the enthusiastic 
people before us — there is onlj' one word by which we 
can designate j'ou, and that is that sweet, endearing 
word, friends, true friends, old and tried friends, friends 
of j'ears’ standing. I feel the task I have undertaken to 
perform — to thank you in adequate terms — is more than 
I can do. How shall I, in behalf of these gentlemen 
and myself, express to you the gratitude and the pride 
we feel at the reception jmu are giving us? We have 
seen enthusiasm, we have seen enthusiastic crowds greet 
us on the right hand and on the left; we have heard their 
cheers, we have received their welcomes, we have been 
entertained at all their banquets, but never until now 
have our hearts been so overrun with feeling and grati- 
tude — never have we felt so happy as at present at 
the warmth of our reception. [Applause.] Trulj^ there, 
is no place like home. We have seen beautiful lands 
beautiful cities, beautiful villages, and we have seen 
manj' pretty faces — we have seen faces of noble men 
and distinguished and handsome women — bnt no faces 
have been so welcome to our ej'es or so joyous to our 
hearts as the faces we have seen on the Hopkins to- 
night. [Applause.] Such success as we have achieved 
has been through a united effort; we owe it alt, gentle- 
men, to our union. It has been a hard pull, we pulled 
all together, and therein lies the secret of our success. 
[Cheers.] It is with the greatest pride and pleasure that 
1 am able to state to you that during the whole time of 
our absence, which has occupied nearly a period of three 
months, this body of riflemen have assembled at differ- 
ent times, have associated together from day to day, and 
at night, also, coustantlj', under every condition and un- 
der all circumstances. We have been in this acquaint- 
ance individual contestants for matches, and shooters 
in the team, and during all of this period not one un- 
kind word, I think, has been exchanged among any one 
of us, and the best of feeling has existed at all times. 
Every man has been, at all times and under all circum- 
stances, willing to make personal sacrifice for the gene- 
ral good. All have been equally entitled to regard, and 
we separate with great regret. AVe have advised to- 
gether on all occasions; we have had this good feeling 
on all occasions, and each one of the team is justly 
awarded an equal proportion in the honorj which we 
have achieved. We are very much obliged to you, la- 
dies and gentlemen, and at a future time we shall thank 
you in better terms. 
Cheers were given for Col. Gildersleeve, the Irish 
team and for old Ireland. Alderman Purroy then, on 
behalf of the Common Council of the City of New 
Y ork, welcomed them back, after all their victories and 
triumphs, to that home whose honor and credit thej' 
have done so much to increase. 
At the conclusion of the speeches hearty cheers were 
given for Col. Gildersleeve, the American Team, the 
Irish Team, etc., after which the party were invited to 
the lower saloon, where a collation had been provided. 
The space wherein the small table was placed was by 
far too small to hold a quarter of the party, and tho.se 
that were there first and second were lucky ; but the 
third set were compelled to use dirty plates, and the 
fourth couldn’t find anything for a plate. The salads, 
it is said, were excellent, and the supply abundant, but 
through some lack of management, several were not well 
served. At half-past nine we arrived at the Battery, 
and Capt. John Keim, commanding Battery B Artillerjq 
had thirty-six men and two pieces, and fired a salute of 
thirty-seven guns as the Team landed. The Battery was 
crowded with people for a space ot several rods, and a 
strong force of police was present to preserve order. 
Two files of patrolmen ivere stationed from the landing- 
place to the drive at the southern extremity of Batteiy 
place, where twelve carriages were waiting to convej' 
the members of the team to their residences. As soon 
as the boat touched the pier a large pyrotechnic piece 
was fired displaying the words “Welcome Home” in 
red, white and blue letters. Several hundred bombs, 
skj'-rockets and Roman candles were also discharged . By 
the light of this display of fireworks the team was es- 
corted through the long files of policemen, backed by a 
most enthusiastic crowd, to the long row of carriages in 
readiness to convej' the parties to their several hotels 
and homes. 
Sl'ND.W. 
Messrs. Yale, Bodine and Coleman were at the Hoff- 
man House, and Mr. Yale said in the evening, “ It had 
been a regular buzzing day.” In the evening Col. Win- 
gate and a few friends dined with the gentlemen, and 
the renowned Fulton also made a formal call. The 
Dramatic Neics Silver Cup W'on by Air. Coleman, on ex- 
hibition at the office, was a source of general comment, 
as was also a handsome photograph of the Team pre- 
sented to the house bj' Mr. Yale. 
THE CITY HALL RECEPTION. 
Monday, the 23d, was a downpouring wet day, but as 
the programme for the Team reception made no pro- 
vision for a supply of the sun’s favor, the business of 
the day had to be put through, rain or shine. An im- 
mense crowd assembled at the City Hall and in the park 
to receive and applaud the crowned victors, and b^oon 
all the approaches were jammed with an expectant 
crowd, standing patiently under a forest of umbrellas to 
catch a passing glimpse of the renowned riflemen. 
There was some delay, of couise, in their arrival, but at 
noon the buzz was hushed, and a general rush, with 
cries of “Here they are !” announced their coming. 
“ There, that’s Fulton!” “Where?” “Why, there!” 
“ 1’hat’s Gildersleeve! ” and .so on, proved the interest 
felt by the crowd as they swayed to and fro. The Gov- 
ernor’s room was jammed tight with citj' officials and 
invited guests, and Gen. Shaler having introduced the 
Team to Alayor Wickham, that functionary made a 
speech, in which he spoke of the importance of rifle- 
men to the national security, and dwelt on the patriotic 
service that could be done in hitting an invading gen- 
eral officer at 1,200 yards, “ such an officer so shot down 
might he more than the capture of thousands.” After 
the spread eagle came a well-toned compliment to the 
personal merits of the Team. “ But you have given us 
occasion other than that for satisfaction. By warm- 
hearted Ireland and by more deliberate England you 
have been regarded as what we are verj- proud and 
happy to consider you — representative Americans, dis- 
I playing not merely the American’s skill in every art 
which he zealously pursues, but amid the excitement 
and allurements which surrounded you, displaying also 
the very best American self-control, nerve, courtesy, in 
one word, American manhood! " [Loud cheers.] 
Col. Gildersleeve, who, to the front of Alars himself, 
[continued on page 328.] 
J 
