The 6th Massachusetts Light Artillery at War's End There occurred in Boston, at the end of the war, a ceremony which came the nearest attainable to a general review and reception of the surviving Massachusetts soldiers. The 6th Massachusetts Light Artillery was not present for the general review and reception, though they and their compatriots who likewise were not present were honored never the less. It occurred on Dec. 22, 1865, the two hundred and forty-fifth anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth. It was called forth by the following orders proceeding from Governor Andrew: COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Headquarters, Boston, Dec. 13, 1865. General Order No. 18. By General Order No. 94 of the War Department, issued May 15, 1865, volunteer regiments and batteries, on their return to their respected States, when mustered out and discharged, were to deposit their colors with the Chief United States mustering officers, to be by them transferred to the governors of the States. Since that time, the following Massachusetts regiments and batteries, having faithfully served their country to the end of the rebellion, returned home and been discharged, their colors have been received by Brevet Col. F. N. Clarke, U. S. A., chief mustering officer, viz.: 2nd, 11th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 31st, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th, 61st Regiments of Infantry, 1st Battalion Frontier Cavalry, 3rd, 4th, 5th Regiments of Cavalry, 4th5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 15th, 16th Batteries Light Artillery, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th regiments of Heavy Artillery.  On Friday, 22nd instant (Forefathers' Day), the colors will be escorted from Colonel Clarke's headquarters, No. 2 Bulfinch Street, to the State House, where they will be formally received by His Excellency the Governor, and placed in the public archives of the Commonwealth, to be sacredly preserved forever, as grand emblems of the heroic services and patriotic devotion to liberty and union of one hundred and forty thousand of her dead and living sons. The escort will be performed by the 1st Co. Of Cadets, Lieutenant Colonel Holmes commanding, who will report to Brevet Colonel Clarke, at his headquarters, at 11 o'clock A. M., when the line of march will be taken up. All general, regimental and company officers, and past general, regimental and company officers of Massachusetts, and especially all officers and past officers, and all non-commissioned officers and privates of the several organizations named above, are invited to take part in the ceremony and join in the procession. The officers will, as far as practicable, detail a color-guard for the colors of their respective late commands. The original date of muster-in of each command will govern its place in the procession. Officers and enlisted men, as far as practicable, will appear in uniform. For further orders and information apply to the Adjutant-General of the Commonwealth. By order of His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. William Schouler, Adjutant-General. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Headquarters, Boston, Dec. 13, 1865. General Order No. 19. It having been represented at these headquarters that the Massachusetts regiments and companies which had filled their allotted terms of service in the field prior to May 15, 1865, the colors of which are deposited in the State House, desire to take part in the flag reception on the 22ndinstant, referred to in General Order No. 18, current series, the Commander-in-Chief most cordially complies with their wishes. The colors of these organizations will be handed them on the morning of the 22d, upon proper requisition. They are to be returned at the close of the services. Maj.-Gen. Darius N. Couch of Taunton, ranking officer of volunteers in Massachusetts, has been invited to take command of the troops. Should he decline, Brevet Maj.-Gen. George H. Gordon of Boston, next in rank, will take command. The commanding general will arrange details. By order of His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. William Schouler, Adjutant-General. The procession was duly formed on December 22, under the immediate direction of Kay.-Gen. Edward W. Hinks (afterwards Hincks), chief of staff, under the following order: COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Ceremonies For Delivering The Colors Of Returned Massachusetts Volunteers To The State Authorities. State House, Boston, Dec. 19, 1865. Circular No. 3. Composition of the column: Escort of Honor, Independent Corps of Cadets; Lieut.-Col. C. C. Holmes commanding; Chief of Staff, Brig.-Gen. Edward W. Hinks. Aids to General commanding; Col. A. F. Devereux, Col. And Brevet Maj.-Gen. George N. Macy; Lieut.-Col. Giles A. Rich; Maj. John B. Burt; Maj. James Brown; Capt. Augustus Crocker; Lieut. And Brevet Maj. Linus B. Comins, Jr. Surgeon: Maj. Patrick A. O'Connell. Aids to Chief of Staff: Capt. And Brevet Maj. J. H. Sleeper; Capt. And Brevet Col. William L. Palmer; Capt. Joseph J. Baker. Brevet Col. Francis N. Clark, Chief United States Mustering Officer. Staff of the United States Mustering Officer: general and brevet general officers with their staffs, who are not assigned to commands, and general staff officers, mounted. Brigade of Cavalry: Brig.-Gen. E. A. Wild commanding. Five regiments and one battalion of cavalry. Division of Artillery: Brig. And Brevet Maj.-Gen. Joseph Hayes commanding. First Brigade, sixteen light batteries, Capt. And Brevet Col. Augustus P. Martin commanding. Second Brigade, four regiments and two battalions heavy artillery, Col. William S. King commanding. Corps of Infantry: Brig. And Brevet Maj.-Gen. George H. Gordon commanding. First Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert Cowdin commanding, regiments 1 to 20 inclusive. Second Division, Brig. And Maj.-Gen. Charles J. Paine commanding, regiments 21 to 40 inclusive. Third Division, Col. And Brevet Brig.-Gen. William S. Tilton commanding, 41 to 61 inclusive. Route of march: from the Common to Tremont Street, to Hanover, to Blackstone, to Clinton, to Commercial, to State, to Washington, to Essex, to Harrison Avenue, to Dover, to Washington, to Union Park, to Tremont, to Pleasant, to Boylston, to Arlington, to Beacon, to the Common. On the return of the column to the front of the State House the colors will be delivered to His Excellency Governor Andrew by Major-General Couch and Col. F. N. Clarke. By command of Major-General Couch. Edward W. Hinks, Chief of Staff [Note: The 6th Massachusetts Light Artillery DID NOT have anyone represent their unit in the parade.] THE BATTLEFLAGS IN THE STATE HOUSE. On May 15, 1865, it was ordered that volunteer regiments and batteries, on their return to their respected States, when mustered out and discharged, should deposit their colors with the chief United-States mustering-officers, to be by them transferred to the governors of the States. December 13, 1865, two State orders were issued: one of which, in accordance with the above, called for the deposit of the flags; the other, in response to the ardent desire expressed by officers to be present when the ceremony transpired, appointed the 22d of the month for a grand procession, over which the old banners would float, and be borne to the Capitol. Gen. Couch, the ranking-officer of the State, accepted the command of the procession; and Brig.-Gen. Hinks was appointed chief of staff. Lieut.-Col. C. C. Holmes commanded the escort of honor, the Independent Corps of Cadets. Records the Adjutant-General: The weather, though cold, was pleasant. The earth was clothed with a slight covering of snow. As an appropriate feature of the exercises, the citizens very generally displayed the "stars and stripes," and the national flag floated proudly on the breeze from every flagstaff and public building in the city. The Old State House was handsomely decorated on the end facing State Street. The national colors were tastefully arranged; and several small arches were inscribed with suitable welcomes to the veterans, and most significant of the present peaceful condition of affairs. The procession which was to escort the flags to the State House was formed on Park street, Tremont-street, Beacon-street Malls. The Common presented a lively and picturesque  appearance while the column was getting into line. Gen. Couch has his headquarters' tent pitched on the Park-street Mall, near the gate; and the colors of the different regiments were delivered to the officers of the respected commands from his tent. His forces on this occasion were a bannered host, such as never before collected within these public grounds; and their tattered yet brilliant insignia glistened in the sharp sunlight reflected from the burnished snowy crust covering the earth. Before the procession started, the formality of passing over the flags from Brevet-Col. Francis N. Clark, chief United-States mustering-in-officer, in whose office a large number of them had been deposited, to Gen. Couch, was performed at the headquarters of the general in command. This duty was done by Gen. Clarke in the following remarks: Major-Gen. Couch, As the authorized agent of his Excellency the Governor to receive them, it is with pleasure I place in your hands, to be by you delivered into the custody of the State, such colors of Massachusetts troops as are now in my possession. Your long and faithful services, as well as your intimate connection with Massachusetts regiments, point to you as eminently the proper person for the delivery of these colors to their final resting-place. The thorough identification of the Governor, in his official capacity, with the various organizations, makes your surrender of them into his hands, on the eve of his retirement from office, an occasion of more than ordinary interest. It is the closing scene of official relationship. These colors are to become the property of the State, to be placed in her archives,-there to remain, to the nation, emblems of victory and a re-established Union; to Massachusetts, testimonials of the fidelity of her Governor, and the courage, devotion, and honor of her sons. Gen. Couch replied as follows: Col. Clarke, It is with deep emotion that I receive from your hands these eloquent emblems of the fidelity, bravery, and patriotic devotion to their country, of the Massachusetts soldiery. No languages can so forcibly exhibit the hardships they have endured, or the perils they have encountered. Many who have fought bravely under her folds have sealed their devotion to their country with a patriot's grave. To those who have been spared to bear them on to final triumph devolves the privilege of returning them to the Commonwealth, in the consciousness that the object for which they were unfurled has been fully accomplished, the principles they symbolize triumphantly vindicated, and the Union of the States restored upon a firm and enduring basis. The procession started with military punctuality nearly at the time appointed,-eleven o'clock. First came the escort, consisting of the Independent Cadets, with their two howitzers, commanded by Lieut.-Col. C. C. Holmes. The Cadets turned out with full ranks, and presented their usual excellent appearance. They were accompanied by the Brigade Band. Succeeding the escort were the general commanding and his staff, consisting of the following named officers: Chief of Staff.-Brig.-Gen. Edward W. Hinks Aids to General Commanding.-Col. A. F. Devereux, Col. and Brevet Maj.-Gen. George N. Macy, Lieut. Col. Giles A. Rich, Major John B. Burt, Major James Brown, Capt. Augustus Crocker, Lieut. and Brevet Major Linus B. Cumins. Surgeon.-Major Patrick A. O'Connell. Aides to Chief of Staff.-Capt. and Brevet Major J. H. Sleeper, Capt. and Brevet Col. William L. Palmer, Capt. Joseph J. Baker. The brigade of cavalry, under the command of Brig.-Gen. E. A. Wild, who had a brilliant staff, consisted of a delegation of the First Frontier Cavalry, forty strong; the Fifth (colored) Cavalry, under the command of Major Adams, fifty men; and the Third Massachusetts, Lieut.-Col. Muzzey, a hundred men and twenty officers. The Third had the right of the brigade; then followed the Fifth; and the representatives of the Frontier Cavalry were last in the cavalry line. The artillery division made a superb display. It was under the command of Brevet Major-Gen. Joseph Hayes. The batteries were under the immediate lead of Capt. and Brevet Col. Augustus P. Martin; while the heavy-artillery regiments were led by Col. William S. King. The infantry corps was commanded by Brevet major-Gen. Gordon, and consisted of three divisions, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Cowdin, Brig. and Brevet Major-Gen. Charles J. Paine, and Col. and Brevet Brig.-Gen. William S. Tilton. Nearly every Massachusetts infantry regiment was represented in the line. All the flags were inscribed with the names of the battles into which they had been borne, and most of the banners told their own story of hot strife for the country. The flags which gave the most unequivocal evidence of having passed through a severe ordeal were the most loudly cheered as the procession moved over the route previously arranged to the State House. In State Street, the battle-rent banners were loudly applauded. The residents of Union-park Street provided hot coffee for the veterans as they marched along. The kindness was thoroughly appreciated by the "boys in blue." On Tremont Street, where the column entered Pleasant Street, a large crowd gathered to see the pageant. Among the throng were a number of children with banners bearing mottoes, one of which was, "Wave, colors, over our sacred dead!" The head of the procession reached the Capitol about one o'clock; which was announced by a detachment of light artillery, under Capt. Cummings, firing a salute upon the Common. As the regiments arrived, the color-bearers deployed upon the steps in front of the edifice; while the remainder of the cavalry, artillery, and infantry commands, gathered in the yard on either side. Gilmore's Band played some appropriate music while those carrying the colors were taking their positions. Besides the military within the State-house grounds, there was an immense crowd of persons on the street in front of the building. The scene - with the multiplicity of banners occupying the centre of the grouping, the military on either side, and the people in the foreground - was singularly enlivening and imposing. As the Governor and staff and other invited guess appear, the colors were with one impulse raised, and loud cheering succeeded from all sides. Three of the color-bearers of the Nineteenth Regiment in the procession had but one arm. The colors of the Twentieth Regiment were carried by those who had not borne them before: the brave fellows who held them in battle have gone, and left their comrades to tell how nobly they defended the flag to the end. The popular Sergeant Plunkett, who lost both arms while bearing the colors of his regiment, walked in procession, in front of the standard, and was at every point enthusiastically cheered. Rev. Samuel K. Lothrop, D. D., chaplain of the Cadets, made a most appropriate and fervent prayer, Gen. Couch stepped forward, and addressed Gov. Andrew as follows: May it please Your Excellency,-We have come here to-day as the representatives of the army of volunteers furnished by Massachusetts for the suppression of the rebellion, bringing these colors in order to return them to the State, who entrusted them to our keeping. You must, however, pardon us if we give them up with profound regret, for these tattered shreds forcibly remind us of long and fatiguing marches, cold bivouacs and many hard-fought battles. The rents in their folds, the battle-stains on their escutcheons, the blood of our comrades that has sanctified the soil of an hundred fields, attest the sacrifices that have been made, the courage and constancy shown, that the nation might live. It is, sir, a peculiar satisfaction and pleasure to us that you, who have been an honor to the State and nation, form your marked patriotism and fidelity throughout the war, and have been identified with every organization before you, are now here to receive back, as the State custodian of her precious relics, these emblems of the devotion of her sons. May it please Your Excellency, the colors of the Massachusetts Volunteers are returned to the State. Gov. Andrew replied in the following brief but beautiful and eloquent address: General: This pageant, so full of pathos and of glory, the concluding scene in the long series of visible actions and events, in which Massachusetts has borne a part, for the overthrow of 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 capitol, 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 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 righteous cause; thankful memories of a deliverance wrought out for human nature itself, unexampled by any former achievement of arms; immortal memories with immortal honors blended,-twine round these splintered staves, weave themselves along the warp and woof of these familiar flags, war-worn, begrimed and baptized with blood. Let the "brave heart, the trusty heart, the deep, unfathomable heart," in words of more than mortal eloquence, uttered, though unexpressed, speak the emotions of grateful veneration, for which these lips of mine are alike too feeble and unworthy. General, I accept these relics on behalf of the people and the government. They will be preserved and cherished, amid all the vicissitudes of the future, as mementos of brave men and noble actions. The immense throng then dispersed, and the colors were placed in the Doric Hall of the State House, where there will remain to testify to future years of the courage and endurance manifested by the troops of Massachusetts during four of the most eventful years of its history. As a fitting finale to this grand pageant, we place on record the noble lyric addressed to the Governor by a gentleman who has borne a brave and noble part in this great war; one who, when the war began, was chief of his personal staff, and who afterwards resigned that position, and went to the war as Lieutenant-colonel of the First Regiment Massachusetts Cavalry, afterwards promoted colonel; and who, wounded, and broken in health, came home, after three years' active military service, with the stars of a brigadier-general upon his shoulders, earned by meritorious and conspicuous gallantry….