On the eve of their departure to join the Second Regiment at its rendezvous, the Grays paraded through the principal streets of Flint and were addressed in the presence of a great concourse of patriotic and admiring spectators by Colonel Fenton, whose remarks on the occasion were reported by the Citizen in its next issue as follows:

"The Hon. W. M. Fenton had been with the company for about a year, and constantly engaged for two weeks past in perfecting the enlistment and preparing for its departure. At the request of Captain Morse, he now addressed the officers and men, alluding tot he new position they were about to occupy--its great importance; the entire change now to take place in their habits of life; the necessity for prompt obedience to the commands of their superiors, and of true courage, as contra-distinguished from brutality. He exhorted them to remember that the eyes of the friend they were to leave behind would be constantly on them in whatever situation they might be placed, their ears open to every report of their action, their prayers ascending night and morn for their welfare and success, and tht the fervent hope would animate them that those who now went forth to stand by their country in its hour of trial would return with laurels honorably won in its service. After giving them some practical hints as to their mode of life, the importance of strict cleanliness and temperance in both meat and drink, he asked if any one of them would object to take an oath, substantially as follows: "'I do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will support \the constitution of the Untied States, and maintain it and my country's flag, if necessary, with my life; that I will obey the commands of my superior officers while in service, and will defend and protect my comrades in battle to the best of my physical ability.' None objected, the oath was repeated aloud, with uplifted hand, by all the officers and member of the company. The scene was solemn and impressive, and was appropriately closed by a benediction from the Rev. Mr. Joslin."

Another ceremony, no less interesting, was the presentation to each member of the company of a copy of the new Testament. Ninety-five of these had been furnished and prepared for the purpose by the members of the Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School, each book having upon its fly-leaf this inscription: "Presented by the Sabbath School of the Methodist E. church, Flint, Michigan, to _______ ____________, of the Flint Union Grays, April 30, 1861. 'My men, put your trust in the Lord,--and be sure you keep your powder dry,----Oliver Cromwell.'"

This presentation was made while the Grays stood inline, with open ranks, at the corner of Saginaw and Kearsley streets. A number of ladies of Flint passed along the line and pinned upon the breast of each soldier a tri-colored rosette, bewaring the words, "The Union and the constitution!" and nearly every one of the spectators wore the red, white and blue upon some part of their dress. A presentation of revolvers tot he commissioned officers of the company was made by the Hon, E. h. Thomson, and as he assigned to each pistol its particular mission and alluded to their uses, the enthusiasm of the crows around was enkindled anew.

The company left Flint on the 30^th of May, being transported to Fentonville in wagons and other vehicles of which a greater number than were needed for the purpose was furnished by the patriotic citizens. The column was headed by the Flint Band and was accompanied by a large number of relatives and friends of the soldiers; the plank-road company passed them all toll-free. Taking the cars of the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad, at Fentonville, the Grays soon reached Detroit and were reported at Ft. Wayne, the regimental rendezvous.

The companies volunteering for the Second Regiment had done so in the supposition that it would be mustered for a three-month term of service, as the First Regiment has been. But a few days later instructions were received from the war department that no more troops be mustered or accepted for a less term than three years; when this was announced, there were some in all the companies who naturally enough objected tot he longer term and declined to be mustered for it. This was the case in the Flint company, as in others. The vacancies in its ranks from this cause, however, were not numerous, but it was necessary to procure recruits to fill them; and for this purpose Captain Morse returned to Flint on the 18^th of May. The alacrity with which this call was responded to is shown by the fact that he arrived in Flint on Saturday and on the following Monday reported with the requisite number of recruits at Ft. Wayne. On the same day--May 20--the Second Regiment was announced as full, and on the 25^th it was mustered into the United States service for three years by Lieut.-Col. E. Backus, of the United States Army. The field officers of the regiment were Israel B. Richardson, colonel; Henry L. Chipman, lieutenant-colonel; Adolphus W. Williams, major.