Ball of the Fifth Regiment N. Y. S. National Guard

“Last night the Fifth Regiment of our state’s National Guard held a grand ball in the City Assembly Rooms. This establishment’s beautiful, spacious ballroom was decorated splendidly for this occasion. On the opposite side of the entrances to the ballroom rose a decoration representing a fortress, which was illuminated by hundreds of tiny gas flames, erected according to Capt. Brewer’s design. On the miniature fort’s two middle towers the stars and stripes were intertwined with the German flag. Over the middle entrance hung a portrait of General Kearney, and on both sides were pictures of Washington and Jefferson. Both balconies were adorned with garlands of flowers and the two banners given to the Regiment as a gift by the city.

 

Two bands played, alternating between concert pieces and dances. A lot of foreign officers were present, who were hosted attentively by Col. Burger and the rest of the Regiment’s officers. In the ballroom the uniforms predominated, only here and there between the blue, gold-braided tailcoats, did a woman’s black gown appear. The ball was well attended and had a comfortable atmosphere throughout. In the Committee Room during the ball, the presentation of a flag made by one of the ladies of the Regiment took place. This was a huge, beautiful, silken banner of the United States, which had been produced in the atelier of Mme. Franziska Klein. On its blue field an eagle appears in raised silken embroidery; around the stars, on the middle red stripe in white silk, the words appear: ‘5th Regiment N. Y. S. N. G.’ ”