"It is your high privilege to have been summoned into the service of the United States at a time when the clouds of war with a foreign Power threatened the Republic. I know of no higher service that a citizen can be called upon to render than to offer his life, if need be, in the cause of his country. You enter this service not as raw recruits, but with obedience and discipline acquired in the militia service of the Commonwealth. Whether you are assigned the honorable duty of guarding the sea-coast of the Commonwealth of your birth, or are summoned to some distant point in other lands or within the confines of your own country, see to it that no act of yours shall bring aught but added glory to the colors you bear. Be of high courage and good cheer; the great heart of the Commonwealth will follow you with pride and affection, whatever the duty you may be called upon to perform." Receiving the commissions from the hands of Colonel Bradley of his staff, who had served through the Civil War in the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery of 1861, the Governor then presented them to the officers of the regiment in the order of their rank, finally turning to Colonel Pfaff to say, "I congratulate you, Colonel, upon the regiment you have the honor to command, and upon the service you now enter." On the conclusion of this very simple yet impressive ceremony, the regiment was dismissed. The Governor then made an informal inspection of battery quarters, and afterwards was conducted over the works in order that he might see for himself whatever of progress was being made towards installing modern armament in the main fortification of his capital city. Later, with the members of his staff, he was the guest of the officers' mess at luncheon; and early in the afternoon he took final leave of the regiment, which always had considered it an honor to serve under him as commander-in-chief, but now—though not without a touch of regret—had passed for a time beyond his authority. ASSIGNMENT TO STATIONS X. THE day now had come when, after the custom of the artillery service, the regiment must be broken up and scattered in its isolated posts along shore. General Merritt was relieved of the command of the Department of the East on May 20th, to go to the far East as commanding officer of the Philippine expedition. His successor was General Frank, U.S.V., promoted from the colonelcy of the First United States Artillery, who lost no time in issuing orders (S.O., 112, H.Q., D.E., 23rd May) for the final distribution of the regiment to its stations. The text of this order read: