Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-02-24
INDIANAPOLIS, FEBRUARY "a, 1913.

archives, the trophies, and the monuments of the
State. Let this old banner around which Indiana
gathered at the first sound of arms, around which
they fought and under which they died, find resting
place on the walls of Indiana's Capitol.
Mr.. Speaker do not wish to speak boastingly. but
the history Of that standard is the history of the cam
paign Of 1916. Among the first to be unfurled the
sands of Brazos Island it among the last TO leave
those inhospitable shores Suffice it for me to say,
that on the heights of Buena VISTA that flag al
ways in the path Of honor suffice it to say that on
that field, whose thirsty soil smoked with the best
blood of the nation, that standard perhaps the
only one that never turned from the enemy. 1t
is enough 10 say that in that hour, when twenty-three
thousand Mexicans, drilled and disciplined in the
camp, the hardy veterans of twenty years of war-an
army that had fought France with glory around the
walls of San Juan de Uloa-an army that had driven
the legons of Old Spain from the soil of Mexican
army, the CHANGING Of whose banners had been ter
TO their foes and whose tread IN the annals of
Mexican war, but the tramp of victory suffice it
TO say that, when that army fought for two tedious
days, against five thousand Of your citizen soldery,
the third regiment from Indiana preserved its honor
intact, its integrity unsullied. And when, in the
changing fortunes of the fight, regiment after regi-
ment faered In the unequal contest, when 1t was
disgrace have been defeated that gallant regiment
still made head against the Storm and others rallied
behind its unflinching ranks.
And in the last struggle of that desperate
u
column Of two thousand lancers followed by long
file of infantry, with cleaning arms, and streaming
tanners, with the song OF triumph on their lips like
the last struggle of the guard at Waterloo, rush
ing down upon them, as II to wrest victory from fate
itself, when
''In scale the battle hung;'
when the hearts of veterans trembled for the result
and the cheeks of brave men grew pale; when Gen.
eral of army who is above suspicion, and whose
name is beyond reproach, might stand behind this
standard, and with pale lips ask, Will they stand!
will they stand Again they proved themselves
equal 10 the emergency and when the shock came,
amidst falling and flying steeds, and routed
squadrons when horse and rider, lance and banner,
went down
"In one red burial blent,"
amid the shout and dn and smoke and hurried tramp,
high, high it ALL waved Indiana's victorious ban
ner-her bright stars flashing in the sun, her gorgeous
folds rustling like the wings of Eagles.
| That banner, Mr.. Speaker, present to you,
and it is with no feeling of didence part with il,
for know, assure you, there is not fact
nected with its history of which you may not be
proud. True, the staff is broken near the foot, but
that done by shot from Mexican battery,
while it was advancing to the rescue of faltcring
regiment true, the staff is cut and splintered over
head, but that was done while the banner was planted
barrier between advancing Mexico and retreatng
Mississippi true, the silk is torn to ribbons, but that
was done while the regiment fought, hand to hand,
twenty-five hundred men spot is upon it, but it is
the stain of blood, not of dishonor. Twenty-three
times was it smittsn in that fght-twenty- hon.
orable upon 1t.
Co. take it then, and place it where such relic de-
serves to be placed Go, write the name of Buena
Vista on its folds as France wrote Austerlitz, and
England Waterloo Go, place it within the Ponerium,
where Sparta keeps her jewels. Go, hang il where
the old it, and tell his battles DER again.
Co. place it where the boy find it, and let it teach
hiuh sofh andna (,o
greet it with such greeting as Rome gave her Ea-
gles when they brought back from the banks Of
the Danube. Go, welcome it with such welcome as
becomes the republic welcoming home her standards
from the banks of the Bravo.
Il Mr.. Speaker, have done; the brave men who bore
that flag, have accomplished all they promised, and
now leave it in your hands. Let me however, before
| sit down, mention the name of WILLIAM F. STEW
ART, of the county of Jefferson, the who bore
it in the field. And while | may bear testimony in
his favor citizen, let that standard bear witness
to his bravery as man.
On accepting the flag on the part of the State, Hon.
w. A. PORTER replied as follows:
CAPT. SULLIvAN-SIR: 1t is with feelings of Just
PRIDE and with heart overlooking with grateful emo
ton that the organ of the representatives of the
people of Indiana receive from you this valuable elic
And those feelings of pride increased from the
fact that know receive it in the name of people
who are noble, brave and grateful The sight, Sir, of
that flag tattered and torn BY the balls of the enemy,
in one of the hardest fought battles, and most spen-
did victories recorded in the history of modern
are elegant and correct description OF which you
have just given US, cannot fail to excite in every
American bosom, and still more III every Indiana bo-
som, the most lively emotions. 1t is true, it is also
associated with melancholy recollections, the reco-
lection of the noble dead that fell in its defence. But
when, after doing due honors to the memory of the
dead, we turn our minds to the splendid victory OBJ
tanned by the vaorous and almost superhuman achev
ments of the survivors, hearts elaed with the
proud thought that this victory was won by the valor
of countrymen.
The battle field of Buena Vista will long be remem-
bered by the civilized world il is event which fu-
ture historians will delight TO describe; which future
generations will peruse with admiration, and with
which the history Of Indiana is identified Its glory
is part and parcel of the heritage of lndianans and
f they will claim it invaluable legacy.
This flag, Sir, like the fair hands that made it, and
the pure hearts that gave it, is unsulied. 1t is fit
recipient of the pures achieves Of our State In the
varied viclssudes Of that memorable battle, when al
most every flag of country compelled at some
time other make temporary retreat either from
the force of overwhelming numbers, or from other
causes over which our brave men had no control the
course of this flag and of the gallant officers and
brave men over whom it foaed, was always onward.
1t was always conspicuous, its stars and stripes
tinued through all the vclssudes of that memorable
conflict float proudly in the breeze. To it, the gal
LIANT Indianians of the third regiment would always
look and say, the flag of our regiment still floats in
: defiance of the enemy. Its posts was the post OF
honor and of danger, and Sir you have already
formed us, in the last fearful hour Of that bloody
v struggle, when the contest was doubtful when bold
hearts and brave men trembed for the result, the
third Indiana regiment 'the seadfast third" follow
| u han, and hold shpd