Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-01
The Lone Star Flag.


not only on account of its historical interest
but with view to correct the intimation OF the
writer, that this was the first occasion on which
the Lone Star was adopted as the standard OF
revolution. This is a great but common error
Iwentysix years before this, the Lone Star
Flag was unfurled within the present limits Of
Louisiana, as the standard of those gallant
I" hllibusters,' who, in 1910, rescued the Florida
parishes in this State from the Spanish domin.
ion. Regardless of neutrality laws, Judge
/ Campbells and treaties, the citizens of Louisi-
ana and Mississippi eo-operated together for
the purpose Of driving the Spanish out of the
territory lying north Of Ibbervile river, Bayou
Manchac and west of the Perdido. The grounds
on which they proceeded were precisely those
on which the occupation of Cuba is now justi-
fed, to wit: that the territory was necessary to
the safety and prosperity of the United States
that a beautiful country, susceptible of sus-
tanning large population, was cursed by a
bad, retrograde government; that its vicinity
| to our States was source of continual alarm
and discord and trouble.
| On these grounds, gallant band of Ameri-
cans, most Of them residing out of the Spanish
territory, fell suddenly upon the fort at Baton
Rouge, drove out the Spaniards, and raised the
| Lone STAR flag in the place of the snowy
banner of old Spain. Those men were sue
cessful, and henceforth they were regarded as
patriots and heroes; if they had failed, they
would probably have been punished as pirates
and fllibusters. The United States, however,
enjoyed the results of their gallant conduct, as
the country thus gained by them became a
portion of the State of Louisiana, without cost
| ing our government cent.
| The flag used on this occasion bore golden
| star on white or blue ground. We have
| heard that it was in existence, and that the
venerable Colonel Hickey, of East Baton Rouge,
| who acted prominent part in the revolution
of 1910, could give the information respecting
it. The Colonel would confer great favor if
he would crafty this historical curiosity. In
the meantime, the following facts relative to
| the second occasion on which this flag was un-
furled, are deserving of prominent record. They
suggest another and even more brilliant achiev-
ment which lies in the womb of the future,
when this revolutionary banner may be again
given to the Stree winds"
The Georgian says:
The Galveston Ne,cs admits the claims which
| Georgia makes in behalf of one of her daugh
tiers, in the honor of having furnished to Texas
her Lone Star Flag" The following article
is taken from that paper:
The "Flag of the Lone Star" that was I'M
furled in Texas, was that borne by the Georgia
battalion, commanded by the gallant Lieut..
Col. Ward who, with almost his entire com.
mand, was massacred at Goliad, in the spring
of 1886, in what is known as "Fannin's mas
sacre," he being next in command to the la
mented Col, James Fannin.
This asg was presented to Col Wards CON-
mand as they passed through the town of
Knoxville, Crawford county, Georgia, by the
fairest daughter of the State, the beautiful,
gifted, and highly accomplished Miss Joanna
e. Troutman.
1t was made Of plain, white silk, bearing an
azure star Of five points on either side. On
one side was the inscription, in rich, but chaste
colors-" Liberty or Death y and on the other
the patriotic Latin motto-Ubi Libertas habi-
tat ADJ nostra pdtria est
This flag was unfurled Rt Velasco on the
9Th of January, 1886, and proudly foated on
the breeze from the same liberty pole with the
first /" flag OF independence" which had just
been brought from Goliad by the valorous Cap
tain VIM. Brown, who subsequently did such
daring and effective service in the navy of
Texas.
There is something singuiarly romantic in
T the history of these two things. The alag OF
independence" came from Goliad-where it
was first hoisted, just in time to be hnng to
the breeze, from the same staff with the beauti-
ful banner of the Single STAR" on the occa-
sion Of its being first unfurled in Texas
Proudly they hoated together! The crimson
sword, in fearful aspect, grasped in a sinewy
hand, waved boldly over the placid star, as it
reposed on its broad field of virgin white, as if
| to emblematize to chivalric VOW of gallant
knight Grant to his ladylove-"T Thee WILL i
PROTECT WHFRE'ER THOU GoEsT I"
What became Of the alag Of Indepen-
dence," we know not; but the beautiful star Of
azure, was borne by Col. Fannin's regiment to
Goliad, and there gracefully foated from the
same tall staff which first bore the bloodred sword
that had waved over, as if TO protect it, at Va
asco. On the 9Th Of March, 1886, an express
arrived at Goliad, from Washington, on the
| Brazos, officially announcing hat the Conven
| ton, then in session, had formally made solemn
declaration that Texas was no longer Mexi-
can province, but q free and independent Re-
public within itself On the receipt Of this
thrilling, thisglorious intelligence, the greatest
demonstrations of Joy we're made in the fort
| loud and Substituting strains Of marshal and
patriotic music, from trumpet, drum and fife"
resounded through the ancient confines Of the
fortress, and the shadowy aisles Of the venera-
BILE chapel La Bahia.
Amid the roar OF artillery, the beautiful
"Banner Of the Lone Star" was hoisted to the
top Of the identical flagstaff which first bore
the broad ensign Of that political independence,
the glad tidings of the declaration Of which, by
general Convention of the peoples represent
atives, then assembled, had just been received.
It proudly streamed over the hoary ramparts
and me-shattered battlements Of the antigua
ted fortress Of La Bahia, until the last rays Of
the setting sun were casting their "lessening
light against the gray turrets of the old chap
eli. Just as the Sunset gun" Numbered forth
its hoarse announcement of departed day, the
usual attempt 10 slower the colors" was being
made, when, by some unlucky mishap, the
beautiful silken banner became entangled in
the halyards and was torn into pieces. Only
q small fragment remained adjusted to the
flagstaff; and when Col. Fannin evacuated
Goliad, to join Gen. Houston, in accordance
with received orders, the last remnant Of the
first "Flag of the Lone Star" was still autter-
ing at the top of the staff from which hoated
the first "Flag Of Independence"
We are told that, after the battle of San ia