The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-06-27
u. s. FLSe STEAMER Benton, |,
Memphis June II. 1850

village Of Chur1on u Rebel flag, captured in The
late engnpeme Mt before this plnce In the con-
fusion of baule, this ang came into our posses.
tion, without mark TO note from which one cI
,he Rebel fleet it was taken It was once
Union flag, aud has been altered TO n Rebel one
by printing over some ot the stars, and sewing
together the red and white stripes, so as TO form
tile ''hars."
have presented TO my native State. through
Governor Tod, the flag lowered from lie pCnk Of
die General Bragg" and | now feel much
Isensuro in. being nble to send TO the viIlope
whete my home ties are. where my warmly.
cherished child nd boy associations all cluster
this trophy from an action 50 disastrous to the
traitors. am. respectfully,
Your obediont servant.
S IT, PHELPS, u. S.N,
Lieut. Commanding and Acting Fleet Capt.
4 meeting was held at the Court House on
FdiNy evening last, for the purpose Of making n
puslie presentation Of the A'g Though the no.
dee was brief one, it sttraeieda large audience
including many ladies. ......
iAo meeting wus called to order by Judge Can.
field, and on motion Of A. H. Thrnsher Esq.
the Mayor presided. J. o. Converse was up
poiatcd Secretary.
The Mayor briefly stated the object OF the
meeting whereupou Mr.. Geo. f. Paine made
the presentation speech He said he appeared
for the purpose Of delivering to the Mayor, for
the village Of Chatdon, trophy from that
brilliant and never-to. be.exeelled naval en-.
gngement winch resulted in the destruction
of Rebel fleet and the capture Of Mem
phis. lio did so at the request OF the family
of the donors father, Judge Phelps and of Lieut..
Phelps estimsbe lady, who was present, and
who, by her frequent visits, had testified her up.
probation of our village, MS a pleasant summer
Io uht bo Al a, 40 ,r;, IL
ty, for, although not now citizen OF Chardon,
he had formerly been one, aud felt common in
terest with our citizens in the trophy. After
reading Lieut. Phelps letter, he said il was but
proper that we should thus publicly testify our
regard for the gift and the services OF the writer
With the exception Of Commodore Foote, no OIL
Ger Of the Flotila had rendered such valuable
service as Lieut.. Phelps and he believed that,
were IL not for ths rcd tape system Of the Navy.
he would now be its Commodore. The Rebellion
would have one good effect, if it should be the
means of destroying that system.
Having said thus much of personal nature
MIR. Pane proceeded TO speak at some length Of
the history OF the Rebellion, proving by reference
90 undisputed facts and natters OF record, that
the election of Lincoln w0s only its occasion, and
not its cause, il having been a long cherished
scheme Of%he Southern traitors. Its leaders he
would unhesitaurgly condemn to death.
Of all the carly associates Of Lieut.. Phelps,
said MI, P, with the exception, perhaps, Of Col
Halbert e. Paine, of the 4tL Wisconsin Regiment
none was more intimate than Mr.. c. l.. Canfeld
and it is happy coincidence that he is now, as
Mayor Of Chardon, to receive this flag. lie
concluded with somo focetious illusions to the
,,iI oT IL n a IT I,
Paine, Alfred Phelps, j.. Paymaster Of the Con.
es,oga, and "His honor the Mayor of Chardcn, :"
under Gen. E. A Paine and the old militia sys
TEN. His remarks were appropriate and we'll
received. '-
The Mayor, in behalf Of the village, accepted
the flag.
Judge Garfield presented the following re;ou.
tions, which were unanimously adopted
ResolVed, That it is with pride and satisfaction,
we receive from Capt 5; L. Phelps, this Flag,
the emblem OF thwarted and defeated treason /;
nj once n trophy of tho recent victory achieved
by our Fotilla off Memphis, and a token Of the
enduring regard entertained by him Tor the
home OF his youth. the residence OF his hon
ored parents, and OF his kindred and early friends
Resolved, That, while the record OF his ser.
vices and achievements in this eventful aud
bloody srugg lie with traitors, has become part of
the Nations history, and Injured to the common
benefit, ana while his name has become familiar to
the people OF the State and Nation, as a brave,
accomplished and eilicient Nava, officer, whose
trumphs are National property, yet we claim
that deeper interest in his growing fame which
springs from he right we justly and proudly
cherish. of calling him our personal friend and
fellow citizen.
Resolved, That we tender to his wife and
kindred now with us, our congratulations upon
the additional lusre which his patriotic services
shedding upon a hitherto honorable name
Resolved, That this Flag, with suitable in
scnptlDn, with the accompanying autograph lot
ter OI Capt. Phelps, be deposited in the Office
OF the Town Recorder, and carefully treasured
as trophy won by the gallant donor, to whom,
with the brave men under his command, we
award the highest praise for those brilliant ef-
forts which both merited and won success.
RfSOiupd. That we have watched with intense
and CONSTANT y-iRcreasing interest the series of
successful achievements wrought out by our ma
val lIrces in the valley of the Mississippi, and
We have been compelled to the belief that, with
out their efficient id all our efforts at crushing
out Secession in The West, would have been but
iSuitlcss and abOriive sncriices of lie and prop.
criy and that GA that arm OF the National de.
fense we must still place large reliance for the
successful termination OF this fearful strife.
Resolved, That n copy hereof, signed by his
honor the Mayor, ond the Reco der, be for
warded to Capt. Phelps, as an acknowledgment
OF our reception OF his valued gift, and OF our ap.
probation Of the kind regards which prompted
its bestOwal.
J. D. Converse, being called out, remarked that
he could not hope to add anything to what was
well said in the resolutions. We all appre.
c!ate this flag, account both of The gift and the
gWer, aud q token of the remembrance Lieut..
Phe' ps retains Of his native village. To receive
such trophy at any time, would be gratifying (;
when won in the glorious cause of our country,
doubly so but, when presented by one born and
reared in our midst, we feel deeper pride, and
md claim portion of the glory our own.
The Upper Flotilia OF the Mississippi has met
with nn UNINTERRUPTED series of brilliant sue
cesses, eliminating in the capture of Memphis,
and the consequent re- opening of the NJ ssissippi
TO the commerce OF The world and we are graf
ihed that in its operations, one who went from
among US has borne so conspicuous and honorable
part.
This flag is fit emblem Of the Southern Con.
iederacy- sOi!ed, delaced aud polluled-"marred,
us you see, by traitors" II was made from a
United States flag by changing its stars and
stripes 10 the inglorious stars and bars of a
traitor Government. Everything of value the
Rebels possess has been stolen from the United
States, and it is fitting that such n Government
should have such an ensign. But one thing il
waiting 10 complete its appropriateness they
should have efia0ed every star, and lett the stripes
or bars alone No star should enliyen its dark
hues. .. ..-.. .,.
Oh, how the glorious old Flag of the Union has
been abused and insulied, and to what bnse uses
has it been perverted, by our enemies, and the
enemies of mankind But we rejoice that its
stars are not only stars Of glory, but stars OF prom.
ise also. A better day is coming, when every
l..t A., lii