Evening star., 1865-03-21

the direction Of Danville, it seems to US, will
have passed away.
AN INTERFERING SCENE.
At eleven O'Clock this morning Major II. B.
Compson, sth N. Y. cavalry, and others Of the
officers and men Of Clusters Division appeared
at the War Department with seventeen rebel
flags captured by them at Waynesboro' and
Charlottesville In Sheridan's late victory over
Early.
Each officer and soldier IN this party cap
tured, with his own hand, battie-fag, which
is now inscribed with the name Of the cap
tor.
The names Of the party who captured the
flags are:-Major H. B. Compson, sth N. Y.
cavalry; Capt. 9. q. Bruton, A. d. q. to Gen1
Custer, 22d N. Y. cavalry; Lieut.. S. Kuder, sth
N. Y. cavalry; Lieut.. r. Niven. sth N. Y. cav
alry: Sergeant James Conklin, Sth N. Y. caval-
ry: Sergeant R. Bourey, 1st Va. cavalry; Cor
poral H. H. Bickford, sth N. Y. cavalry Cor
poral H. Harvey, 22d N. Y. cavalry; Private G.
Ladd, 22d N. Y. cavalry; Private @. Anderson,
1st N Y cavalry; Private W. Carmon, 1st N
Y. cavalry; Private p. OBrien, 1st N. Y. cav.
airy; Private M. Crowley, 22d N. Y. cavalry;
Private O. A. Cohen, sth N. Y. cavalry; Pri-
yate John Miller, sth N. Y. cavalry.
These men were Of the Sd division, under
command OF General Custer, and were mostly
of the I'd brigade, Col VIM. Wells, 1st Vermont
cavalry commanding.
On arriving at the War Department, the flag
bearers were ushered into the Secretary's
room, which was speedily filled with Interested
spectators. tT.f
Among those present were Gen. Townsend,
Assistant Secretary Of War Dana, Senator
Harris, OF New York, Senator Howard o.
Michigan, and Mrs Custar, the beautifuI
Young bride Of the gallant Custar, and who
naturally took deep interestin the proceed.
ings.
On Secretary Stantons entering the room
Major Compson handed him letter from Gen
Sheridan, in which, after concisely narrating
the deeds of the brave men who captured the
flags, he asked for them furlough Of 30 days.
Secretary Stanton, after reading the letter
aloud, called up to him in turn each member
Of the group Of heroes, and asked them indi-
vidually to narrate the history Of their respect
i've captures; after which, he introduced them
to Mrs. Custer, the wife Of their gallant COM
mander, and to Senator Harris, Of their own
State.
The several narratives thus given in graphic
style by the men Of the capture of the flags was
interesting and anus ug In the extreme.
The Secretary asked each his place of resi-
dence and the time at which he had entered
the service, and on ascertaining that Sergeant
Bourey, Of West Virginia, had taken up arms
at the very outbreak Of the rebellion, and pro-
posed to fight it through to the end, he remarked
that NO soldiers in the Union army had done
better service than those of West Virginia
and he commended Sergeant B. for the special
devotion he had shown by his long service al.
ready given and his pledge for the future.
Among the flags presented were two of
Early's headquarrer flags, one presented to
him on the very day OF its capture. Also, tive
of Gen. Crooks headquarter flags, recaptured
by us at Waynesporo.
Following upon the presentation of the flags,
Secretary Stanton addressed the captors as
follows
Officers and Soldiers: In the name Of the Pres.
ident and of the people Of the United States, il
is my pleasant duty to return you thanks for
the gallantry and courage that have, from the
commencement, been displayed by yourselves
and the command to which you are attached
This, / believe, il the fourth time that have
had the pleasure of receiving flags taken in
battle by General Shsridan's command; and
on no occasion has more signal service been
rendered to the Government than on that
which brought about the capture Of these flags
To You and your brave comrades in arms
again, in the name of the President and the
people, return thanks. The request Of your
General that leaves and farloughs be given to
you, and that you be paid the amount now due
YOU. will be granted, and you will each be
awarded q medal Of honor, voted by Congress
for gallant and meritorious services in this
war. wish that you may all safely reach
your homes, that you may have pleasant
time with your mothers, wives, and sweet
hearts, that you may return to your comrades
n renewed strength, and that you may be
<o x1ifu final oFf
enemy you have fought on SO many fields, and
the re.establishmentin in perpetuity Of tho Union
Great applause succeeded this neat and per. |
tinent address. .s -..,.. .- ,---- |
The Secretary, then turning to Senator How.
ard, said, 81 beg to introduce to you the Hon. |
Mr.. Howard, Senator from the State of Mich |
teau, the present home Of Gen. Custer. The |
senator feels and shares with you the honor |
and glory OF this occasion" 4y ~ |
Senator Howard, in acknowledging the in. |
troduct ction, remarked: Officers and soldiers,
in the name Of the people OF my State, the Inn /
mediate fellow citizens OF General Custer, 1 |
beg to tender you their and my most sincere |
thanks. ... ..
The Secretary then introduced the Hon. Ira |
Harris, Senator from the State Of New York, |
who spoke as follows:
Vulss BoASouAoA1 - pIOuu 0oy IOT mc. j
feel more proud than ever that can represent
a body Of men such as you are representing |
here to-day. Itis one of the proudest days of
my life to know that New York can send to
the field, In defence Of our country, brave men
like you and your comrades. who can present
such evidences of gallantry, courage, and ser
VICE to the country. thank you, gentlemen-
all Of you-for what you have done for the
country and for our native State.
gsss ARTILLEEY PRACTICE. "a
The heavy firing heard this morning In the
the Notifications around the city, resembling