Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-18
Raising the Flag at st. Sumter.

Fiom "a narrative OF lis trip to South
Carolina by Rev Henry Ward Beecher, de-
liyered at Plymouth Church, Brooklyn,
Sunday evening April %, as reported in
the N. Y. independents, we take the fol
lowing description of the ceremony of rails.
ing the "Old Flag" over Folt Sumter:
o. the right, as looked down, were
drawn up a company of white soldiers. Ou
the lett, as | looked down, were drawn up
anutner company Of soldiers, black as ebo-
ny. A part, they were, of my brothers
regiment, that had been detailed for this
service.
A broad platform had been erected. 1t
Was covered with pine tassels. 1t was va
rouSly ornameued with leaves, evsrgreens,
flowers, aud other fitting decorations. There
stood the barren flagstaff, lifted far up into
the air. The platform was soon covered
with the guests. Out before us already was
gathered a vaster audience than is here;
and not few familiar faces did ] behold
therefor Brooklyn, always patriotic, stood
conspicuous in her pilgrim zeal on that oc-
cason.
The old chaplain-a slender man, feeble
by i'll health; advancing in years; plainly,
tUO uTCSSOu kiOI 10 pOOiJJ tho
very man that went with Anderson from
Fort Moultrie, and stood, when the flag had
been hoisted in Fort Sumter, and read the
prayers of the Episcopal Church on that
occasion-him | requested to offer up the
prayer on this occasion. And, although
his voice was tremulous and almost inaudi-
BILE, it was enough to know that that good
manand the same man, had been spared, by
the blessing of God, to stand and pray when
the flag should go up again.
After the prayer several psalms were read
in alienation, DIR. Storrs leading in the
service, and the people responding.
Then came the event of all events. From
a leathern bag, in which il had been brought
Hart, who, when the 1Ig had been shot
down, hoisted it again in the fierce battle
of Fort Sumter; Hart, who had been faith
iul servant OF Gen. Anderson, and faith
ful soldier as WE'LL Hart, who had been Sc
iected 10 care iOr and keep the Nag, and
| to prepare it on this occasion--trom leath-
Tenn Rag he now drew forth that precious en-
sight. | had scarcely thought, except in
general, that it would be s glorious thing
to see the old flag float agaiu; aud, when he
began to draw it forth from its hiding
looked upon it with sort OF uncuIl0us
eye, rather wondering il it was torn or fret
ted away, CT II the breeze would hud that
its fl er was decayed. scarcely knew what
was in me or about me. But, when one
corner had been attached, and Gen. hnder.
son had been handed the cords, and he had
begun to draw them, and the fig had gone
up some ten or twelve feet, looked up;
and if the heavens had broken, and poured
down their influences on me, could not
have been so surcharged, and 80 borne
away. as | was in that strange and surpass-
ing moment. For as in a vision, the whole
round circle of events came up before me.
There went up that old aagi and in second
sight | saw by it men in times past, and In
tiaies 10 come dissolved, and cried like
a child, like u wsman, or rather, like man.
And had company, for tears were falling
on every side. Up il went, aud up, bright
! er 3 nd cies,e aud noher, ill its stals rouch-
ed the very top. Women fsiuted tor ex-
cess Of feeling. Men casped each other
in commissions of emotion. Many prayed.
Some wept And whenthe flag had reach.
ed its highest point, and a few words had
been solenluly and fitly spoken by General
Anderson. he retired some steps back II
was public, and l, therefore, may say that
no sweeter scene was ever witnessed than
J that which transpired when his wife clasped