National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-04-24
The "0ld Flag"
HOW THE REBS LOVE THE BAR STAN
GLED SPANNER SERGEANT BATES
. AND HIS TOUR.
COLUMBUS, S. c., March 20.

SolAo Js Ss, 4'AhiNiA -p'
Editors of Cincinnati Times -
Thus far we have advanced on
Washington. The affection that
has been exhibited for the ''old flag"
all along the route has been of the
most ardent nature. Men who
fought against it for four years
come long distance to see it once
again, "shouting the battle cry OF
freedom One man who lost "a leg
in the Confederate service, came
forty five miles on crutches to see
the stars and stripes. Said he had
not seen it since Chickamaugaa,
where he left his leg. He wept with
10y when the old flag hove in sight.
KEEP UP THE OLD FLAG
Another who had his legs and
arms blown off and eyesight de
stroyed by the premature discharge
ola cannon he was firing to cele-
brate the assassination OF Lincoln,
cried to be permitted to kiss 1.-The
glorious emblem Of our country" as
he called it. 1t was proposed TO
lower the flag for him to salute
"No.n said he, i'll burst OF patri-
otic indignation, ''never lower the
old flag. Keep her upm 80 he
was raised up on the shoulders OF
some of John Morgan's men i'll order
that he could kiss the "stars and
stripes,n which he did amidst the
cheers of the eX.rebels and the way
ing of handkerchiefs by the ex
secesh women, while an eX-Con
federate band, consisting OF the
mouth piece of an eX-clarlonet and
bass drum, played We'll rally
round the flag, boys
RECEPTION BY TIE EXREBs.
Upon approaching the town we
are frequently met by nearly the
entire secesh population, who give
way to the most eXtravagant eX
pressions OF joy-singing, dancing
weeping and shouting "bless the
old flag ''the stars and stripes for
ever" "hurrah for the flag OF oul
Union" and similar expressions
greet our ears. Then they e Drt
us into town, singing the ,tal
Spangled Banner" "John Browns
Body" and other national airs.
'.Ir ANY MAN HAULs DOWN, ETC
We were escorted into town be
low here i'll the above manner, two
men carrying the banner inscribed
'If any man attempts to haul down
the American flag, shoot him on thu
spot" Those two men wept hike
children. They belonged to a vlgl
lance committee that pulled down
Union flags at the beginning OF the
war. They said if they had known
how much they thought of the sol,
flag" they wouldn't have done IT.
A "KEERFUL" OLD LADY.
An old lady who came i'll twent.
miles from the country to-day t'
see us. said she sent her two boy
to fight for jeff Davis, but she 'al
ways told 'em to be very keerfu
about firing on the old flag
A MOMENT OF PASSION.
A lecayed planter, who was il
the rebel Congress said: "Why
bless me. is it possible that we fire.
real bullets at that glorious oil
hag9 1t must have been in a me
ment of passionr a moment c
passion four years long is rathe
protracted, but the old fellow seem
ed quite earnest about it. lie rals
ed his hat as the flag passed, an
borrowed half a dollar of the sci
geant.
WANTED TO SIT UP WITH THE OIL,
FLAG.
Every night he have dozens c
applications from reconstructed reb
who, on their knees, with teal
streaming down their checks be
the privilege of sitting up with tn
old flag. They speak of the man
times they caught glimpses OF
amid the smoke of battle, and stroy
to ''rally round' it, but some fcller
in blue coats wouldn't let them.-
They said they they always love
the old hag-couldn't keep the
hands of from it whenever the
succeeded in storming any work
that it hoated over, which was NJ
very often. The devotion of thes
men to the stars and stripes is rca
ly quite touching.
Yours for the stars, also IL
stripes.
SPECIAL.