National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-16
TIE TWO FLAGS.

THE COLO2S OF THE GEORGIA MILITIA.
ATLANTA, GA, July Il, 1874.
TO the Editor Of the National republican:
SIR: see you are touching up the Virgin
ians about the rebel flag. Do not confns your
self to that State alone, but let them all have
a little, and at the same time enlighten the
Northern people, who cannot believe there is
so much of the old feeling existing. Here,
right in Sam. Bard's town, they are far from
being reconstructed, but perhaps more timid
than in Virginia, fearing that they may not be
so successful in having money voted them for
custom houses, post offices, sc. -..
But now in regard to the flag. There is
company hero, (militis,) fully "armed and,
equipped" by the United States Government,
who parade, always
CARRYING SMALL REBEL FLAG
that was presented to them by the great Mrs.
WCstmoreland, who, perhaps, you know some
thing about, as she was, 1 understand, lobby
member in Washington last winter. This
company, although having received its arms
from the Government, refused TO march or pa
rade with brother company because they car
ried the United States flag, or, as they termed
it, the ''old rag"
At present there are four militia companies
in this city, all armed with excellent Spring
field breech-loaders, received from the Govern
ment. One company, the Zouaves, or Captain
Conley's company, is composed Of eK-Confede-
rate soldiers. The captain himself is an eX-
Confederate officer, and on an occasion last
winter three of the companies agreed TO parade
together for the benefit Of the members Of the
Z c1ofT in h.RV,
Captain Conley arrived on the ground
with his company, carrying the United States
flag, he was visited by the officers Of the other
two companies. and informed that
THEY WOULD NOT PARADE WITH HIM
If he insisted on carrying the old fag-the
Stars and Stripes. OF course Conley-a true
soldier and lover Of his country-insisted that
the flag must be carried; but, to avoid row,
he marched his company to the armory and
dismissed them, and did not annoy the other
companies any longer, or "insult the Legisla.
ture." The other companies paraded, and
were received by the Legislature, though
minus the United States band that had been
hired to them on that occasion, the drum
major marching away with the color company.
For this act of Captain Conley's company the
members have suffered more than you can
imagine, as they arc sll mechanics or laborers,
and find their employers will not hire them
when others can be procured. This has been
carried to such an extent, l understand, as to
almost break up the organization.
HOW CAPTAIN CoNLEY WAS PUNISHED.
Again, In May last, day was designated by
the mayor for decorating the graves of the
Confederate dead, and all good citizens were
invoked to close their places Of business and
swell the procession which had been arranged,
designating a place for each society, club,
civilians and, the two companies OF militia.
Thus, you see, Conley's company had no place
assionedit-was left out in the cold for the
sirsplc reason that, upon another occasion it
carried the United States colors.
This company, few days afterwards, ap-
piled to the United States officer in command
at the barracks for the band and a stand of
colors, and with both psraded the streets and
went out TO the cemetery and decorated the
graves Of their comrades, which opportunity
was refused them on the day set apart for
that purpose. This, it is true, was the last
parade the company has had, and unless the
prejudice now existing subsidies it will be the
means of breaking up the company, which, no
doubt, is the object the citizens have in view,
for its members are poor, and have to depend
on others for employment, which is anything
else than freely given, simply because they
are deemed guilty OF having grossly insulted
the community.
SUGGESTION TO CONGRESS.
Question. If Congress will continue to fur
nish these companies with arms. why, dou't
they insist that they shall carry the United
States colors as well as United states armsl
| am satisfied that If there was a prOviso OF