The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-07-06
Historic Bunting.
From the Topeka Blade, July

From the Topeka b!ane, Juiy L
In May, 1865, the writer bid adieu to
army comrades at Louisville, ky., and was
presented with very handsome garrison
flag, with the understanding that it was to
be used on all proper occasions, way down
in Georgia, ev,n at the risk of wounding
the feelings of those who had tried so des-
perately to overcome its prestige.
Very unexpectedly, on arrival at the
Southern home, public sentiment was favor
able to an amicable rebuilding Of the waste
places. The people feared conii-calion of
their property, and even the hanging or
bansbment OF their leader. They were
| ready to do anything in reason to prove
that they had yielded in good faith.
1t was proposed to have an old-fashioned
celebration on the 4th of July, and thus
allow these professions Of amity to put
themselves into actions. The proposition
was met heartily, and part of the exer-
cises ON that 4th day Of July, 1865, con-
sisted Of speeches by eminent citizens, and
the raising of the Old Flag. The flag used
on that occasion was the same that had
been presented to the writer. 1t went up
IcstiCdliy tHS suOuts uuLLhS VI
a people that mad four years before raised
= rebel flag at the same place. 1t Was the
first Union flag put up by citizens Of Geor-
gia after the war.
Later in the year Andy johnson succeed
ed to the Presidential chair and proclaimed
MY Policy" and then it was that the flag
fell into contempt among the Southern peo-
pie. This flag was run up on all public oc-
casions or national holidays, and many who
passed the street over which it tloated,
would leave the sidewalk and make q de-
tour into the street, in order to avoid walk
ing under it.
1t will probably be remembered by many
of our readers that in 1870, q Congressional
delegation, accompanied by J. w. Forney
and other prominent Republicans, went to
Macon, Ga, to visit the State fair. The
fair was held in building loaned for the
purpose by the United States, and the U.
s. Marshal, who was active in procuring the
building for that use, insisted that flag
should he run up over the building. The
fair managers made the excuse that they
had no suitable flag. The Marshal bor-
rowed our flag a. d loaned it to them; but
on the day Of the visit of the Congressional
delegation, no flag was to be seen, and
when Simon Cameron was called ON and
introduced, he looked up at the bare pole
on the building, and said he could not
speak without he had the assurance of his
personal safety there, which the display Of
the flag would give him. The flag was not
put up and Cameron did not speak. After
the fair it was spirited away and was lost
sight of for several months but a vigorous
clamor for it, and about it, through the
press, brought it by Express one day, billed
from Athens, the home of Bob Tombs.
1t fioated over the bloody scene at the
polls in Macon, in October, 1872. where
seven men were shot down for desiring to
express their preferences at the ballot-box-
1t was, for years, regarded As the rallying
signal in Macon, and had the embraces
and kisses Of enthusiasts when political
successes came.
This same "Dear Old Flag" will be run
up to the peak of our new flagstaff on the
morning of the Fourth, when it will mark
its age at eleven years.