The National tribune., 1881-10-01

made captures: Sergeant L. G. Hack, of Com
pany F, being the winner of the prize for the
latter regiment
| Virginia, as already indicated did nobly, the
First Cavalry having proved eminently fortunate,
while Private Barney Shields, of the Second Viz
ginia (Union) Cavalry, captured the flag of the
Washington Artillery" "a crack battery at APP
pomattOX Station, thus maintaining deservedly
high reputation for bravery and devotion to cold
Glory"
West Virginia fully earned her share of laurels
before admission to the Union State.
The Sixth Wisconsin captured the Second
Mississippi entire; but for two days Sergeant
Evans, though a prisoner, kept the flag concealed.
1t was discovered, however, and now hangs in
the museum, memorial of the gallant achieve
ment of the men from the Badger State.
Near it is the flag of the Sixth Kentucky Con
federate), which, with the colonel of the regi-
ment, was captured by the Twenty sixth Wis
consin at JonesborO', Ga.
Edward landlord, Company III, Second United
States Regular Cavalry, not to be behind his
brethren of the volunteer service, captured the
colors Of the Thirty second Firgi Cavalry
battalion at Woodstock October 10, 1864; and
other conquests were achieved, but of which
want of time and space forbid notice.
Only flags captured in actual contact with the
enemy land Of such only few are included in
the foregoing sketch, and many of those men
toned plainly show the marks of battle. Gashed
and SCARED by wounds, sOiled and begrimed
by the elements of heaven and the smoke and
dust of conflict, they preach powerful sermons
to rejecting minds
The men who defended them and those who
wrested them from unwilling hands found their
defense and conquest no holiday affair There
were strong hands, stout, determined hearts
upon both Sides and in such the spirit of carnage
takes especial delight. When the flag is in
danger the soldiers gather around it; hearts grow
Drawer arms stronger, and the conflict surges
hfther and yon like one vast blood-crested sea.
Smoke, blood, fame-deaths dread trinity of
war-preside over the passions of men and en-
velop human forms in one vast, fearful winding
sheet Of woe.
We know this to be true, for we have expert
enced it. During the Seven Days fight on the
Peninsula, June 81, 1862, at Gaines's Mill, we saw
two of the trophies, now in the Ordnance museum,
when they were captured. One is the battle-aag
the Second Maine: the other that of the First
Tennessee, the honor of capturing which rests
with John Marks, Company D, Thirteenth New
York Volunteers, to which latter regiment the
writer belonged.
Among the many mementoes of the great strug-
gle to be seen in the museum, and not already
referred to- is one IA batte-fag of Fields DIVISION
Longstreet's corps, upon the staff of which some
facetious Confederate had during the time he bore
it, pasted piece of paper upon which appears
the following message:
"Mr YANKEE: You will please return this flag
staff and shoulder-belt over to the Ninth Maine;
was captured at st. Gilmore the Doth of October
1864 by the Three-Forks Regiment Volunteers.
"A BIG REBEL"
In the annex are quite number of Union
flags. which were from time to time captured by
the Confederates and subsequently retaken in
battle or surrendered at the close of the war.
The flag of the First Maine Infantry, which was
torn from its staff on the retreat from the first
Bull Run, July q, 1861, is there; and close
beside it are two flags which where never cap
tured-one, that formerly belonging to Berdan's
United States Sharpshooters, which was in TWEEN
dams Cavalry Corps Headquarters flag the hero
if flag can be so consdered of forty-six engage
ments, many of them hotly contested ones, and
which, like its companion banner, is a mass of
shreds and tatters.
This sketch would not be complete without the
mention of one more 1ag-that made by Hetty
McEwen of Nashville, Tenn, and which waved
above her roof, the only ensign of
loyalty publicly displayed during the Confederate
occupation of that city. Ordered to remove it,
she refused and dared the enemy to take it down;
and so the grand old Stars and Stripes remained
to gladden. the sight and cheer the hearts of the
faithful and preach loyalty to the disloyal, and
when Buell's forces entered the beeaguered town
they found it still floating
Kissed by the breezes and wooed by the
Emblem of unity, many in one;
Emblem of strength to Withstand every blast;
Emblem of patriot hearts to the last.
IN MEMORlAM.