Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-11

them say, whether in the final capture
Of this flag, they thought IN the hour
Of their triumph it bad been dis
arAced BY our defense OF their victory.
They know because they were there.
and il was sad and awful place for
brave men to be, whether thirsling
for glory, or hungering for that flag.
Only the day before, sixty.hve men Of
the Sixteenth Iowa fell in charge on
rebel works, with these SINE colofs
waving at their 'front.' was the old Gag,
With all Its records Of victories.
and never defeat, the very
next day 10 be trailed in the dust
without a struggle, such as men fight
to the last drop Of their hearts blood,
when honor more than life is at stake2
The old fAsl In many a
battle eyes have glazed In death
tlooking at its loved folds. Men with
gaping wounds, and suppressed
cries Of agony broke from the field
having turned their last gaze at the
Fold oolors still huttering mid smoke
and shot. But never WIS so much
blood shed for the defense Of this Gag
as WAS spilled like rain for its capture
on that I'D day OF July. Ask those
who won it and were it, and now, AZ
| eallanty as they fought for the prize,
restore il TO the brave hands that
once so proudly upheld il. 10 the
presence OF the brave and chivalrOus
officer who, With 30 many compliment
AIRY expr, ssions accompanying the gift
has restored his 4 8 10 the regiment
from which his command anet
wrenched it, | cannot find heart OIL
voice at this hour to dispLrage tn,
cause which secured such defenders
as General Govan aud his brigade
The Gag Of the Union, represented BY
these colOrs, still waves. yiHdicstea
triumphant, its friends and foes O
two decades ago are now as one, equal
ly ready and equally brave 10 deienC
the old flag and all it represents
whether danger threatens from abroad
or at home.
Now, in the name and as represer
tative on this occasion Of the survi
vors OF the Sixteenth Iowa infantry,
receive again our loved colors; and il
the name Of these comrades, and b!
theirbauthority, or as | ieel sure, il
response to their wishes, return
thanks for the generous, chivalri,
kindness which has enabled us thil
night to rejoice with even greater jol
than those other comrades Of th,
Iowa brigade who never lost flag.
The Glee Club then rendered Sta
Spaugled Banner" and other tationa
airs, the audience joining heartily il
the choruses
Major II. @. Macarthur then spok,
to the comrades, and rendered "0l,
Shady" in a manner that evoke,
heartiest applause. 90
General Macarthur, "the diyisicl
commander who wore q Scotch cap,
was called out, and made a rousln
speech to the veterans, he spoke 0
the good influence Of these reunion
! upon the young ofthls country, teach
ing them patriotism.
General Vandever, Colonel Of III
Ninth Iowa, was called upon. Thong
: not member Of Orocker's brigade, b
said he was proud Of the TACT that b
Q was an Iowa soldier The creates
I result Of the war is an increased Low
? Of liberty in the hearts Of the Ameri
I can people. The North and Sout
would in the future present an unite
front against any invader, a3aH
{ General "Jack" Sibbs, of Ii
0 Twelfth Iowa, was called out, an
. everybody was broke up over b
) exceedingly humorous rendition
/, the German parody on "Barbar
! Fritchie."
0 One Of the features OF the sveniI
4 was the projection on a large tran,
z narency Of the familiar army or
4 Grab root" II was General Bell
I maps idea, and took the boys
d storm. aa
HOW IT WAS CAPTURED
E 1t is said that the flag bearer of Il
. Gag returned by General Govan h
written to the General asking as to N
, whereabouts Of the soldier who cal
! tured that Gag. The writer Of Il
! letter says, good humoredly "Th
:. fellow that took the flag from me wa
y a great big SIX or seven footer, and b
! run up on me with his dubbed mu
: ket and yelled, Drop that flag an
|. git, d--n youl' | dropped il and got
I He says he would like to correspor
with him,