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

uonal Tribune: nrsfe
go RETURN OF THE FLAG.
z One Of the most thrilling scenes that
was ever witnessed in relation to the
war was then enacted. 1t was the re-
turn OF the flag to the Sixteenth Iowa
by General Govan's command, cap. |
tured at Atlanta, July %, 1864. Il
: The following letters we're read by
General Belknap in explanation Of
the preliminaries that led to bis re
turn:
GENERAL GovAN's LETTER
MARiASSA, ARK, September II, 1888
To General Belknap 100
n MY DEAR GENERAL-I have, with |
10 the past few days, been fortunate
enough to get possession # a United |
States flag, captured by ny brigade at
Atlanta in the battle Of July q, 1864 !
IL is useless for me to say that it af |
lords me the greatest pleasure to re> |
torn il to its righlfdl owners, the gall |
lant right Che Sixteenth Iowa, that |
bore II With such conspicuous courage
and gallantry in my presence on that
ever memorable occasion, and only
parted With il when TO retain it longer
was impossible, after having done all
that could be expected OF human
courage aud vAlor 10 defend il. I beg
therefore that you will, in my name
and With the full concurrence and enc
dorsemeut OF my old brigade, 10 such
lifting words as the oocasaoH demands,
present the flag with my compli.
ment8 10 Colonel Saunders and the
officers and the surviving members Of
The Sixteenth Iowa regiment, feeling
iully assufed that battle Scared and
torn as i ia with the tempest Of shot
and shell that its tilken folds could
repDse 10 no worthier hands than
llhoseo the gallant mon over whom
il has fosted upon so many memora.
BILE occasions, proudly Drawing the
battle ADD the breeze.
This flag was captured by the 10Th
Arkansaw regiment General Gle
burne old regiment) shall to-day
crward you By Southern Express the
Dag, which hope will reach you
stfely and be the more highly priced
ai,er its evcntiul history. Again as
suriUg you Of thepleasure il affords
me to return the old fl,g, and express.
iug the hope thst il may be possible
for me to be with you on the 18th Of
September, | am very sincerely aud
truly yours,
D. q. GovAN.
GENERAL BELKNAPs ANSWER
The following reply was sent 10
General Govan:
WAsHIS0roS, September IS, 1888.
General ID. G. Govan, Mariana. Ark.
Mr. DEAR GENERAL-I have this
moment received your letter Of Sep
TENDER llth. aud with it the hag d
the Sixteenth Iowa, captured BY your
brigade in the battle Of July %, 1864,
near Atlanta The veterans Of that
gallant regiment, who will meet, with
the other survivors Of Crocker's Iowa
brigade, 10 reunion, at Cedar Rapids,
on September 18th and 9th. will
thank you for this return to them Of
their lost treasure, and will appreciate
the generous and peaceful words con
corning themselves which yocr letter
contains.
No battle Of the war was fought
more gallantly or stubbornly BY the
soldiers engaged on both sides. and
though this regiment was borne down
by superior numbers and forced to
yield alter most heroic struggle,
your own words show how severe the
contest was. 1880
shall take great pleasure in follow
ing your wishes. that tho flag be re-
turned to Colonel (now GENERALLY ADJ
olson II Saunders and his brave men,
aud sincerely hope that you may be
present with US at Cedar Rapids when
the Tag shall again wave over the vet.
Grams Of the Sixteenth Iowa.
With sincere regards,
Yours very truly,
WIN. W BELKNAP.
General Belknap then unrolled the
hlg that had been returned TO him and
amid the cheers Of every veteran pres
ent cilled out General Govan. who.
trembling with emotion, stepped for
ward and gave the following patriotic
sentiment:
GENERAL dovAN's ADDRESS.
Veterans Of Crooker's lows Brigade
am unable to find wordsto express
the feelings Of pleasure and satisfaction
that | feel in standing before you,
veterans tonight, | feel it com.
pliment, not only 10 myself, but 10
every ex-Confederate soldier who
served 10 the late war, that am per,
mitted to participate in this reunion.
Applause They will feel grateful
for this honor, and will respond ana
return It whenever an opportunity is
offered IChcers. 1 have testi.
fed heretofore TO the yalor Of
your Iowa soldiers 10 their heroic re
sistanco al Atlanta Add IL | had
said nothing, the long list Of the killed
aud wounded soldiers Of my command
would bear mute but irresistible ties.
timony Of your courage and yalor on
that occssion. In behalf Of our OK.
soldiers beg leave TO return 70 you
the Tag won from you on that mem0ra.
bic occasion. | trust you will hiarit|
as honorably as you did on that for
mer occasion; and assure you that
should Il ever again be assailed, the
men who opposed you that day will
stand by yeu IN the future and vie
With you in is defense. Loud
cheers. ! hope that Gag may hoat a.
long as the everlasting hills endure,
over free, prosperous, happy and
united people--as long as the waters
flow TO the great ocean.
Cheer after cheer was then sent up,
and
COLONEL ADDISON II. SAUNDERS,
who was captured BY General Govan,
stepped forward and grasped the old
flag that was taken from him on that
memorable day,and, with avoice husky
with emotion, said:
The old fac Lost-capturod-but
never disgracodl Let those who. 10
solid line, aud line masscd on line, As
brave sOldiers--llonlederate as they
wcro--as ever did soldiers duty,
charged and charged agaln on the
Sixteenth Iowa, July -, lS6i.till enc.
mics, dead aud wounded numbered
halt AZ many a. our men 10 the rifle
pits, aud prisoners from their ranks
nearly doubled our own NUMBER let