The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-03
IBrooklyn Faglcl

the details and their susceptibility OF yeri-
fication 1: would be ,rifle too romantic for
the average reader. But rs II Is, the accli-
racy OF the strange history cannot be qlies-
toned by any reasonable person. II came
TO the ears OF q reporter OF the Times
day or two ago, and he at once set about
verifying the story before publication, so
MS 10 leave no chance for criticism by
the most incredulous OF doubling
Thomases."
n will be remembered that on the 4th Of
.yuly last the Virginia Cadets and q number
of ex-Confedcrate officers were received In
the Governors room at the New York City
Hall by Mayor Edison and number OF
distinguished military men OF this state
and leading officials OF the city. The OBJ
iect of the Cadets visit TO tie metropolis
was to restore to the city OF New York,
through its Mayor, the batte-flag OF the One
Hundred-and-Sixty-f New York Vol
uptcers, which had been presented by the
city 10 that regiment, and which had been
captured by the Con:ederates on its way to
the regiment in the field.
THE FLAG CAPTURED.
on December 10, 1868. at the battle OF
Catlett's Station. Colonel Mottrom Dulany
Rail. commanding the Eleventh Virginia
cavalry fine Black Horse, raided stock
AIDE. which he supposed was defended by a
detachment OF the One-IIundred-and-fi
fy-ffth New York, and captured the flag
OF the One Hundred-and-SiXt fourth New
York, which was packed in a box.
Seventeen members of the regiment, TO
whom the custody Of the flag had been en-
trusted. were taken prisoners. Colonel
Balls command was part OF the force
of General Rosser, which started out
from Alexandria December 1G, 1863, to
cut off the northern troops. The Fed
eral soldiers within the stockade at Catletts
Station supposed that they had only to
deal with Il skirmishing or raiding party,
and left only seventeen men in charge OF
the fort after sallyinC out to meet the enc
my. On the 4th Of July last, in the Cover
nor's room in the CITY Hall, when the pro-
per moment came for the presentation OF
the flag 10 the Mayor il was handed to Col
Onel VI. ID. Ball. one OF the eX-Copfederates
present, as the officer who captured II, and
who could most appropriately restore it to
the city. Colonel Ball then made an elo-
quent speech, in the course OF which he
feelngly alluded to the fraternal feelings
which were now animating every section
OF the country.
After telling briefly the story OF the cap
ture of the flag, he handed the coIors to
Mayor Edison, who in turn gave them
Colonel De Lacy, Of this city, the last COM
manding officer Of the One Hundred-and-
Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers in the
field. The flag had been presented TO the
Virginia Military Institute in 1864, at the
close OF the war.
The local sequel TO this historic incident
in the history OF battle-1ag is as follows:
Among those who read the story OF the
restoration of the flag and the attendant
ceremonies was eX-Assemblyman John III.
Douglass, OF the Seventeenth Ward. He
was away from home at the time, but the
account OF the proceedings published in
one OF the New York dailies happened TO
catch his eye. The name OF Mottrom Du-
lany Ball first startled MIR. Douglass. II
had familiar sound TO him, and, after q
little thought, il stirred some strange emo
tions i'm his breast, so that he lost no time
in getting back to Brooklyn to set at rest Il
doubt that gave him no little anxiety.
ALL DOUBT AT REST.
On his return home he examined an old
family Bible which has been in his house
for the last twenty-five years. All doubts
were set at rest, and Mr.. Douglass realized
that he had some OF the same kind Of
restoration TO do on his own account that
Colonel Ball did for the city Of New York.
On the 10Th OF April, 1861, at the first call
OF President Lincoln for troops from this
State, the Seyenty-first New York VOlun-
teers went to the front. Among the en-
gineer company of the regiment, number
ing about two dozen, was John III. Doug
lass, then residing across the East river.
MIR. Douglass served with the Seventy
first while in the field; afterwards entered
the navy, from which he resigned in New
Orleans to accompany General Banks on
the Red River Expedition. On the eve
ming of July 10Th, 1861, the night before the
first battle OF Bull Run. the Seventy-frst
New York and other regiments were lying
i'm camp at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia.
DEVASTATION.
The surrounding country has been de-
yastated, and houses abandoned by their
owners, who had fled south with theiI
families aud with what personal effects
they could safely and conveniently carry,
were being pillaged by the advancing sol
diery. Among the other houses pillaged
IN the neighborhood was handsome resi-
dence, the home evidently OF a well-to-dC
planter, furnished with taste and refine
culture on the part OF those who had aban.
doned il TO the rayages of civil war. 4
broau veranda ran round the four sides OF
the frame building, ana from this glls'
doors opened into an elegant library. Mr.
Douglass saw this beautiful place deyasta
ted, the furniture smashed, small articles o.
value carried away, books torn from theil
shelves IN the library and strewn over th'
floor, windows broken, and destruction
wrought generally. In the library he saw
what appeared TO be an old leather-bounC
family Bible, and this he took with him b
camp. intending II ever he should fad tn
owner Of 1t, TO whom it would no doubt b.
priceless 10y family associations, TO restor
II. That night he found that negro EN-
ployed by one OF the soldiers in camp wa
returning TO Washington. He hunted hin
up and 10 him he entrusted the Bible, ask
ing him when he got TO Washington 10 for
ward It to the following address, which b
wrote In the dark on the fly-leaf:
5ohn II. Douglass, No. 81 Aveaue G, New Yor
Fairfax Courthouse. Virginia, July 20, 1861.
A COMMISSION FAITHFULLY EXECUTED.
Although he paid the negro well 20 exc
cute the commission, Mr.. Douglass haf
grave doubts about ever hearing from III,
precious volume again. When he returned
home with his regiment he was most agree
ably surprised TO find that the darky hat
faithfully discharged hD trust, and that III,
Bible was at bis house, where il has since
remained. Ii was the family Bible O,
Colonel Mottrom Dulany Ball, colonel OF
the Eleventh Virginia cavalry, whose house
was raided by Federal troops ut Fairfax
Courthouse on the night before the first
battle OF Bull Run. who captured the bat
tie flag OF the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
fourth New York Volunteers on December
~, 1868, and who restored il TO the city OF
New York ihrnuch The Mayor ON L,Ir ~