National Republican., 1883-11-26
TROPHIES OF VICTORY.
Rebel Battle Flags the Prizes Of Union
ValOr.
A Full List OF tho Ensigns Taken as De-
posted in tho War Department.

Tho war department Is in possession Of
$40 confederate battle flags, captured at diff
ferent stages of tho late war. The majority
of them are mounted on rough hickory and
oak staffs, and bear evidence of the contests
through which they passed, and their bap-
tism in fire and smoke. Not few of them
arc stained and blotched with blood and rent
with bullet holes. number of the flags
have histories, narrating their capture and
the scenes of death which were enacted be-
meath their folds. Tho first flag on tho list is
numbered 1. 1t is the stars and bars-battle
flag-of the 18th Virginia volunteers, and was
captured in cavalry engagement near
Beverly Ford, June, 1863, by Gen. Kilpat-
rick's command after desperate conflict.
No. 3 Is q "tattered and tared" battle flag,
and was captured by CORPORAL Michael Lamey,
company +, nth New York volunteers. The
captor was killed about ono hour later by
being shot through the head during q charge.
No. was captured during the same battle.
1t bears the inscription, in large white letters,
"Citizen soldiers the best defenders Of our
homes" No. 16 is the flag of the Yalobusha
(Nliss) Rifles. 1t was captured at the battle
of the Cumberland, Jan. 10, 1868, by Corporal
Albert Esson, company G, 2d Minnesota vol
unteers, after a most desperate resistance.
No. 32 is confederate battle flag captured at
Malvern hill, July /, 1862, by Sorgt. w. j.
Whittrick, S3d Pennsylvania volunteers,
Butterfields brigade. This flag was taken
from South Carolina regiment, who
piled up their dead as brcastworks to resist
the attack of the brigade. The regiment
when captured had been reduced to q hand
full, and were delivering their fire from bo-
hind the ghastly pile. No. 80 was captured
at the battle of Sharpsburg, Sept IL, 1862, by
Private Isaac Thompson, company G, goth
Now York. state militia. He shot the con-
federate color-bearer and ran forward in the
face of deadly fusilade and brought off the
colors No. 40 is the battle flag of the 2d
Mississippi regiment. 1t was captured with
the entire regiment by tho 9th Wisconsin
volunteers, and was kept two days by Sergt.
Evans while prisoner in the hands of the
enemy. No. 90 is u smoky aud tattered
stars and bars flag captured in
Gen. Zollicofier's entrenchments Jan. 10,
1862, by company A, I'd Minnesota volunteers.
Both Arkansas infantry. 1t is q blue flag,
with white cross, and is inscribed, "Fayming-
ton, Miss.-Richmond, KY" No. 80 was
captured at Missionary Ridge, with three
pieces of Ferguson's confederate battery. by
the Goth Ohio volunteers, Col. f. NJ Moore
commanding, No. 81 is one of Gen. Bragg's
battle tlags-blue ground, with white ball in
the center. 1t was captured at Lookout
mountain, Nov. "a, 1863, by Private Peter
Kappesser, company B, 10th New York vol
unteers. The confederate color sergeant
from whom 1t was captured was disarmed
and taken prisoner. Another of Bragg's
flags, captured on the same day
white oblong center. The captor was First
Sergt. f. N. Potter, company L, 10th New
York volunteers. This flag was captured in q
hand-to-hand fight from q confederate SER
geant who was disarmed and taken prisoner
Sergt, Potter was wounded while later while
leading his company in a charge. No. 100 is
southern cross, and was the battle flag of
the 40th Virginia infantry. 1t was captured
at Falling Waters, Md, by the 1st Michigan
cavalry, July ii, 1863 No. 100 is hand
some silk red, white, and red" flag. 1t i:
marked, Independence. Wilson's Irwin
cibles," and was presented to that command
by the ladies of their town. No. 143 resemble.
the British union jack, blue ground will
red cross stripes. 1t was captured at tho
Wilderness fight June 9, 1864, by Birney
division, second army corps. No. 205 is
black flag captured within the confederat,
lines, near North Mountain, Nd, Aug.
1864, by Detective G. G. Marsh, middle de
partment. 1t is supposed that the confeder
ates intended to hoist this flag during.any fgh
in which colored union troops participated
as sign of mo quarter" No. 2d9 is not
captured flag 1t is a remnant Of tho color
belonging to the first United States sharp
shooters, and was turned over to war depart
menu Dy inc ueSlro oil tne regiment
All that is left of the flag i.
the fringe and small section of tn,
ground. No. 81 is the battle 1Hl
of the 10th Mississippi regiment, Mahone'
division, Longstreets corps, while No 395 il
the division battle flag of Mahone's division
No. All is battle flag of Fields division
Longstreet's corps. A piece of paper pastet
on the staff bears the inscription:
Mr. YANKEE: You will please return this flag
stall and shoulder belt over to the 9th Maine
Was captured from them at st. Gilmore on tn
twenty-ninth of October, 1864, by the Sd Fork
regiment volunteers. Big REBEL.
No. 457 is the battle flag of the famous
Dixie Rangers, and was captured VI the 4tl
Indiana cavalry in slirmsh near Barnes
vile, Ga, April 10, 1865. No. 526 is the
state flag Of the 14th Virginia cavalry, and il
inscribed, God armeth the patriot" Il
was captured by Private J. +. Adams
company ID, list Virginia Omitted States
cavalry, in an engagement near Ninnevah
Va, Nov II, 1854 The last flag on the list
No. $40, is q torn battle flag brought from
Richmond by Master Tad Lincoln. The en-
tire number embraces many of the class o
flags known as the confederate (or southern
cross, and not q few signal flags, also the blacl
flag hoisted by Pillows men at Fort Donnell
son.