The National tribune., 1884-10-09
THE STORY OF A FLAG.
The Brave Lineage OF the President Of the wom-
ans Relief Corps.
IL De-

The following appears in the Toledo Blade !:
The Covenanters flag of Scotland was unfurled
In ioss and was displayed at the the battle Of Drum
keezfng Of the Edinburgh Antiquarian Society
Eastish Paper.
From Mrs. Gen. Sherwood we learn an inter-
esting story of the flag mentioned in the above
paragraph, which is going the rounds of the
press. By the account preserved in her family,
duly attested in The Scots Worthless The
Wings of Scotland" and other historic Scottish
works, it was her paternal ancestor, several
generations removed, who saved that flag at
Boutwell, Bridge Thomas BrownIee, the Laird
of Torfoot, commanded the Avondale men in
sthe Covenanter army, of which Sir Robert
Hamilton was Commander-in-C Chief, and was
twice wounded at the battle of Drumclog and
twice at Boutwell, Bridge, in hand to- hand
conflict with Claverhouse's Dragons
As the account has it, at Boutwell, Bridge,
when it became apparent that Hamiton's men
were doomed to defeat, Sir Robert, whose horse
had been killed in the fray and who himself
WAS badly wounded, addressing the chief men
who had rallied to his assistance said My
brave comrades, the day is lost, but you, Howie,
of Iochgoin, and you, Browniee, of Torfoot,
save the flag from those inearnate devis.r
Those were the days of sword contests, and the
ailusion of Sir Robert was to the brutal hire
ling dragons of the English army, whose dep
relations in the Scottish country had aroused
the people to the widest pitch of indignation.
In the fight for the flag which followed, the
standard of scarlet and blue 80 dear to the
prosecuted Covenanters, and which bore the
legend, in golden letters, "Christ's Crown and
Covenant" fell across Torfoot's breast. Seizing
the standard, he tore the flag from the staff
and, wrapping it around his body rode from
the field, hotly pursued, aud succeeded in con-
signing it to Hamilton's keeping. His horse
was killed in the pursuit and he was left on
the field for dead. When he was restored to
consciousness he found himself in the hands
of the enemy, and faint from his bleeding
wounds, was compelled, with other prison
ers, to make that long march TO Edinburgh,
subjected to incredible sufferings There
with 219 others, he was condemned TO ban
ishment and put aboard vessel, which
struck on the Mule Head of Darnoss. Two
hundred were drowned through the brutality
of the Captain, who kept them in the batches
Nineteen escaped through the humanity of a
common sailor, who, after the Captain and crew
had deserted the sinking ship, cut q hole
through her side as she lay on her beam ends
| and drew out as many as he could before she
went down.
The waves washed the Boutwell, warriors
ashore, Torfoot and his companions being laid
on tho peak of a high rock together, where
they were rescued. The Laird astonished his
friends by appearing suddenly among them
| suits. 1t is interesting to know that this
stanch champion of civil and religions liberty
had many descendants in the Union army,
some of whom lost their lives on the battlefelds
of the Republic.
Mrs Sherwood aforementioned is Kate
Brownlee Sherwood, wife of Union General
of the late war, and formerly member of the
43d Congress, and at present Probate Judge in
| Ohio. This lady is the American Elizabeth
Fry. Like Clara Barton, Florence Nightin-
gale, and Others, her life is devoted to the SOL
diers interests. A woman of deep Christian
| piety, like her Covenanter forefathers, willis.
advancing the soldiers welfare, she points tc
"Christs Crown and Covenant" She has been
| mainly instrumental in forming an immense
organization, which extends from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific, of loyal women to help soldiers
| widows, look after the orphans Of such, and
assist and care for those disabled She is Presi.
dent of the Woman's National Relief Corps
and, like Annie Wittenmyer, member of ths
same organization this lady is at present en-
gagged on work entitled Women of the Re
| formation y, she advocates temperance. Mrs
Sherwood is worthy descendant of Thoma:
Brewnlee, Laird of Torfoot, who saved the flag
at Boutwell, Bridge in the days when the per
| secuted met death rather than dishonor Gods
commands and show disrespect to his laws