Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-02
SERGEANT BATES AND HIS FLAG.

The Travels of the Eccentric Enthusiast
His Long Tramp at an End" NAT
He Believes 1t will Accomplish-NOr A-
ing to Save the Country ana froNs
THAT the South is Patriotic and Loyal
70 the Union-Soing to Write Book.
A plainIy-dressed, modest-looklng anu
rather retiring man of medium helght, ac-
companied by bright, intelligent lad at
tired in a rusty velvet salt of military cut
and wearing plumed hat, entered the
NropNrNc NEWS local rooms yesterday
and walking up to reporters desk
remarked that he was Sergeant Bates.
seTbis i nv son Frank he added, put
+ire, his hand proudly on the lads shout
der Crank carries the colors, you
know" -.,. io,,-
news end?" inquired the reporter, casting
a look at his visitor.
1--WE are at one end of it. We shall not go
further South, and our travelling on 1901 Is
DONE"
s.What is your next mover"
eve will remain here few days, dur
ing which time | hope to arrange Tor an
address to the people of savannah, ana on
Tuesday we shall start on our return 10
the North" go,
ssYou will travel by ran
"As much as possible. We Will pr0ba-
bly, arrange few stops IN oouth NalUli Ia
and Virginia, but they will not detaln US
lono and we shall be backin our home by
the first OF April"
GLOW long have you been on your jour-
neyg' w, o+ortod
from Chicago on the 10Th OF OCTOBER, ana
have walked 1 $50 miles, not coming thG
most direct route. during inns tiL i5. l
have organized and addressed lis pubic
meetings"
you made a similar trip to this one
shortly after the war;?
.sYes. | travelled from Nicksburg to
Washington. and have carried the natlOhal
colors all over the South. Since started
out in 1877 [ have addressed over 2'O0O
public meetings and more than l,OOO,VoO
people" o.ou,,,,is,, nv
''What do you expect to accomplish D!
this trip"
..The idea that I have made this tour
from Chicago to Savannah for sensational
effect. or to prove that the Southern peo-
ple would respect the flag, is all nonsense.
| had no such object or objects III view
MANY people at the North claim that the
Southern DeoDle are lacking in patriotic
principles. and in loyalty to the National
Union. believed that they did not lack
these elements. and have been preaching
il so. steadily in the Northern
States for more than seven years.
| have made this tour from the lakes to
the sea on foot to study the situation, and
to learn definitely which are right the
Northern people or myself"
you are convinced, then, that you are
right?'
Il am. and l shall continue to preach
my belief. l shall resume my puDllc Ell
forts at the North about the first OF April
and will speak daily, or nearly so, untll
Nov. LIST. / shall also issue pamphlet
c to be supplied to the people at the cost
Of publication), and in both, public
speeches and pamphlet, snail give my
! experiences. impressions and opinions
| 70. med. such as they are, While on our
tramp from North to South"
ssYOur object. then, is to unite the North
and SOuth|
"Let me explain" said the veteran
traveller. hitching up his chair and getting
| i'm earnest. My object is to promote
moral and patriotic citizenship and ma
tional unity: to unite the best elements
| of the North and South for the improve
ment and betterment of the worst. We
are not taking this tramp for pleasure
nor to create a sensation, but to reach
and talk to the people. We do not carry
| the flag for nOtOriety, but to use az our
meetings, for experience North ana south
demonstrated
reach an Americans heart is through the
! FLAG of his country. We might have trav-
| eled bv rail and carried the flag in
| satchel. but in that way we never should
have been heard of and the people of the
country would never have known who
we are"
"IIow do you travel; do you follow the
RAILROADS.&C.
| count the cross ties and sometimes we
| follow the country roads. 1t depends
upon the places and towns we want to
! reach"
GLOW many miles do you travel day ?
I'VE have averaged about l. miles,
| but have travelled as far as 3d."
GLOW have you been received on your
| trayels:"
ssIn the main we have been received
| and treated with respect, but in some in
stances we have not. Our reception on
| the whole has probably been all that
| could be expected. In Tennessee and
| Kentucky we met with some rudeness,
| and in one or two other places,
! but this l believe was due to msrepre-
| tation. In Georgia we have been better
treated than in any other State south oil
| Ohio
..How old are you, sergeant?o
| ssFortv-fye. | was born in Livingston
! county, New York, about forty miles from
! Rochester: but my present home is IN
| Saybrook, Ill. Frank, here, is a."
|'Were you in the war"
sFour Years. l served one year with
! New York regiment, and three years with
| a Wisconsin regiment"
aWhat was your original occupation
81 was reared a farmer, and have fol
lowed that occupation the greater part OF
my life"
Glow long have you been travelling
over the country in this wayW
s'Since 1876. Ihave Travelled in New ork,
I and Pennsylvania to some extent, but the
greater part of my work has been con-
fined to Ohio, Illinois and Indiana"
"Where Will you go on your return
| North?'
'To SaybrOok. My first work will be
the publication Of my pamphlet, which
| will be compiled from a daily journal
which have kept Of my travels. | eX-
i pect to have this done by the middle Of
/ April, when | shall enter New York city
! and organize a system of work in the
wards.''
The Sergeant has not yet been able to
arrange for any meeting in savannah, but
/ hopes to announce an address tomorrow.
| He believes that his trip will convince
/ the people at the North that Southern SEN
/ timent is pacific and loyal. His mission,
/ even it accOmplishes no good, which he
| is assured 1t will, certainly does not APP
/ pear to be working any harm,
/ COURT CALENDAR.