The National tribune., 1885-07-16
CONDENSED LETTERS.

Referring to a recent paragraph in Wash.
| ington paper in regard to United States flag
at the War Department, the history of which
it was said the authorities knew nothing except
that it was found in the Confederate War De.
partment and was marked with the name oil
the SD Ill. Vol. Inf, Ansil A. Kelley, Co. ID,
SD ILL.,, says the flag was lost at Jackson, Miss
July II, 1868. Kelley says he saw FIVE men 20
down with the flag one after another until he
lost sight of it, falling himself with severe
wound.
J. H. Rhoads, Co. H. 3oth ILL.,, Goddard, Kan
says the 18th Ohio and the Both ILL., were the
first troops to enter Jackson, Tenn.
w. A. Markley, Co. C, 9th Ohio, Eureka,
Cal, tells an amusing little incident which &C.
CURED after the battle of Port Republic, where
he with number of comrades made raid on
a farmhouse and filled their haversacks with
what they supposed to be fine -four. That
night they bivouaced in anticipation of feast
of iapjacks, but on applying water to the sup
posed aour they soon found out that they had
carried off lot of finely ground plaster of Paris
ID. 81. Chandler Xenia, o., thinks Go. T." OF
Michigan Engineers, is wrong in his article in
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of June 4, in regard
to MitchePs Alabama campaign. The engine
was disabled by shot from the 5th Ind. bat
terry, and not by one from Loomis's battery, as
stated by &C., K"
A. i. McCreery, Wetmore, Kan, wants to in
form Lieut.-Col. Hinman that the soldier killed
by tarantula in Texas was Walter III. Dawson,
Co. G, 9th Ind, and not a member of the 3lst
Ind, as Col. Human has it.
Arthur Williams, Co. /, 18th N. Y. Cav, Wal
nut Creek, Cal has read with great interest
the columns Of Fighting Them Over" but he
would like very much to see something in re-
gard to Hunters raid up the Shenandoah VAL
ley and over the Blue Ridge Mountains to
Lynchburg.
Jno. Amaschler, Edwardsville, ILL.,, takes ex-
ception to the way in which Post No. 46I, of
that place, paid special marks Of respect TO the
graves of certain officers on Decoration Day.
He thinks the same ceremonies should be con-
Quoted over the graves of ALL irrespective of the
rank they held previous to death.
Joseph Clayto Majors, Neb, thinks it would
be good scheme for each member of the First
Mississippi Marine Brigade to write to the rep
resentatives of their respective Congressional
Districts, requesting them to do something in
the coming Congress in regard to paying them
veteran bounty.
I'd Mo. Cav. (Merrilfs Horse) was the first to
cross the Arkansas River at Little Rock.
A. b. Soaring, Dover, N. j., sends us an in
teresting history Of the 18th N. j. from the
time of its muster up to and including the
battle of Charlottesville.
8. ID. Davis, WILDER, Neb., was delighted with
Col. Humans article on Army Pests, and says
IL almost SET MIN TO ScraCcn1ng.
L. d. Pollock, Co. E, 3Oth Iowa, Danbury,
Neb, writing of the capture of Columbia, S. c.,
says that although the 18th Iowa may have
been the first to enter the city and plant its
colors, that the flag did not long remain there,
but was hauled down and secreted by the Both
Iowa, but was finally given up to its owners,
who made an appeal for it in the name of the
ladies of Iowa, who were the donors of the flag.
James NJ. Smith, Adjutant of the 30th, in CIV
ing the flag back to the 18th, said: "When you
would gain honor hereafter, fight for it, but
never more try to steal it."
Fl. c. Green, Bay City, Mich, was much in
terested in communication recently written
by Lieut.. d. G. Cullom, of the S7th Ind. Com
rade Green was member Of that organization,
and vouches for the accuracy of all the state
ments contained in Cullom's article.
S. r. Nelson, Co. A, Merrills Horse, James
port, Mo-, mentions little incident that oc-
CURED while the cavalry aud artillery COM
manded by Gen. Davidson, were moving on to
Brownsville. The enemy opened an artillery
fire on them from the edge of the timber south
of the town. A screeching missile, said to have
been piece of railroad iron, crossed over their
line and came very near doing damage. One Cor
pCral applied for promotion ON the ground of
his dexterity in lodging this singular projec-
tile When the advance guard entered Browns
vile they found Sergeant Green on the Court
house waving the regimental colors, he being
undoubtedly the first man to enter the town.
VIM. Shuster, Co. B, Goth Ohio, Carleton,
Neb., contradicts the statement of Jas. w.
Conklin, of the same command, in regard to
that regiment being the first TO enter the city
Of Columbia, S. c. Comrade Shuster says the
Goth Ohio was never in the State of South Car
olina.