Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-06
coNFEpERATE BATTLE FLAGS.
Tsttered and Blood Stained Relics OF
the Lost Cause"
Fr07a ~ Ye'r Yorf TsIfJr1m.

From re- 9e's York TsItgram.
WAsHIA TToN, April 2.-One Of the
most interesting sights in Washington is
the collection Of Confederate battle flags
captured by the Union forces in the late
war. There are 540Or them, and although
a score or moreof years have passed since
they were placed in their present position,
their torn and tattered folds tell the story
Of the war in silent and unspeaGable elo-
que Some are torn almost 10 shreds,
others are begrimed with smoke, and not
a few bear the deep red stain Of the blood
shed for the lost cause" II is favorite
place for ex-Contederates TO saunter and
recall the old times when they were ar
rayed against the government. while
many Of them are now serving in offices
Of honor and trust.
Each flag is numbered. NO. is the
stars and bars Of the Twelfth Virginia
Volunteers, and was captured by Gen.
Fitzpatrick. This flag was taken-sc the
records say-at Beyesly's Ford, in June,
1,63. No. 8 is a few shreds Of the flag
captured by Col. Michael Lamey. Com
panY f. Seventy seventh New York OIL
unteers. Only a short time aiterward the
brave Colonel was shot through the head
and instantly killed while engaged in
charge. No. 50 is the battle 1ag captured
July 1. 1852. at Malvern Hill by >erEt.
W. Whittrich, Eighty-second Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, Butterheld's Brigade.
This is the silent witness OF one Of the
most desperate conflicts ever known IN
the entire history of warfare. II was
taken from a South Carolina regiment,
which made heroic resistance. Under
a mUrder0us fire they built up breast
works of their dead comrades, and fought
qr.rn s.e. tr.wnH
survived. when. finding resistance use
less. they reluctantly surrendered. No.
80 brings to my mind another deed Of great
personal daring. 1t was al the battle OF
Sharpshurg. Sept. Il. 1862. when Private
Isaac Thompson. Company c. Twentieth
New \ Ork Militia, shot the Confederate
cOl0r-bearer, and, Notwithstanding the
fact that a deadly fire was being directed
toward him. ne ran forward and in safety
rOught back the trophy 70 the Union
lines. No. 40 is the battle flag Of the Sec
ond Mississippi Reg ment. The sixth
Wisconsin found it hard work to capture
it, and only succeeded after they had
taken the entire Confederate regiment
prisoners Of war.
No. 50is the smoky and disfgured stars
and bars captured by Company A. Second
Minnesota Volunteers. in Gen. ZOllica-
fer's Entertainments Jan. 10, 1862. The
f8ntry is numbered 50. II is a blue flag
with a white cross. No. so is one of the
relics Of the fight a. Missionary Ridge,
and formerly belonged 70 FerguesOn's
Battery. 1t was captured from them by
the SIXtv.nint1 Ohio Volunteers. A blue
flag with a white ball in the centre WAS
captured at Lookout Mountain Nov. y,
S63. It's numbered 94,aDd was one Of Gen.
Bragg's battle flags. The honor OF its
Private
ser. Company b, l43th New York Nolun-
teers, who also dlsarmed the Confederate
! color sergeant and made him = prisoner.
Another Of Bragg flags captured on the
7 same day is No. 50. Ii also has q blue
ground with a white OblOug centre. This
was captured by Sergt. T. y. Potter,
COMPANY L. Of the same New York regi-
melt, whO took it only after a hand-tO-
hand fight with the Confederate color
bearer. In the same battle Sergt. Pot
ter was severely wounded while leading
his company in a charge.
No. 20j is a Tag with a history. 1t is a
black Gag, and was captured by c. c
Marsh near North Mountain. Nd. Aug.
/ 4, 1864. The Confederates had intended
TO hoist this flag duringany 4 ght in which
colored Union troops SHOULD be engaged
as sign Of mo quarter There is but
one other black flag in the collection
that hoisted by FORESTS men at Fort
Pillow. No. rs is a Union flag. 1t for.
merly belonged to the First United States
Sbarpsh0oters, and was presented by
them to the War Department. Only the
fridge and a small section of the ground
is left. All the remainder has been shot
away. No. All is the flag of Fields divi-
sion, Longstreet's CORDS. A piece of paper
fastened on the staff bears the following
inscription:
Mr.. GANKEE-You will please return this
flagstaff and shoulder belt to the Ninth
Maine. Was captured from them at st. Gill
more, October, lso4, by the Third FORKS Regi-
meut Volunteers. BIG REBEL.
The flag of the Fourteenth Virginia
Cavalry is numbered 52S. 1t was cap
tured by Private J. + Adams. Company
ID, First Virginia (UnIon) Cavalry in
fight near Nineyeh, Va, Nov. y, 1864.
on it is the inscription, Sod Armeth the
Patriot" The last flag on the list, No.
$40. is torn and soied. 1t was brought to
Washington from Richmond by President
LincCln's little son Tad"