Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-25
LINCOLN AND THE TORN FLAG.
An Incident Which Greatly Pleased a
PARTY of Rebel SympatbiZers.

i've not been in these grounds for sew
eral years" remarked a citizen to q Critic
reporter, as they strolled about the White
| House grounds last Saturday afternoon,
listening to the music of the Marine Band
and observing the numerous groups OF
well-dressed young women, department
clerks, strangers and dudes, and the hilari-
Gus enjoyment of a large number of chill
dren ~gamboling on the green. During
the war | came here quite often, n the
scene then presented a very animated and
variegated spectacle. Washington was a
military camp, and whenever there was
music here a large Grove was sure to be in
attendance. The bright uniforms of the
officers of the army and navy, the scarlet
baggy trousers of some of the zouaves and
the blue of others, the clean nautical attire
of men-of-war's men, all mingling with
civilians, comprising men, women and
children in gay attire, presented a most at
~tractiye spectacle. Celebrated regimental
bands often alternated with the Marine
Band in discoursing music tor the enjoy
ment of the crowd. During these enter
tainments President Lincoln and his fam
lily, members of his cabinet, representatives
of the diplomatic corps, general officers and
prominent people occupied the south porch
of the White House, which added largely
to make these grounds attractive TO citi-
zens, strangers and visitors during these
musical seances.
And this reminds me of an incident
which occurred at the inauguration of these
musical entertainments in President Lin
cClIs a ADMINISTRATION, which took place in
the summer of 1861. A music stand had
been erected just there pointing TO q spot
equidistant between the two mounds), and
over it was a tent-shaped canvas canopy,
III rCf1r tho mt rs rph,oI, nv+andnA N
flagstaff with halyards attached. The in
auguration of the musical ceremonies was
conducted by President Lincoln, who, at
the appointed hour, came through the
crowd or the. lawn from the Executive
Mansion, accompanied by Secretary Sew
ard, and followed by some of his cabinet.
They stepped into the music stand, and
President Lincoln, taking hold of the hal
yards, to which q new silk American flag
was attached, at a given signal commenced
to haul up the flag. 4 cheer arose from
the vast throDg present, but was instantly
checked. Asthe flag assembled to the point
on the staff where the tent-canvas encircled
it, it caught upon some projection and was
torn nearly in twain, and when it reached
the top of the staff it Haunted in two sec
tons, on one of which remained six or
seven stars and a portion Of the stripes.
This was considered an ominous sign, and
the pleased expression of many rebel SYM
pathiZers present showed how they con-
strued the incident, while the Unionists
seemed shocked and paralyzed of utter
ance. | was near the stand and watched
with deep interest Lincoln and Seward.
President Lincoln's face bore q very grave
expression, and Secretary Seward flushed
for an instant, but as the tattered
flag reached its apex he hastily turned TO
the leader of the band and told him to
strike up the music, and this diverted the
attention of the crowd from the embarrass-
ing incident. But it was the town-talk
among the rebels in Washington for many
a day Washington Critic.