The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-21
SECRETARY ENDICOFf'S ANSWER
TO THE RESOLUTION OFFERED
BY MR.. BOUTELLE.
He Gives Detailed Account. Which win
Probably Satisfy the House ii Not
The Gentleman From staine.

WASHINGTON, February 20.-The Sec
retary of War to-day returned to the
House his answer to the Boutelle reso-
luton calling for information as TO
whether the flags captured by the United
States have been removed from the
places where they were displayed and
concealed, and if so, by what authority
and for what purpose, and further as to
what propositions have been made by
Government officials for the surrender
of these flags. and whether it is true
that a portion of them were actually sur
endered to persons having no right to
their possession.
As preliminary the Secretary gives
a brief history of the flags, showing that
from 1862 till the close of the war the
United States generals in the field sent
to the War Department flags that were
captured by their troops. 1t is also
probable, he says, that some flags of this
description reached the department
through other channels OF the whole
number captured and deposited with
the department 235 were United States
flags, originally captured by the Confed-
crates and recaptured from them, and
544 were Confederate flags taken by the
United States troops, making a total of
$50 in custody of the department The
Secretary reviews exhaustively the leg
islation upon this subject, showing that
since 1874 there have been no statutes
requiring public exhibition of such flags,
and then, in order, as he says, that moth
ing may be omitted from his answer TO
the resolution, he summarizes his de
tailed replies to the specific inquiries
contained in said resolution.
''In reply to the first clause of the
| resolution, have the honor to say that
it is not true that the flags, standards,
and colors captured from the enemies of
the United States have been removed
from the place where they We're dis
played as required by law, and have
since been concealed from the public.
The flags, standards and. coiors captured
prior to the war of the rebellion were
| displayed, so far as can be ascertained,
in the Military Academy at West Point.
| as heretofore recited, and have since
been removed, or concealed from the
public. The flags, standards and colors
captured in the war of the rebellion
| were never displayed under the pro-
| visions of the statute of 1914, and there
| fore have not been removed from any
1 yalaoa Of lfc.alaNy lo,Ie FL.
| public. All matters known to this de-
| parrment in regard to their care and
custody have been fully stated
''In reply to the second clause in the
resolution, have the honor to say that
| the only proposition for the surrender of
| any of said flags, standards and colors
| within the knowledge of this department
was made by the Adjutant General of
the army, as before recited, and the ac-
| ton and orders thereon and withdrawal
of the same by the President are fully
set forth in the foregoing statement and
| the exhibits therein referred to.
''In regard to the actual surrender and
delivery of the flags and colors ito per-
sons having no right to their possession
before the countermanding order of the
President was issued concerning which
information is requested in the third
clause of the resolution, have the honor
to say that it is not true that the flags
referred to, and included in the PROPOSE
ton of the Adjutant General, have been
delivered up or surrendered, either be-
fore or after said countermanding order,
to any person or organizations what
| ever, but the same are still in
the custody of this department.
and further that if the flags
and colors captured in the war of the
rebellion are covered by and included
in the statutes heretofore mentioned, Sc
that delivery of any of them to any per
sons other than the custodians of the
Government constitutes delivery to per
sons having no right to their possession.
as set forth in said resolution, then it
must be answered that portion of
said flags have been surrendered and
delivered as follows:
"Of Confederate flags, nine were given
upon written order of Mr.. Stanton, and
twelve others issued during his admins
tration of the War Department, and pre-
sumably by his authority. At least fifty
more Confederate flags were lent by Mr..
Stanton to individuals or associations
who subsequently, returned them. One
Confederate flag was loaned by General
Benet, Acting Secretary of War, to Gen.
Clark, and has not been returned"
''Of the recaptured Union flags each
of the Secretaries below named delivered
up the number set opposite his name re-
spectiveIy: Stanton 1, Belknap 1, Nc.
Crary /, Ramsey 8, Lincoln 4, Endicott
Z. Three recaptured Union flags were
also given UP ON a joint resolution Of
Congress"
In conclusion, the Secretary, in reply
to the fourth clause in the resolution
says: Il have the honor TO say that a
full descriptive list of the flags, banner.
and colors that have been placed in Gus
tody of the War Department and car
be identified as having been borne by
any particular organization aecompanie:
this report, and as to what measures, il
any. have been taken to comply with the
requirements and obvious intent of ths
sections Of the Revised Statutes specified
in such resolution, | have the honor K
reply that have heretofore detailed al
that has been done in the matter, ant
have the honor further t.
cali the attention of the House to tht
fact that sections 42s, 1854 and 1855 refel
to the Navy Department. only" Th.
communication is accompanied by eight