The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-21
BATTLE-T0RN BANNERS.
sEcRETARY ENDICOTT ANSWERS
MR.. BOUTELLE.

Total of 79o Flags Deposited in the
War Department-544 of the Num-
her were Confederate Colors-No
surrender of Which Party Capital
Can be Made.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The Secretary of
War to-day returned to the House his
answer to Mr.. Boutelle's resolution calling
for information as to whether flags cap
t,red by the United States have been re-
moved from the places where they were
disrlaved, and concealed, and if so by what
further. as to what propositions have been
made by government officials for the
surrender of these flags, and whether it
is true that portion of them were
actually surrendered to persons having no
RIGHT to their possession. As preliminary
the Secretary gives brief history of the
flags showing that from 1862 until the close
of the war, United States Generals in the
field sent to the War Department flags that
we're captured by their troops. 1t is also
probable, he says, that some flags of this
description reached the department through
other channels.
NUMBER OF THE BANNERS.
OF the whole number captured and de-
nosited with the department 236 were
limited States flags, originally captured by
the Confederates and recaptured from
them. and 544 were Confederate flags taken
by United States troops, making total of
7S0 in the custody of the department. The
Secretary reviews extensively the
legislation upon this snbject, showing that
since 1874 there have been no statutes requir-
ing public exhibition of such flags, and
then. in order, as he says, that nothing NAV
tf,t bo
ton. he summarizes his detailed replies to
the specific inquiries contained in said reso-
luton.
In reply TO the first clause of the resolution I
have tie honor to say that it is not true that
flags standards and colOrs captured from
enemies of the United States have been removed
from the place where they were displayed as re-
Ouired bv law and have since been concealed
from the public.
WEST POINTS COLLECTION.
The flags, standards and colors 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,
8nd have not 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 provisions of the statute of 1874 and
therefore, have not been removed from any
place of display and concealed from the public.
all matters known to this department in regard
10 their care and custody have been fully stated.
In reply to the second clause in the reSOlu-
tons have the honor to say that the only prop
osition 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
action and orders thereon, and the withdrawal
ofthe same by the President are fully set forth
in the foregoing statement and exhibits therein
referred to:
SOME SURRENDERED.
In regard to the actual surrender and delivery
Of flags and colors to persons having no right to
hnfn fhn
der of the President was issued, information
concerning which is requested in the third
clause of the resolutions, have the honor to say
that ii is not true that the flags referred to and
included in the proposition of the Adjutant
General have been delivered up or surrendered,
either before or after said countermanding or
der to any persons or organizations whatever,
but the same are still i'll the custody of this de-
partment; and further, that if flags and colors
captured in the war of the re-
bellion are covered by and in
cuded in the statutes heretofore mentioned so
that the delivery of any of them to any persons
other than the custodians of the government
constitutes delivery to persons having no right
10 their possession, as set forth in said
resolutions, then it must be answered that
portion of said flags have been surrendered
and delivered as follows: OF Confederate flags
nine were given up on the written order of Mr..
Stanton, and twelve others issued during his
administration of the War Department, and
presumably by his authority At least fifty
more Confederate flags were lent by MIR. Stan
ton TO individuals or associations who subSe-
quently returned them One Confederate flag
vas lent by Gen Benet, Acting Secretary OF
War, to Gen. Clark, and has not been returned.
The recaptured Union flags each of the sec
retares below named delivered up the number
set opposite his name respectively: Stanton l,
BelAnap J. NlcCrary 1, Ramsey ), Lincoln t. En-
lcott :. Three recaptured Union flags were
also given up on joint resolution of Congress.
In conclusion, the Secretary, in reply to
the fourth clause in the resolutions, says:
have the honor to say that full descriptive
list OF all the flags, banners and colors that
have been placed in the custody of the War
Department and can be identified as having
been borne by any particular organization
accompanies this report; and as to what meas
lles, If any, have been taken TO comply with
me requirements and obvious intent of the sec
lions Of the Revised Statutes specified in
such resolution, have the honor to reply that
nave heretofore detailed all that has been
zone IN the matter, and / have the honor
euIller to call the attention of the House to the
Iact that sections 42S 1861 and 1855 refer to the
Navy Department only.
EIGHT EXHIBITS.
The communication is accompanied by
eignV exhibits, including many communica-
1I9ns Tn which have already been published.
lley are executive orders touching the dis
poSaI Of flags captured in the war
WIN Mexico; a list of the recaptured
Hmon flags delivered by the War
department. to the Governors of the States
Sud S9ud others; list of the Confederate flags
delivered by the War Department TO GER
1in an parties on application; the
AdJutant Generals letter suggest
ms the return of flags with
;ue residents approval; his letter tender
lls the flags to State executives the Presi-
UNI revocation; the Adjutant Generals
ponulgatlon of the same, and a full de-
SsIlptlve sa list of the flags remaining in the
department. that can be identified.
THEIR tIpcr pror,Drc mr. Ac,r
relating in detail the circumstances con-
TIseNu Iou with the flags in custody of the War
D'parInent, Secretary Endicott says, when
0e!Ved during the war the flags were de-
ro'lI'H IN vacant attic room of building
%uteNeuteenth street, occupied by the clerks
'He AdJutant Generals Office In 1867 tho
Vtihtendent of Buildings, without in
Tgucllon' SO far as can be ascertained, had
M removed 20 his office, whore a few were
rI,u upon tho walls, and the remainder
aii 1lph Inc shelves or IN pigeon holes. At
sr,a o enHe an inventory of these flags was
on' Ie1 IN book, in which was also en-
e. e. It description and brief history Of the
.uie Ok those that could be identified as
b,,,abHlS u particular organizations. They
Giaalled here until the latter part of 1874.
M. nb lhis period the act of 1914 requiring
fc.e p1ured flags b. be exhibited was en-
tGN Ihe secretary quotes the report Of