The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-21

tlrtribOlir ifi'Nt btti tfftiit ny kVt-
eminent officials for the surrender OF these
flags, and whether it is true that portion
OF them were actually surrendered topper
sons having no right TO their possession.
AS preliminary, the secretary gives n
brief history OF the flags. OF the whole
number captured and deposited with the
department, 236 were United States flags
originally captured by Confedcraies and
recapturcd from them, and 5ii were Con-
fedeiaic Hays taken by the United States
troops making o total OF $50 in the custody
of the department. When received they
were deposited In vacant attic OF build
ing occupied by the clerks Of the adjulant-
general Office. In 1867, the superintend-
ent Of the buildings, without Instructions,
80 iar as can be ascertained, had them re-
moved 10 his Office, whore few were
placed upon the walls and The remainder
upon shelves or in pigeon holes. AZ this
time nm inventory of these flags was en-
tered in q book in which was also entered
description and a brief history Of the
capture OF those that could he identified MS
belonging 20 particular organizations.
They remained here until the latter part Of
1874:
II is stated that while some Of the Con-
fedcrto flags have since been given the
no flags have passed out OF the custody OF
the department that were in such custody
when Secretary Endicott assumed charge
OF the department. The order 10 return
the flags and the order rcvokiug IL are
given, and the statement IL mado that no
flags were actually returned under the first
order. Ar 10 the law requiring the public
exhibition Of captured ilags and trophies,
IL Is assumed that the construction put
upon 1t 10y former Secretaries OF War and
Navy was that the law applied 10 trophies
taken from u foreign enemy, and not To
those taken during domestic hosiilitics.
In the autumn ~ 1874 portion OF the
flags were removed from the office Of the
SUPERINTENDENT OF the war department
buildings, IL is presumed by the oral direc-
ton oi the then Secretary Of War, 10 the
ordnance museum in Windcr's building
and then placed on exhibition, and others
were seui TO the same plnco In 1875. Tho
larger part OF tho Hays, however, still re-
manned in the Office OF the superintendent.
Such was their custody and place Of de-
post until October, 1882, when all the
Hays, including those in the museum,
were, by direction Of the Secretary OF
War, boxed and stored in q room
In the sub-hascmcnt OF the now State,
war and navy building. then ilrsl
occupied by the war department, where
they remained until January, 1887. They
were quite inaccessible In this place, and
difficult to- lind aud identify when Il bc-
camo necessary 10 do 10. II was also
found that they were dccaying rapidly,
and 10y direction Of the present adjuinnt-
general they were taken from the boxes
and placed in room in the upper story
al the war department building, where
they can ho easily visited and examined.
II IL well known that in many cases
United States troops, with the implied, II
not the express, consent Of the war depart
mcnt, obtained the flags taken from the
Conicdentcs in battle. and during the
progress oi the war the Secretary oi War
ordered several captured flags 30 be No.
siond 10 tho capion. During the whole
period 81 their custody in this department
II has been the practice OF the Secretaries Of
War from time 81 time 10 deliver up TO-
captured Union Hays, on application by
Governors of States whose troops served in
the armies of the United States, and 10
distinguished soldiers OF the war on the
Union side. Upon such applications Il
was, prior to Mamh, 1855, the practice Of
the se1rftfics oi War to make inquiries
concerning the los OF the flags
asked for, and II Il occurred under
circumstances which did not reflect dis
credit upon the soldicrly and gallant con-
duct OF the Troops u was returned. And
In accordance With this rule several such
flat,S haze htcn returned since March .,
1885. Such applications have at times
been refused and in some cises suisse
quently granted. Nineteen Union flags
have thus passed from the custody OF the
department by order from the Secretary Of
War, AMI three have been delivered upon
Joint resolutions OF Congress. A full list
81 the same, giving n brief history OF each
flag, and at whose request and 20 whom
delivered. and by whose authority, IN M.
nexed and made part Of this report
Twcnto.onc Confederate flags were also
given up prior IN May, 1897. list Of
thcse l. ANNEXED. Ten Of these were taken
from the custody Of the war department
aud delivered ~ individual associations or
States upon the written order Of Mr. Stan.
ton. Two were given up ON orders signed
by Assistant Acknowledgement Nichols,
md nine were disposed oi under inhiruc-
tons not now asccrtHinnhle, but probably
originating with Mr.. stanton. Some Of
thcsc wenc given up on promises that they
would he returned, which appeared not 10
have been kept.
In January, 1887, a Confederate Gag was
loaned by Cen. l;cnneti, acting Secretary
al War. io W. i. Clark, late brigader.
general United States Volunteers, who
had originally dcl,osied II ut the war dc.
partmcni, and who promised in writing 10
return u, but has not done N. Since the
date last mentioned, no Confederate or NJ.
captured Union iialgs have been issued OF
loaned by this department, and no Con.
fe,leraie FLAG has az any time passed from the
custody ii the latter Ia any Of the States
lately In rchcllion. In April, 1857, the
adjutant general addrusscd u letter Ia the
SECRETARY oi War. In which Ice suggested
the prul ririy OF returning all the llacr
Union aud Conicdemte) 10 the author.
tics OF the respective States in which tho
rdmcna which hal these coloS were
organinssl, for such final desperation as
they may determine. This proposition
WIS subnittssl TO the President aud Az.
proved by him. Orlcu thcrcupon were
hsued that lrtirrs be sent Ia Governors of
htalcs Nho-c troops carried the
ilan deposited la the war dcpart.
ncni. pr'Psing 10 rturn the same. such
letters were sent ~ the Governors wlerrcd
"a In the orlor, but before amy Of thcsc
fiagS were sent ~ delivered under the
onlcr thus issued. the President, upon
further consideration. determined "that
the rviurn of these ilnin In the manner
contemplated ls not authorized by existing
law or justified a. an executive act" The
order oi the Department was AT once
revoked, and notice. thereof duly issued
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