Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-16
HISTORY OF A FLAG.
AFTER wavrEa OVER KAyy BATTLES
1T BUREs Ia BOSTON.
The Borrowed cOlors Of the Seventeenth
Virginia Consumed in Great
Coahagration.

Virginia regiment, which during the civil
war 1oaled over many fIeIds and became
one Of the historic relics Of those trying
times. will never again be waited to the
breezes. II has been uniurled for the last
time. and IT. mission, II MT fulfilled, has
been closed. and what was few weeks AGO
treasured memento OF the great struggle OF
the Confederacy has been reduced 10 sshes.
The following telegram from Hyde Pork,
Mass. dated Friday the i4ih. published I'm
the New York Press OF yesterday, further
explains
The Everette block, fine three.story
brick structure, was destroyed by fire early
This morning. IN the hlll Of the building
the GRIND ARMY was holding fair. They
had a collection % war relies and oil pant
ings. many OF which were lent for The oc-
ca.lou. ALI OF them we're destroyed"
TIE FLAG B0RRoHED.
When Grand Army Post GS, OF Boston,
decided about two months ago TO hold
far, their COMMANDER wrote 10 General
Edgar Allan. OF Pail. Kesrny Post here.
asking him TO secure the loan OF several
Confederate battle.il1gs. expressing especial
dcsire to have that 81 the Seventeenth Nlr-
gina, beld by K. 4. Lee Camp, C0niede-
rate Veterans, OF Alexandra, the carving
Of which IN the procession. october ON
on the occasion Of the unveliing
OF Pickett's monument, caused tie "ep-
sode - Of which 50 much has been written
and said. some few OF the veterans OF the
PHILADELPHIA Brigade Association refusing TO
march behind a "rebfl flag" This request
was laid before Comrade Maxwell i. Clarke,
Of X. 2. Lee Camp. OF this city. and that
gentleman succeeded IN procuring Two or
three Confederate flags, among them The one
especially desired.
ADJUTANT wARFIELD's LETTER.
When the flag vas sent 10 Boston the fol.
lowing letter accompanied II:
HEADQUARTERS X. =. LEE CAMP, 9. Va
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Dec. l, 1883.
II. 3. Paige, Esq, Boston, Mass:
Dear Sir,-The request for the loan OF
Confederate hattle-nas, which you made to
friends in Richmond, Va, was submitted 10
this camp, a. our comrades in Richmond
knew we had such a relic.
Recognizing that the request could ONLY
come from men familiar win The weary
march, the exposure n the biyouc, and the
deadly shock OF battle" snd approaching
the mobility Of The sons OF Massachusetts "hs
can accord TO MS Of Virginia the same honesty
OF purpose which moved thcmto duty ana 10
death, this camp, 10y unanimous consent,
intrusts TO your care banner s1cred 10
every man who fought under its folds.
Men do not war with each other from
sentiment. or give their lives in defeoce OF
mere whims. and while the principles for
which we respectively fought are a. widely
separated ~ arbitranent OF arms could en-
force, our battle-h " represents to US oil Viz
z mia that Tor which our dearest friends
freely gave fortune. home, and life, and Is
associated with deeds OF daring and death
which makes It's every thread a page OF his
tory.
take pleasure, therefore, in forwarding
the battle-hag Of the Seventeenth Virgins
Infantry. Corse's brigade, Picketts division,
Army OF Northern Virginia, together with
brief history, and trust that this act OF conf
dence NAV serve TO unite more firmly the
men who, having looked into each others
faces over crossed biyOnets, are conscious
That each was 4 fOeman worthy OF the Other,
and have recognized their common BROTHER
hood and nationality snd left on the field OF
battle the bitterness and hate OF the mere
mp.follower."
Very sincerely yours.
EDGAR WAKEFIELD,
A01utant TX. l.. Lire camp, NoutcHtA"tS
Veterans, Alexandra, Va.
HfsToRY OF TIE FLAG.
In the Boston Daily Globe OF lat Tues
day, which contained lengthy account OF
the opening OF the fair, appeared The above
letter and the following history OF the flag:
The first flag carried by the regiment in
the battle OF Backburn's Ford and First
Manassas. July IS and 81, 1861, was the
" Stars and Bars Iis similarity to the
g. Stars and Strlnes" caused great confusion
in those battles. and the different states
adopted their own STATE flags to be carried by
their own regiments thereafter. This Viz
gina flag was presented by Governor John
Letcher on the heights Of Centreyille october
30 1861.
In the mean time the Conftder Govern
ment adopted the balte-ilAg, and on Novem-
Der %, 1861. they were presented TO The dill
ferent commands, the State flags beng re-
tired.
The first battle.hag used by the Seven
tenth Virginia was handsome SIX one,
presented BY their lady friends. 1t was car
ried until il became so tattered and torn by
the number OF battles it had passed through
that IT. had 10 be laid aside. Together With
this State flag II was packed up aud sent to
Richmond for safe. keeping. but IRON some
unknown causes II became separated from
ITS companion FAC aud has never been found
10 this day.
The battle.nag presented by the State on
the 2Sth OF November was then taken up
and was used up TO and including the battle
of Sharpsburg.
From that time until the close OF the war
this flag was carried In the battles OIL
Fredericksburg, December 10, loO2.
White Marsh. April -, 1868.
Manassas Gap. July II, 1868. IN this bat
tie the color bearers were shot down.
Zollicoeer, Tenn, September 20, ls63.
Flat Creek, Va, Nav 10. 1864.
Drewry's Bluff, May 10, 1854
Cold Hsrbor, June 3. 1894.
Recapture Of HowletPs line. June l6. 1854.
Dinwidde Courthouse March 81, 1860.
Five Forks, April |, 1865.
Ii was at the close Of this stubbornly-
fight that Serae cant Ira beavers, a
menb her o. Company fl, tore this flag from
its stsii. and, secretinx II m bis bosom, safely |
bore II OF the Geld. Ths battle OF Sailors |
Creek, April @, 1865, was fought without
any flag. and 1t was the last engagement par
ticpated in by this regiment.