St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-21

lhCiuuiHS tuOSc Ill ullo inuStuiIl, WcTc,
by the direction of the secretary of war,
boxed and stored in room in the sub
basement of the new state war and navy
building, then first occupied by the war
department., where they remained until
January, 1887. They were quite mac
cessible in this place, and difficult to
find and identify when it became neces-
sary to do so. 1t was also found that
they were decaying rapidly, and by
direction of the present adjutant
general they were taken from the boxes
and placed in a room in the upper story
OF the war department building, where
they can be easily visited and examined.
1t is we'll known that in many cases
United States troops with the implied,
II not the express consent of the war
from the cOnfederates in battle, and
during the progress OF the war the sec
retary OF war ordered several captured
flags to be restored to the captors.
During the whole period of their custody
IN this department 1t has been the prac-
tlce OF the secretaries of war from time
to time to deliver up recaptured Union
flags on application by governors of
states whose troops served In the armies
OF the United States, or to organizations
or to DISTINGUISHED soldiers of the war
on the Union side. Upon such applica-
tiOn it was, prior to March, 1885, the
practice of the secretaries of war to
make inquiry concerning the loss of the
flag asked for. and if it occurred under
circumstances which did not reflect
discredit upon the sOldierly and gallant
conduct of the troops, it was returned.
And, in accordance with this rule, such
flags have been returned since March
z, 1875. Such applications have at
times been refused, and in some cases
subsequently granted. Nineteen Union
flags have thus passed from the custody
OF the department by order from the
secretary of war, and three have been
delivered upon JOINT
RESOLUTIONS OF CONGRESS.
A full list of the same giving a brief
history of each flag, and at whose re-
quest and to, whom delivered and by
whose authority is annexed and made a
part of this report. Twenty-One Con-
to May. 1867. A list of these is annexed.
Ten of those were taken from the
custody of the war department and de-
Hvered to individuals, associations or
states upon the written order OF Mr..
Stanton, two were given upon an order
signed by Asst. Adjt. Gen. Nichols and
nine were disposed of under the instruc-
tons not now aScertainable, but prob
ably originating with Mr.. Stanton. Some
of these were given up on promises that
they would be returned, which ap-
peared not to have been kept. In Jan
uary, 1887, a Confederate flag was.
loaned by Gen. Benet, acting secretary
of war, to W. T. Clark, late brigadier
had originally deposited it at the war
department and who promised in writ
ing to return it, but has not done so.
Since the date last mentioned no Con-
federate or recaptured Union flag has
been issued OF loaned by this depart
ment, and no Confederate flag has at
any time passed from the custody of
the latter to any of the states lately
in rebellion. In April, 1887, the
adjutant general addressed letter to
the secretary of war in which. he sug-
gested the prOpriety of returning all
the flags Union and Confederate to the
authorities of the respective states in
which the regiments which had these
colors were organized for such final dis
position as they may determine. This
proposition was submitted to the ,presi-
dent and approved by him. Orders
thereupOn issued that letters be sent to
governors of states whose troops carried
the flags deposited in the war depart
ment. proposing to return the same.
Such letters were sent to the governors
of states referred to in the order But
before any of these flags were sent OF
delivered under the order thus issued,
the president upon further considera-
ton determined ''that the return of
these flags in the manner contemplated
is not authorized by existing law OF
Justified as an executive act" The
OI1n Of fIln 1nr,n ~ o.
revoked and notice thereof duly issued.
None of the flags were given up. The
secretary says that no flags have been
removed from the place they were dis
played and concealed from the public.
He asserts that Secretaries Stanton,
Belknap, McCrary, Ramsey and Lin
coin and the present secretary delivered
up altogether some nineteen recaptured
Union flags. A full description of the
flags remaining in the department that
can be identified, accompanies the re-
mort