The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-23
CAPTURED FLAGS.
The Secretary OF Wars Report In An
sVger so ROuteIIe's Resolution.

AhO secretary Oh ~ DCpOEG HI AN
sVger so ROuteIIe's Resolution.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The secre-
tary of war yesterday 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 place where they are 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 surren-
der of these flags, and whether
it is true that a portion
of them were actually surrendered
to persons having no right to their pos
session. AS preliminary the secre-
tary gives brief history of the flags.
OF the whole number captured and
deposited with the department, 23e
were United States flags originally cap,
tured by the confederates
and recapCured from them, and
544 were confederate flags taken by the
United States troops, making total
of $50 in the custody of the de-
partment. When received they were
deposited in vacant attic of a build
ing on Seventeenth street, occupied by
the clerks of the adjutant general of
fee. Later, the superintendent OF the
buildings, without instructions, SO fan
as can be ascertained, had them re-
moved to his Office, where few were
placed upon the walls, and the re-
mainder upon shelves or in pigeon
holes.
q AT this time an inventory of the Sc
flags was entered in book in which
was also entered a description anC
brief history of the capture of those
that could be identified as belonging te
particular organizations. They re
manned here until the latter part OF
1874. 1t is stated that while some Of
the confederate flags have since beer
given to the companys OF regiments cap
turing them, no flags have passed out
of the custody of the department thai
were in such custody when Secretary
Endicott assumed charge of the de
partment. The order to return thu
flags and the order revoking it arr
given, and the statement is made tha
no flags were actually returned under
the first order. As to the Law
requiring the public exhibi
trophies it is assumed that thu
construction put upon it by former sec
retaries of the war and navy was tina
the law applied to trophies taken from
a foreign enemy and not to those takel
during domestic hoStilities. In the au
tumn of 1874 portion of
THE FLAGS WERE REMOVED.
from the Office Of the superintendent o
the war department buildings, it il
presumed by the oral direction of thu
then secretary of war, to the ORDINANCE
museum in Winder's building and thel
placed on-eXhibition, and others Wer
sent to the same place in 1875. tn
| largest part of the flags, however, still
remained in the Office of the superin
| tendent. Such was their custody ant
place of deposit until October, 1882
| when all the flags, including those II
| the museum, were, by direction OF tn
secretary of war, boxed and stored in
room in the endorsement of tn
new state, the war and nav,
| building then first occupied by the wa
! department, where they remained un
| til January, 1887. They were quite in
accessible in this place, and difficultt
find and identify when it became nee
essary to do so. It was also found tina
they were tdecaying rapidly. and by di
rection of the present adjutant genera
they were taken from the boxes AM
placed in room in the upper story o
| the war department building, wher
| they can be easily visited and exam
ined. It is well known that in man
1 cases the United States troops, Wit
| the implied, if not the express consen
of the war department, obtained tn
flags taken from the confederates il
battle, and during the progress of tn
war the secretary of war ordered sev
eraI captured flags to be restored TO tn
During the whole period of thei
custody In this department
| has been the invariable practic
of the secretaries of war. froI
/ time to time to deliver up It
captured union flags on application b
governors of states whose troops serve
In the armies of the United States an
4 to DISTINGUISHED soldiers of the war o
the union side. Upon such application
it was. prior to March 1885, the prai
: tice of the secretaries of war was
: make inquiry concerning the loss
| the flags asked for, and if it occurre
, | under circumstances which did NJ
reflect discredit upon the soldierly an
gallant conduct of the troops, it ";
j returned. And in accordance vii
: this rule several such flags have bee
: returned since March Z, 1885. SuG
: / applications have at times been I
!; | fused and in some cases subsequent
!. granted. Nineteen union flags ha
s thus passed from the custody of t
s department by order from the secreta
= of war and three have been deliver
/; upon Joint resolutions of congress.
|; A full list of the same. giving
7, brief history of each flag and at who
+, request. and to whom delivered and
i, whose authority, is annexed, and ma
/, a part of this report. Twenty-one et
!; federate aags were also given up pr
g u May, 1887. a list Of these IS