Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-21
THE BATTLE FLAGS.
TIE SECRETARY OF WAR ANSWERS THE
B0UTELLE REVOLUTION.
Brief History Of the Captured Banners
Their Care and Custody In the War
Department
(By telegraph 20 the Dispafch !

WASHINGTON, February 20-The Sec
rotary of War to-day returned TO the
House his answer 10 the Boutelle resolu-
ton calling for information as To
whether flags captured by the United
States have been removed from the place
where they were displayed and CON
cealed, and If so by what authority and
for what purpose and further as TO
what propositions have been made by
Government officials for the surrender OF
these flags, and whether it is true that a
portion of them were actually surren-
dered to persons having no right to their
possession
As preliminary the Secretary gives n
brief history Of the flags, showing that
from 1852 until the close Of the war
United States generals in the field sent
to the War Department the flags that
were captured by their troops. 1t is
also probable, he says, that some flags
OF this description reached the depart
ment through other channels OF the
whole number captured and deposited
with the department 236 were United
States flags originally captured by Con-
federatcs and rccaptured from them. and
5t4 were Confederate flags taken by
United States troops, making a total o.
$50 in the custody Of the depart
ment The Secretary reviews OK
haustiycly the legislation upon this
subject, showing that since 1874
there have been no statutes requiring
the public exhibition of such flags. and
then in order, as he SAYS, that nothing
may be omitted from his answer to the
resolution, he summarizes his detailed
replies to specific inquiries contained in
sad resolution.
"ln reply TO the first clause of resolves
! have the honor 10 say that it is not
true that the flags. standards, and colors
captured from the enemies of the United
States have been removed from the place
where they were displayed as required
by law, and have since been concealed
from the public Flags, standards, and
colors captured prior to the varof the re-
bcllion were displayed, so far rs can be as
certainod, in tine Military AFademyat West
Point, as heretofore recited, and have not
since been removed or concealed from
the public. Flags, Standards, and coiors
captured in the war of the rebellion wore
never displayed under the provisions Of
the statute of 1914, and therefore have
not been removed from any place of dis
play and concealed from the public.
All matters known to this department in
regard to their care and custody have
been fully stated.
I'm reply to the second clause in the
resolution | have the honor 10 say that
thc only proposition for the surrender of
any OF said flags, standards, and colors
within the knowledge of this department
was made 10y the Adjutaut General Of
the army, as before recited, and the
action and orders thereon aud the with
drawal of the same 10y the President are
fully set forth in the foregoing state
ment and exhibits therein referred 10.
" In regard to the actual surrcndcrand
delivery of the fiaesand colors to persons
having no right to thcirpO,session before
the countermanding order of the Presl-
dent was issued, concerning which infOr-
nation is requested in the third clause Of
the resolves, ] have the honortO say that
it is not true that the flags referred to
and included in the proposition Of the
Adjutaut-General have been delivered up
or surrendered either before or after the
said countemandmg order to any per
sons or organizations whatever; but the
same are still in custody of this depart
mcnt. and further, that If the flags
and colors captured in tho war
of the rebellion are covered by and
included in tue statutes heretofore
mentioned, so that the delivery Of
any of them 10 any persons otherthan the
custodlans of the Government constitutes
delivery TO persons having no right TO
their possession, as set forth in SAID re-
solve, then it must be answered that
portion Of said flags have been surrend-
cred and delivered as follows OF Con-
federate 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
bv his authority. At least fifty more
Confederate flags were lent by MIR. Stan
ton TO individuals or associations, who
subsequently returned them. One Con-
federate flag WAS lent 10y General Benet,
acting Secretary of War, TO General
Clark, and has not been returned. -