The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-09-28

you only intended il as special compli
ment to us in which all of our fellow
soldiers might rejoice; just as we re.
jolce in every special favor shown tC
any of them in their day.
Ah, me, Ladies, your gift reminds us
OF another event that occurred more
than quarter of a century ago 1t wa,
the presentation TO us, i'm 1861. of a
beautiful flag by the ladies OF Lafay-
cite county, as we started for the war
We stood in line, most of us mere
boys, with faces scarcely less smooth
than those of our sweethearts, and re-
ceived the beautiful flag from fail
hands, and heard from sweet lips the
message that sent us forth to battle, land
pledged our honor that the flag should
never be disgraced. How well thai
pledge was redeemed let the record OF
The battles and the grassy mounds
where lie the dead, bear witness. Hear
the stories OF
Carthage,
Wilson Creek,
Lexington,
Pea Ridge,
Iuka,
Corinth,
Port Hudson,
Raymond,
jackson,
Chickamauga,
Missionary Ridge,
Resaca,
Lost Mountain,
KeDnesaw Mountain,
Peach Tree Greek,
Atlanta and the hundred days fight
ing,
Jonesbo:ough,
Franklin,
Nashville and the terrible retrea,
thereirom, and scores of skirmishes not
OF enough general importance to be
named as battles, but where the shot
and shell were no less deadly.
Through all of these without the loss
OF flag or single gun captured by
the enemy.
When the war closed the old battle
flag, all tattereI and torn by shot and
shell, was carefully parceled out among
the survivors, each taking piece as IA
sacred memento of the things it sym.
boliZed.
We now carefully keep these ragged
scraps OF cloth secure among the relics
and keepsakes of dead friends and kin
dred. And, as upon occasion, they
are brought 10 notice, there rises up in
the vista of the past the battles and
marches, and all the panorama of the
war; and at the farther end of the view
stand the beauteous forms and lovely
faces OF the women vino cried pileously
at the parting, but bravely bade us go,
as they gave us the standard under
which we were TO fight.
Who can do justice to the noble qual
ltles OF the southern women. There
were no personal ambitions or hopes
OF military glory or historic fame to
lure them on. Pure patriotism was
their only motive-unseltish devotion
their only inspiration. Through years
OF privatlon-in countless sacrifices
III patient endurance their matchless
falthfulness has known no wavering.
We who went out to war in full con-
fidence OF victory, and returned from
the contest unsuccessful, were met
with no complaints or reproaches, but
rather with the readiest encouragement,
the most precious sympathy and the
heartlest co operation i'll the beginning
and all along our new life under the
adverse circumstances of the times.
And after this lapse of time, when
we have met, not as victOrs to celebrate
our triumphs, but as the remnant of a
defeated host, you have sent us roses
The custom has been to crown the
VIctors, and strew with flowers the re-
turning march of triumphant armies;
out. by the overruling providence of
the Gods of nations, the armies in
which we fought were crushed in the
strain OF war, and the cause we cham
pioned lies buried with the dead heroes
who fell in its defense-and vet, you
send us roses.
Oh! it must be that honor remains in
spite OF defeat, and that fame may still
be the inheritance of the vanquished;
and our bosoms swelled land our hearts
throbbed, and our blood leaped in our
veins, because you sent us roses.
On the occasion OF your gift only 1,
part OF the company was present. The
other members are scattered far apart
over the union, but The news OF your
favor will arouse grateful sense of
PRIDE Ill the former boys. now bronzed
ana bearded men, no less sturdy in
peace than valiant i'll war, from Cali
fornla to New York, from Colorado to
Alabama.
Those present each received bou-
quet. and L caused sufficient number
10 be neatly pressed, (which will be sent
to our absent comrades as soon as thew
can b exactly located. And these frail
emblems of lasting sentiment, most
precious to us, will be laid away along
with the pieces of the old flag, so that,
associated with the historic memories
OF our part in the war will be the re-
OF the graceful compliment
from the ladies of St. Joseph.
WILLIAM YOUNG.