Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-08-26
Lincoln and the Flags.


writes General Schuyler Hamilton in
the New York Tribune, General
Mcclellan being in command of the
Union troops. 1t resulted in the de-
feat of the Confederates and the
capture of large number of their
standards. This battle, although in
itself one of minor significance, be-
came far-reachlng in its consequent
ces, for its effect was to make George
B. Mcclellan the commander of the
Army of the Potomac, and subse-
ouently the Communicated of
the armies of the United States. Ten
DAYS thereafter the first Bull Run
took place magnifying McLellan's
recent success beyond its rightful
proportions and resulting in a popu-
lar demand for his services to head
the troops hurrying to the defence of
the beleagured capitol.
After the battle General Mcclellan
Randolph B. Marcy, inspector-gen-
eral, to deliver the captured Rich
Mountain battle flags to President
Lincoln, but for some reason the
ceremony was delayed for several
weeks. To be selected for such a
service is usually an exceptional hon
or. There might be suggestion of
ssnepotism" in McLellan's choice,
were it not for the brilliant career of
Colonel, afterward General Marcy.
He entered West Point in 1928 was
graduated in 1882 was distinguished
in Indian warfare; in the war with
Mexico, and during the rebellion.
His ''Prairie Traveller" G859), and
s'Thirty Years of Army Life on the
Border" (1866) are of singular in
terest. He died several years ago.
When Col. Marcy reported at Gen
eraE SCOTS headquarters and told
the general his mission, he was asked
how he was to proceed. General
Scott replied:
s'My dear colonel, if L were ca
pable of locomotion / would accom-
pany you myself on such an interest
ing and honorable mission, but being
unable to do so, will send Colonel
Hamilton in my stead.''
was obliged to confess my own
want of experience in such matters.
General" | said, "the only flag
1 ever presented to any one was the
one my command captured at Mnas
Flores, Mexico, in 1916, which l
presented to you. If you remember,
it bore a skull and crossbones, and
was inscribed in Spanish, No boy
Quartet q give no quarter), and
it is now at West Point. Before 60
ing on this GRAND I would like mi
mute instructions from YOU"
Although Colonel Marcy was quite
deaf and could only hear when adj
dressed in extremely loud tones, Gen
enral Scott requested him to re-
tire for a few minutes, and then
the general said to me: "When
captured standards or banners are
presented to any potentate, it is
the usage for the officer appointed to
this service to be treated with very
marked distinction. For example,
he may be permitted a few days to
visit his family, and is informed that
on his return the President will hand
him an autograph letter thanking the
general who commanded the troops
in the action for their brilliant SER
vices"
Four on-commissioned officers car
ried the standards and each had a
very heavy load. Col. Marcy and /
followed proudly after the bearers
of the flags. The President had been
advised of our coming, and when we
conducted to the large room on the
second floor, known as the "Presi-
dents room"
The flags were spread upon the
floor and nearly carpeted it. One
was very large Confederate flag.
Many were of exquisite needlework,
tastefully embroidered with gold and
silver and in varied and brilliant col
ors, in which green, blue and red
predominated. There were repre-
sensations of thistles wrought upon
the delicate folds with the motto,
"Nemo me Impune lacessit." 9th
ers bore the arms of Virginia with
the motto, "Perseverando," but the
words "Liberty and Union" were
carefully omitted. A favorite inscrip-
ton was E'Sic Semper Tyrannis''
familiar words both to President Lin
coin and General Scott, for they
were constantly sent to them with
anonymous threats of assassination
and were, indeed, the words pro-
nounced by Booth on the stage of
Ford's theatre the night he murdered
the president. Mr.. Lincoln exam
ined each flag with boy-like interest.
''How sad it is to think, he said,
''that our Southern fellow-citizens.
so highly educated and their women
so accomplished, as this beautiful en-
broidery shows, should be so mis-
guided. 1t is the beautiful fruit OF
their institutions of slavery"
Then he had something to say in
kind way to the sergeants in charge
of the flags.
81 reckon, boys" he observed,
''that it did not take you nearly SO