New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-07
LINCOLN AND THE REBEL FZAox
A "REMINISCENCES OF 1861.

ohNbnAh 9'"cfhf]f hAMiLIoN TELLS H0H
THE CONFEDERATE STANDARDS cAPTUgrp
AT RICH MOUNTAIN WERE RECEIVED
BY THE MARTYR PREsrDENr-sEc.
RETARY sEwARD's pETULAYcE.
On July IL, 1861, Ire battle OF Rich Mountain,
W. Va. fought. General Mcclellan being in CON
mand Of the Union troops. 1t resulted I'm the de6.A
Of the Confedcrates and the capture Of large numb.s
OF their standards This battle. although I'm i,yu
one OF minor significance. became farreachine in In
consequences, for its effect TO mako Ceoran n
Mcclellan the commander OF the Army OF the potomae
and subsequently, tho oommanderin- chief NJ .hs
Armies Of the United States. Ten DAYS therrafts,
the first Bull Run took place. msgnifylng McC,eaps
success beyond Its nghtfu proportions and ~
suung In popular demand for his services TO head s
troops hurryfng to the defence Of the belesgued cap
tai.
After the battle General Mcclellan selected h,s
a'hern-law. Colonel Randolph b. Marcy inspccto~
general to deliver the captured Rich Mountain ba.i.
"ass 10 President LincoIn but for some reason ths
ceremony was delayed for several veehs
AZ 10 selected for such a service h,
Usually an exceptional honor There MINI
" suggestion of nepotism- in McC1elIan's cholcs
Weie not for the brilliant career OF Colonel afr,
800 800 General, Marcy. He entered West Point IA
80 was graduated in 1892 was distinguished :,
~ warfare In the war with Mexico and during
| ar, oDenion. His Prairie Traveller 1880 ana
-, ,ears OF Army Life on the Border q sseD. ar.
W. interest. He died several years ago
hoaaav |oionei Marcy reported at General SCOTS
asted 49, a"a Told the General bis mission, he
piled: 'e"0'ai eeo'' 10
Wy uear Colonel, II I were capable OF Iocomotio,
a,s 'oeo,npany you myself such an interesting
Gnu honorable mission, but being unable to do so
WIN sena colonel Hamilton in my stead,
1
perience iii such matters. ca
General I said the or, a.
10 any one was the one nv command can,ured -
Aira flores, Mexico, IN 1s4s which nrsen,ed =.
you Ii you remember 1t bore a slcll and 49,
oohes anu was inscribed in Spanish mo no,
QuarteP II give no quarter and It IS now Al We.
roht. Before going on this Grand I womb I'D.
minute Instructions from you,
Although Colonel Marcy was o,t,. ao.. 49,, -,
only near when addressed in extremely loud tomas
General Scott requested him 10 retire for . a..
minutes, and then the General said IN me-.
| "heh captured standards banners are nreser,ns
" any poehtate IL Is the usage for the Office,
appointed TO this service 10 be treated v<fb w.,
harAed aisuncuoH. For example he may be p.A
m''No rev Jays 10 Visit his family, and is iptorr\
that on his return the President Will hand him =
autograph letter thanking the General who
the troops In the action for their brilliant sery..>s
| four nOn-commissioned officers carried the stir6
ards and each of them had heavy load cn,hn~s
Marcy and followed proudly after the bearers oflH
nags The President had been advised OF our con-
Ing, and when We reached the White House We sSfs
conducted to the large room on the second fscr
known as the Presidents Room1
Inc nags were spread upon the floor ana nearly
| carpeted 1t. One was very large Confederate has
Many were OF exquisite needle work. tasteiully EN-.
broidered with gold and silver and in varied and
brilliant colors, in which green blue and predomi
TbaHa
| upon The delicate folds with the motto "Nemo Ne
| Impune Iacessit." Others bore the arms of Virginia
with the motto Perseverance, but the words Lib.
| erfy and Unon' were carefully omitted favorits
inscription was Sic semper Tyrannisr-famIiar WORKS
both to President Lincoln and General Scott for they
were constantly sent 10 them with Anonymous threats
OF assassination-and were, indeed. the words PRO
nounced by Booth the stage Of Fords Theatre tha
| night he murdered the President
Mr.. Lincoln examined each flag with boy like 10
| terest " How sad 1t is 10 Think he said, tia
our Southern fellowcitizens, highly educated and
their women. accomplished, as this beautiful en-
broidery shows. should be misguided. II is til,
baneful fruit Of their Institutions and slavery,
Then he had something TO say In kind way TO thu
sergeants in charge Of the flags.
Il reckon, boys he observed that 10 did not taks
you nearly SO long to win these flags as IL did thu
ladies to make them.'
While the President was moving along the rows o
these captured trophies, followed by Colonel Marcy
the sergeans and myself, and talking Familiarity abou
them, Secretary Seward entered the room. The Chic
of the Cabinet evidently out of sorts about some
thing and plainly showed his annoyance. I think RI
news received from across the sea was threatening
| fedeIacy by England and France. Al any rate th
| secretary was IN anything but pleasant frame
mind.
What flags are these Colonel ~ he brusquely aske
me. A
They were captured at Rich Mountain Mr. secre
| tary,' i answered.
lie gave the big Confederate flag. which happens
| to be nearest to him, a contemptuous kick
canty.
Colonel Marcy was too deaf to hear this remark
and his back being turned did not see Mr. Seward
exhibition Of irritation. Without even looking towar
sne colonel the secretary Of State walked over tn
him that he must him at once on tn
mos. urgent business. They withdrew to ad!o'u y
apartment and while the President out Of the NJ
! explained to Mr.. Ncoay, HIS private secretarv. III
nature OF my private Instructions from General
| Joining us again, after brief absence. Mr.. Llncol
finished his Inspection Of the bateaags and then
you. After passing through the perls OF battle.
would be natural Il YOU should desire 10 spend fe
Gays Win your family. who, understand from Colons
Hamilton, are at Orange. New-Jersey. Stay wit
them, Colonel, SO long as your sense of duty Wi
a the white He@se Y Soar 1 ns yca WI
receive from me an autograph letter thanking Genera
service they have rendered the cass Of the Unon
The scene and all IFS attending circumstances wei
was delighted
In the war of 1912 General Brown sent an ofic,
10 Washington with captured flags from the Norther
frontier He dallied by the way so long that II ws
| proposed in Congress TO vote him a pair OF spur
Colonel Marcy was not built that wayr Ever prom
IN the discharge OF his duty, he soon returned an
| rejoned his command.
| These Incidents with others already published al
| advance Sheets as II were. OF what / may STYLE M
"unwrtten history SCHUYLER HAMILTON,
Major General Volunteers, Y. S Army.
HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION OF CRIME