The National tribune., 1889-01-17
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0Br Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
OHIO's FLAG-ROoM.
Pnlhetic 60 Enscled There Dale.

:.
well as the old soldier.
We will now 20 from the rotunda up two
flights of stairs, and at the upper landing we
turn 10 the right into the Fiag-room, and, as
You are somewhat tired, please sit down and
rest q moment.
This room is % feet long. q wide and "a high.
There are five double cases, 10 feet high, y feet
long and two feet wide. divided through the
center lenethwise, making 10 fronts, or cases,
with large glass doors, four 10 each front aud
all securely locked. The flags and banners are
secured inside by clasp in an upright posi-
ton. Standing IN front of the first case, as We
enter the room, We fms Inc flags OF the lal, "a
and 81 Inf, and so on the numbers running
10 the right 10 the end Of this case. When
we pass around 70 the opposite side we find we
are between two cases, aud the numbers con-
tinue to the right; and, at the end of the second
front you "about face and find the next
number, and still keep passing to the right.
We keep on in this way until the eighth
front is reached and the number has reached
18th Regiment, aud the last door shows you
the flags of the heavy artillery. About lace,
ard you see the little flags Of the independent
batteries. Next comes a signal flag OF the Six
teenth Corps and the headquarters flag of the
First Brigade, Second Division. Army Of West
Virginia: the flag Of the Black Brigade Of
Cincinnati. two of the 9Th and 9th Z. s. c. L,
4th XIV. Mid Inf, and then the cavalry. The
last or 10th front shows you the little guidOns,
or markers, that the boys carried for Us TO
wheel by. twas fun FOR the soldiers TO see the
boys lodging from one end OF the line to the
other They were soon done away with after
we entered the field, where fighting was 10 be
done. Here are a few markers and banners
without any mark on them, and we cannot tell
10 what regiments they belonged. Last OF all
come four flags that were carried BY the Ohio
troops in the Mexican war. They are not Of
the same kind OF material as the ones we car
ried, and look old and faded. But those old
Mexican soldiers love them just as well as we
do ours.
-Four hundred flags, hammers aud markers in
all: and not all the flags that were carried in
the late war by the Ohio troops are here as
they were never turned in to the Flag-roo
and we do not know where they are what
became of them.
The flags all have their history, but I can
tell you of but few. Here Is one the 3lst,
shattered BY not less than 10 bullets and
nipped by a score more. About two feet from
the top of the staff you find a hole through it
as neat as though it had been put there by
hand, and little farther down, two or three
balls have struck so near the same place. that
it has been cut of and had to be tied with
strings and little sticks 10 keep 1t together.
And Just above where the hand would clasp it,
you find that il has been struck SO often that
il coald not be fixed with strings, but one OF
the boys has neatly set in a piece Of wood about
y inches long and just half the thickness OF
the staff. and made it almost as good as ever.
] VIII not say how many brave men fell under
this one flag but, from the way ii Is shattered,
you must draw your own conclusions. There
is not enough of the flag left to make one whole
stripe. But this is not the only one that has
bullet marks and so little of the flag left You
can hud them in almost every case.
Here is the flag carried By the ed our la
mented President James s. GarGeld's old regi-
-
Here is the flag that went through prison, and
the Johnnies could not find. Ii was hid by
one Of the boys. and carried into Camp Ford
Prison, Texas. 1t belonged to the ASth.
think its history was published at one time in
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE. This is the flag OF
the S9rh, that was captured with the greater
part OF the regiment at Chickamsuga, and after
long and diligent search through the North
and South, found and obtained possession OF
June 30 lsS0, by ~. n Barns OF Go. G
These are few oil the flags that have a his.
tory; but what sad stories they could all tell
If they were endowed with speech, of the
brave boys that laid down their lives in its de-
Tense.
The question is often asked. Do the old
soldiers love these flags as they claim they
dor
Let me give you few instances that have oc
Cured right here in THIS very room.
Here comes colnTade and asks:
'Comrade are you IN charge of the Flag
room?"
Yes, sir. What can do for you?"
would ike to see the flag Of the til regi
meHr. ii no trouble"
- No trouble at all, comrade; viii be pleased
TO SHOW il to you. Is that the regiment yoI
served in7"
Yes; ! was in that regiment during all TIT
time il was out, but came out all right. AMI
would like to see the old flag once more.'
Here il is in this case
Vel, could You open the door and let m
put nay hand on t2D We knew this would b
the next question and was prepared for it.
Yes; / viii not only open the door, bu
take il ont and let you hold il IN your hands
If you wish"
Thank you, ! would like TO -
lie takes the old flag, bus cannot finish wha
he would ike TO say. Why? Sometime
chokes him, aud we turn our head and try t
be interested in something else But we dit
not fail TO see the handkerchief brought from
the pocket, and the big tears wiped from hi
eyes. Don't laugh, my young friend wait
moment and he viii speak.
Comrade don't think me a baby, but
could not keep back the tears. for the memoir
Of the past and oil the comrades that fell unde
this old flag passes so wildly before me. 1t ]
the first time ! have seen the flag since W
were mustered out, and as [ was passiR
through the city 10 the far West I could 10
resist stopping over few hours 10 once NOR
look upon its folds. may never see it again
as ] am getting old and cannot travel as use
10. God bless the old flag Take good care &
il, comrade. Many thanks and good-by. No,
] have seen all came 10 see, and | will 90.
With tears still to be seen in his eyes, he zoe
cut.
Here comes a man with a wooden leg as 70
can tell by his heavy, labored STEP
How de do, comrade. Is the-d regiment
flag here?"
Yes, sir. Do you want to see it?"
Wei, me and the old woman thought "
would Ike 10 see it, Yes, that's it. / lost ~
Leg in thai regiment, and have seen lots Of tn
boys fall fighting for that old flag No. 70
need not take ii out. ] only wanted to see
and put my hand on it once more Their
lock il up, and take good care of it, He turn
away; but We viii not watch him. for we Izno
why be turns so quickly.
The lady-not an old woman as her hugbap
would make you belieye-timidly asks:
" is the flag Of the til regiment in Ii
case?"
Yes; here in this case Let me open II
case for you, as it is little dark in that co
ner"
The lady puts her hand on the old flag. an
cries as though her heart would break WHY
- ] had two brothers killed under that fla
was only girl when they went away. and
never saw them again. Let me put my han
on il again"
tThere my good LADY, would not cry so