The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
TIE LOYAL LEGION DENoUNCB TIE
DISPLAY OF THE REBEL FLAG.

hope 5torminG Party at Fort Hudson
RIae Competitions In the Arny-JuGEiInn
with tho Congregational Record-A Host
Of Applicants for Col ClArkson's Place
In the Post once Department.
WASHINGTON. June THE Commandery Of
the Loyal Legion Of the District OF Columbia
has among It's members many OF the most emil
mont Union officers OF tho late war. AT the
time OF his death Gen. Sheridan was one OF Its
members and Commander-in-Chiefo Of the or
der; Senator Hawey was It's Commander for
four years and Senator Henderson has Just
entered upon HE fourth year in the same ca
pacity. Tho late Gen. John F. Miller Senator
from California, was It's fret Commander Its
roster shows the name OF Justice OF the Su-
preme Court. two members OF the Cabinet.
Senators and Representatives the command
ing General OF the army. many army officers
high in rank, Ind nearly a score OF
Rear Admirals, Of tho navy. 1t is in
every oenso OF tho word represen-
tatlye organization Of all that was brave and
loyal during the late war. and the national
reputation of its members renders prominent
any unusual action taken by the commandery.
However, It is very seldom that anything out
OF tho ordinary routine occurs. but the I'M
yelling OF the Lee monument and the attend
ing incidents were too fresh not to be over
looked on Wednesday evening, the night OF tho
regular monthly meeting There was q full
attendance. Notwithstanding the extremely
hot night. The usually calm demeanor OF
these old warriors was RULED, and there was
rafting OF swords and ganGlng OF spars that
indicated that they had not forgotten the fall
of sumter, nor the call CT Father Abra-
ham for three hundred thousand more"
1t seemed that the unwilling OF n monument
TO Ice, The pride OF the Confoderacy, and the
display OF the rebel ilngs on that occasion has
reused all that was latent OF tho spirit OF
PATRIOTISM that euthused their loyal breasts
thirty yeais ago. By unanl mous vote the
in vigorous terms the ceremony at Richmond.
the marching If troops In the order OF the Sc.
Confederate flags a. an attempt to defend and
commend 10 the coming generation the prinei-
nlcs Of state, supremacy; and TO apologize Tor
tain thnt princiDle twenty-five years ago. 1t
was also resolved that every legitimate action
should be- urged to hereafter prevent the dis
play in military and civic PROFESSIONS, or on
any other occasion, of the Confederate flag.
Tho bravery and sacrifices made by tho for
lorn-hope storminG party OF Port Hudson are
recorded in history but the bill now hanging
fire in the Committee on Military Affairs Of tho |
House reviyes in measure this almost for
gotten incident of the late war. The bill has
Tor its object the fuliillment of a promise de-
iiberlieIy made at a time when NJ Jest was In
tended In the early summer OF 1863 the Army |
Of the Gulf under command OF Gen. Banks, had
important strategic point on the lower Misss-
sippi. Several assaults had been made upon
this strongly fortified place. but each assault |
had been repulsed with great loss of life to the
Union forces ,5 As lnst resort Gen; Banks,
make up storminR party of 1000 men, as he
sad at the time TO vindicate the flag OF the
have iaIien" Between eight and nine hund cd
yolpn,eered Every member OF the party real-
d a he fi ms 0l hs Every
was devoid OF that feeling OF ardor and In
SEPARATION OF battle. 1t was desperate ekpedi-
were written. Not one OF the party ever ex:
pec,ed to see his comrades again. 1t was well
was first to attain an advanced nosition. and at
the oppoElune time to make desperate
my's fire and compel the concentration Of
the Confederate forces to repel the at
Were engaged the right and et wings Of tRs
I Mon forces would swo9p down. and the Tort
SSd b ba wba he Toad pasc 81 IN hs It's
comparatively small body OF mem II was eT-
rected that thoy woulu be sacrificed to enable
make the anticipated movement At no time
strung to the highest tension, ready. waiting
to do what they had volunteered to do. At the
Port Hudson quickly followed, and the men
making up the forlorn hope party reJoined
nsie the fSodent forsotten. and the
volunteers went unrewarded The reward that
they claim now was promised by zen. Banks
"Uffcers who lead the column of victory in
this last assault may be assured OF the lust
and every officer and soldier who shares its
perils and glory shall receive a medal Ut to
campaign OF 1868 Tor the freedom Of the
in he iTorty-ninth Congress Senator Cock.
and exhaustive report favorinG the passage e
a bin similar in its nature 10 the Senate bill
% tho same e report GnS the G nS
FIFTY first Congresses. The Secretary Of War,
that General Orders, No, q promised medal
TO every officer, and soldier composing the
The AdIutant, General Of the Army in 1888
said In his report to the Secretary Of War: IT
that General Orders No. 40. Headquarters Of
the Department. OF the Gull Nineteenth Army
exceptional and the only one OF it,, character
issued during the war of the late rebe lion"
itorlous and faithful officers and men, various
Generals often, promised and
soldiers of the empire cared more for the dec
oration OF the order OF the Legion Of Honor
nsy d Ss Ana s S10 S
reason the House Committee is now opposed.
after lapse of twenty seven years. to give
would be DISTINGUISHED above their com rades,
the bravery exhibited and
Is also urged that tho party did not make the
contemplated assault, and were, therefore. not
killed. Consequently. they deserve no mark
Dl distinction and the promise SO deliberately
made is TO DO overslauRhed.
Gen. Felix Agnes publlshe OF the Baltimore
american, WAS Captain In the l65th New York
It that time. and was member OF tho storm: !
ne party. On Tuesday morning he appeared
Jeiore the committee and advocated the fav-
0rabe consideration of the bill The General, .
ike his countrymRn. Lafayette, WAS a brave
soldier. and very launtily carries the marks Of 8
eleven bulletholes, and q sabre cut. Gen.
Banks. now q member OF the House. has very :
earnestly asked that the promise he made be-
fulfilled. The General said to the committee
hat after the surrender Gen. Gardner. COM
handing the Confederate forces at Port Hud-
.Gn 5&Id him that thG or5GsnlSation Of tho
through his spies and the country people In
tho Vicinity did more to induce him to sur ,
render than the fail OF Vicksburg. 5
Gen. SchoReld will issue the general order In
3 day or two relating to rife competitions. Tho
contest for the prizes provided by the Army
will take place this year at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan They will be conducted by Col. L. v.
Sumner Lieutenant Colonel OF the Eighth