Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-10-25
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
CAPTURING A FLAG.
Ono of General Butlcr's "Reminiscences
of lila GInx In, nrI..n.,a

Ono of General Buffers "Reminiscences
of Ills Stay in Now Orleans.
ut came to me one day that very
nice little circle of young ladies, pretty
girls they were, too, and leaders in So
ciety, were having a sewing-bee at the
house OF a wealthy lady, in fashion
able quarter, and that the girls had
been at work upon an elegant Confed-
crate flag, which they were going to try
and smugglo through the lines and send
to the Prussian battalion, which, under
the command of the Prussian Consul,
was then fighting in Beauregard's army.
The flag was half done when l heard
about it, and didn't want an unfinished
flag, so / concluded would let them fin
ish 1t up. was informed from timo to
time as to how the work progressed;
how they got the silk, tho bullion
fringe, the tassels, and finally that it
was all done, and the next day that they
were to mako the case. So called in
my orderly and said to him: Take my
carriage and drive down to Mrs. So-and
SOS house, and present my compliments
tmy compliments wore the only order
over sent in New Orleans), and say that
General Butlec would be glad to see
Mrs. So-and SO at his Office, and that he
had sent his carriage for her. In half
an hour Mrs. So-and-So walked in. l
showed her to seat and began Madam,
1 have sent for you because / wanted q
Confederate flag, and you havo very
fno one' She started to inter-
rupt me, but 1 motioned her to
be SILENT and continued: The
Sunday-school children up ut my
town are going to have Fourth of July
celebration (this was about the middle
of June), they have never seen Con-
federate flag, and / want to send them
one, and want as nice n one as that one
of yours" She Immediately began to
protest with the we'll simulated aston
ishment that she did not know what l
meant l stopped her and said: Now,
madam, it is useless to deny or get eX-
cited in this matter. know what am
talking about, and can prove to you that
do. To convince you of the accuracy
of my information l will tell you where
the flag was last nigt' 7; you slept with
it under your pillow This was n
clincher, and there were no more de-
malls. Then l said Now, if / were
you, Mrs. So and So, / would go right
away and get that flag and bring it here;
you are welcome to my carriage She
went without word, and in twen-
ty minutes returned, followed by the
orderly with parcel under his arm. lie
opened the package and reported that it
contained the flag l wished. Don't
make another, said to the lady; this
ono will be plenty / shan't need any
more, and / would suggest that it would
be unwise for you to make another for
any one.'
"She was the maddest woman ! ever
saw. She was so angry, indeed, that 1
think she could not speak for quito
minutes; at all events, she remained
silent for that length of time, and then
said with sort of gasp:
"'May I ask one question:"
Certainly replied and If it is
proper one will answer it.
(which one OF those girls told you
about that fiag?' she snapped out. One
of them, know, has been seen walking
with a Federal officer; perhaps it was
she who told you
"'You must excuse me, madam, but I
can not reveal my source of information,
or it would be gone forever Perhaps it
was the young lady you refer to, or per-
hnps, it was one of your servants
"'lt was not the servants, for they
knew nothing about it. Only my foster
sister, my maid, knew, and / know she
wouldn't tell you any thing about it,
d" 4 must congratulate you l replied;
in the possession of such faithful and
trustworthy servant with something of
a meaning emphasis upon the adiectives.
She didn't see it at all, however, and
went away under the impression that
the young lady who had been courteous
to Federal officer must have been the
tattle tale.
"As matter of fact, the foster sister
came to me every day with the latest
flag nows, and gave her S. for the in
formation. ."-Philadelphia Inquirer.