The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-08-16
THE OLD BATTLE FLA6.
A Pathetic Scene at a Confederate
Reunion.

A Pathetic Scene at Confederate
Reunion.
There was a pathetic scene in the
big tent at the close of one of the
recent meetings at Chickamauga,
says a correspondent of the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat. It illus
trated a use to which an old Con-
federate battle flag may be put
without adverse criticism from any
source. Even the superloyal Elliot
F. Shepard could find no objection
to this scene. There had been speak
ing. The courage Of the Southerner
had been extolled in one breath,
and his devotion to the Union of
to-day had been declared in another.
General George w. Gorden, "the
Tennessee Gordon" of Chatham's
division, a plain, straightforward
talker, with a power of pathos, had
said:
"These reunions are not intended
as hostility to the government. We
have but one flag, one sky, one
Union, one government, and 1t
should be our effort to make this
country glorious"
Colonel G. w. Heiskell, who sue
ceeded Walker in command of the
Nineteenth Tennessees, had said:
1--WE Of the South fought for the
constitution of our fathers as in
terpreted by the Supreme Court.
The South was a loyal country.
But we were wrong on the slavery
question, and the North was right
when it fought US on that score.
There's not a son or daughter OF
the South to-day who would have
slavery restored. Applause. While
for four years we were deadly enc
mics, we are forevermore brothers
and fellow w-citizens, and proud in
the South of the glory of these
American States, and we would
fight as Loyalty for the flag of our
country as any man who fought
with Grant and Sherman. When
brave men whip and are whipped,
they shake hands, quit all foolish
ness, and join in building up the
prosperity Of the common country"
Could better or braver words than
these be spoken at a Confederate
reunion? It was after listening to
such talk as this that the great au.
dience was in a frame of mind tc
appreciate what followed. The
chairman said:
Before you disperse we want tc
show you something. l know you
will all be glad to see it,"
Then General George w. Gordon
came forward. He carefully un
folded the wrappings of white paper
and held up with both hands tht
remnants Of a Confederate battle
flag. The shreds, the holes and tht
stains were eloquent. At the sigh
of them the veterans winked theil
eyes and breathed hard. Genera
Gordon kept silent for a minute
and then said:
ut is dead. It will do no harm
1t was the battle flag of the Elev
enth Tennessee, and it had thi
appearance after passing through
the battles ofChickamauga, Mission
Ridge, Resacca, Kenesaw, Atlanta
Jonesboro and other battles. Fou
soldiers fell with it in their hands
at the battle of Mission Ridge, ant
fifth soldier carried it from th
field"
General Gordon stopped to swal
low a lump in his throat, and pro
ceeded:
"The discoloration which yo1
f see on the white of the flag is tn
! blood of gallant Ensign Lieutenan
Drew, who fell at Franklin, Tenn
He was not Tennesseean, but wa
from Louisiana-a brother of tn
well-known commander Of the Lou
isiana Tigers. Captain Clark,
the Eleventh Tennessee, secure'
this flag at Bentonville. He kne,
t the surrender was at hand. H
took the flag from its staff, put
, in his bosom and brought it home
f wearing it between his outer am
, under shirts. He gave it to me a.
/, ter was released as prisoner {
, war. For twenty-five years hav
: kept the flag, and, God helping me-
: 1 will keep it until this life's trout
r led dream is ended, and then / hop
! it may be buried with me-"
r AS the meeting broke up the vel
Y erans in two and threes and squad
) went up to the platform, looked 9
the relic as if it was some sacre
r thing, and wept. This is no in
: agined story. Great tears role
:. down the tanned and wrinkle
8 chooks and were mODDed bV shl