Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-04
New nnglaud League Standing.
Planting the Flag upon Texas Soil,

Mai. j. H. Whitmore formerly Of Bow
doinbsm and during the war an officer in the
Maine Fitteentb) Of Lynn, Mass, writes
to the Independent to correct 3 misstste-
ment in that paper of the previous week,
concerning 1.-THE planting of the flag" upon
Texas soil during the Banks expedition in
the fall Of 1868. MAJ. Whitmore says;
was especially interested in the closing
paragraph Of the above mentioned article
wherein was reported the incident of the
unfolding Of the first flag upon Texas soil
during the war Of the Rebellion. | desire
to say that another brave Ssgsdahoc boy,
from Phipsburg, who has long since passed
to another shore--James X. Oliver of
Co. B." 18th Maine Regiment was
the first 70 unfurl and plant in
position the American flag upon
the shores Of Texas, in the expedition
referred to in your article. Major II. A.
Shorey Chen Lieut. and others of Co.
"Bn accompanied the boy Oliver to the
shore, and from the debris Of driftwood a
staff WAS improvised and secured to the
roof of deserted hovel near the beach,
from which was waited the compapy's pri-
VAte HsR. a CDrItbpUHucht Vi tut iNcW
York Tribune. who accompanied the expe
dition ana Witnessed the competitive
efforts Of different regmental organizations,
which numbered an aggregate OF about a.
coo troops, wrote for his paper in n sub
sequent issue THE regiment from the
most northeasterly county of the STATE OF
Maine WAS the arst to plant the Stars and
Stripes upon the most souihuesteTly shores
of Texas" have the same flag in my pos
session and prize it highly asa rare souv-
enir Of the war.
In 1.-THE Story of the Maine Fifteenth" ="
now in press snd about to be issued, the au-
thor-Msj II. A. shorey-gives the follow
ing sketch of the interesting little episode
With but few exceptions the YES
sells of the fleet reached the general
rendezvous - Brazos Santiago - Nov.
lst, and on the I'd preparations COM
menced for efectiDg 3 lsnding--not a
mere holiday recreation, a. was very readily
discovered when the unloading Of the
horses and artillery was undertaken. In
deed, the history of the landing Of The
United States troops upon the same coast at
the opening Of the war with Mexico-when
several days we're occupied in the debark-
alton Of single regiment, and when one
Lieut.. U s Grant in atte mpting to manipulate
the pullsys byswhich the soldiers were low
cred down from the ships to the lighters
was hurled with great velocity some twen-
ty-five feet into the water, from which hsz-
ardous .itultion future commander Of
the armies of the Union and a man of
destiny, was Hshed out by means Of buck
cts lowered down from the stips-had pre-
pared our commanders for the difficulties
encountered.
Quite fttingly the poetry Of the occasion
from Maine to Texasr--was constantly
in view, and plans were made for the land
ing Of the Maine troops first. The steamer
Gen. Banks--in disabled condition--wss
frst to cross the bar followed closely by the
Ciinton-the two vessels containing both the
18th and 18th Maine regiments. The fret
boat load of troops to reach the shore were
from the Clinton but by some oversight
! the boat carried no flag; and, it being we'll
understood that s'tEe planting Of the stars
and stripes upon Texas soil" was one Of the
chief objects Of the expedition there was
very naturally more or less rivalry among
| the soldiers as to who should first sccomp
| lisL that gres. des;derstum. The homo,
chancen 70 ieLi 70 tne lot oh oetacume ~
of Co. B., 18th Maine. The
company happened to be the
owner Of q small company flag, aud it Wa,
taken ashore in the FIRE. boat landing from
the Banks-the sgile Private james X
Oliver most expeditiously taking it to the
roof Of An old building on the islsnd and
waving it in the breeze amidst the tumuitu
Gus cheers Of the soldiers on The vessel.
within view Of the very romantic and in
spring spectacle"
The flag was presented by citizens Of
Bovdoinham in 156f-the presentation
speech being made by 8 young village
lawyer who has siace become very widel,
knovn-Hon. Nathan Cleaves Of Portland