Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22

The correspondent So" in the above corre-
spondence 10 correct in his statement, so far as
it goes. and &C." 10 equally correct in the
statement that there were probably two flags.
but is incorrect when he says the ''fags exist
only in the little carefully boarded bits OF bunt-
ing"
TIVE STAR presents to its readers sketches Of
both flags, the garrison flag and the storm flag,
both being in the possession OF Mrs. Anderson,
left to her tender and reverent care by their
gallant defender These flags are stored for
security in the vaults of a safe deposit company
In this city during the summer months and in
the winter, during Mrs. Anderson's residence
here are drsped over the painted portrait Of
her husband in her home.
When the writer called on Mrs. Anderson
the flags had been taken down from over the
portrait preparatory to her departure from the
city during the summer months and sent to the
safe deposit vault, but Mrs. Anderson had them
brought back to the house. There they were
carefully and reyerently unfolded and the artist
took sketches OF them, Mrs. Anderson and her
daughter holding the ends of the torn and tat
tered banners. The sketches obtained are good,
and the flags, tattered and torn, smoke be-
grimed and faded, tell their story more elo-
quently than words could tell ii. The storm
nag that hoated over Sumter during the bonn
bardment is in tatters SO far as the stripes are
concerned, but not q star in its union was
touched The garrison flag is in a better state
OF preservation. The storm flag originally
measured eight feet in length by four feet two
inches IN width. the garrison flag measuring
thirty-six feet in length by twenty feet in
width. (This flag is hoisted only on holidays
and great occasions). The union is one-third
Of the length Of the flag and extends to the
lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the
top.
PORTRAIT WITH A STORY.
Boldly outlined upon the canvas on the wall
OF O room in Mrs. Andersons house is the por-
trait OF Robert Anderson above referred to,
over which the flags draped during the
winter months. This portrait has quite little
history attached to it. 1t was painted at Dres-
den. at a time some years ago when General,
or. people generally prefer to call him Major,
Robert Anderson, was sojourning there, In
search Of health he had lost in the service OF
his country. The artist, quite a celebrated
one. had painted the portrait Of the King and
Queen of Saxony, and these were to be placed
on exhibition at the Munich exposition. The
people of Saxony were quite able to judge OF
the truth and artistic merit OF his work from
these portraits, being familiar with the per-
sonai appearance Of the king and his consort,
but the great many Americans who would
visit the exposition and whose good opinion
he sought were not so familiar with the looks
OF the king and queen Of the country in which
they were temporarily sojourning, and the
artist, on explaining his dilemma to the king,
was introduced TO Major Anderson, whose ap-
pearance at that time was quite familiar to
Americans as were those of the royal couple to
their subjects. The artist prevailed upon Maj.
Anderson, with much delicacy and tact for the
major was i'll and easily farigued to sit for his
portrait. and it proving to be good one, fur
Their prevailed upon him to allow it to be ex-
hibited at the exposition, with those OF the
king and queen, and the portrait was subse-
quently secured By Major Anderson.
SKETCH OF MAJOR ANDERSON.
Not less boldly outlined against the dark
background Of war does the figure of Major
Robert Anderson, at Fort Sumter, stand forth
upon the canvas of history. Robert Anderson
was born in Kentucky and appointed from that
state to The United States Military Academy,
entering July /, 1921. and graduating July l.,
1925, when he was made a second lieutenant Of
artillery. He served on various details until
May, 1892, when he took a conspicuous part in
the Black Hawk war. being engaged in the
battle OF Bad Ak, August 2, 1882 Then fol-
lowed various details on ordnance duty and as
instructor at West Point until 1878, when he
served IN the -orida war against the Seminole
Indians, being engaged in the action Of Locha-
Hatchee, January "a, 1888. Subsequently his
command captured forty-fve Indians near Fort
Lauderdale. April 2, 1885, and participated in
q skirmish in the Everglades. April "a. 1888.
He was breyetted captain April 2, 1888, for gal
lantry and successful conduct In the war
against the Florida Indians. He served as
aid-de-camp May to July z, 1888. At his own
request, and against the wishes and advice of
the general and his many other army friends,
he relinquished his staff appointment after