The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-19
THAT MISSING REBEL FLAG.
1t Was Captured by n G. A. IL. Man,
Who Tells Why He Did 1t.

Harrisburg Letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
a dispatch sent out from Chicago an
nounceS that a confederate flag has mys-
teriousy disappeared from the famous An
crews locomotive now on exhibition at the
worlds ; fair and that a search was being
of the Survivors Association, Hartranft's
Division, Ninth Corps, Army OF the Po-
tonlac, is in position to solve the mys-
terry 10 correspondent tonight he said:
belong to the post of the Grand Army
of the Republic at Cory, Pennsylvania,
that was named for J. j. Andrews the
leader of the band of twenty-one Union
soldiers who went through the confederate
lines in 1862, and at Big Shanty station
captured the locomotive known as The
portions of Georgia, Tennessee and Ala
bama. While the expedition was failure
as to results. the history of warfare pro-
duces no more thrilling incident greater
daring. truer heroism or grander sacrifice
than is found in the authentic accounts of
little band of Union soldiers.
The old locomotive belongs to the State
OF Georgia, and Is now on exhibition at the
worlds fair a week ago last Friday,
building, In company with my little boy, i
happened to run across the locomotive and
as the comrades of my, post had always
taken great interest in everything that
Pertalned TO the Andrews raid, gave the
locomotive a careful examination. 1 had
confederate flag in question, which was at
tached to staff securely fastened in the
Steam escape or the locomotive.
This staff, l should say was six or eight
rect long, and, being placed so high on the
locomotive 1T gave the flag most prom
inent position l was .astonisffed. at least,
70 see 1t there, perched away up above any
Union nags and l made inquiry to ascer-
tain why in the loyal State of Illinois it
allie to explain. I called the attention of
an Old soldier of the Thirteenth Ohio to it.
ana sadios also pointed it out to, a number of
prised that 1t should be there / do not
know who placed it there, for what pur-
POS 92se 1t was i; done or by what authority. L
be there. The more I thought of it the
stronger became my convictions that it was
my duty to. tear 1t down.
1T was then after 5 o'clock, and went
to my room at 344 East Sixty-third street
and, leaving my boy there, returned to the
fair grounds for the flag. 1 entered the
grounds, arriving at the location of the
locomotive at five minutes before g. There
We're few persons looking at the locomo-
broke the staff off and took the flag DOWN
Il did not feel like returning to the
comrades com OF my post to tell them that
locomotive without at least attempting TO
tear it down. 1 have no particular hostil-
ny Ky 10 the men who carried the flag during
years after the war. should deliberately
display flag in the loyal State of Illi-
never did and never can mean ANYTHING
but treason, rebellion and human slavery
could not understand. L have learned
since that it is claimed that the flag was
simply hofsted as relic. The story is
hard to believe, but even if there is any
truth in it we can get along without any
exhibitions of such relics
There. are enough Union soldiers with
empty sleeves, wooden legs, crutches and
broken constitutions to answer any rea-
sonable demand for relics. / believe the
flag was placed in position in defiance of
the patriotic sentiment that ought to find
a place in the heart of every loyal citizen
and such belief impelled to take it
Oct. 6. 1893, 5:55 o'clock. One country and
one flag is good motto for all loyal cit
iZens."