The evening times., 1896-04-07
She HoIST{D THE FLAG
Heroine Of a Wartime Inc dent
at Richmond.
MADAME LOUIS BRAVERY
She Was the First to HUN Up the
Stars and Stripes After the Fall of
the City-Protected by Union Sol-
diers and Her Home Saved From
Destruction by Fire.

LIVING IN tOinIOTlJblc Iooihe Sh h"S
third floor OF the building 1Ol6 Chestnut
street, Philadelphia, is the woi;.an, who,
thirty y-one years ago. after the evacuation
of Richmond, Va, hoisted the first Union
nag that gladdcned the eyes OF the loyal
soldiers. Yesterday afternoon she rctold
tneIncideut and gave the history of the flag
which did service on that occasion.
1t was the morning OF April 3, lS6b,
when n body of the Fourth Massachusetts
Cavalry, under Major II. Stephens, can
tered along Main street, Richmond, amid
scowis and jeers from the populace and an
occasional shot fired from ambush. In
every direction could he seen the clouds or
smoke and pillars of flames that told or
incendiary work, and the city seemed TO
be doomed TO absolute destruction. AS the
small body of troops ncared the house No.
1922 Main street second floor window
opened, aud the eyes OF the soldiers were
giaddened by the sight OF the first emblem
of loyalty they had seen since they entered
the city.
A fine-looking young woman stood by the
window and flung to the breeze 4 large
flag showing the stars and Stripes. jor
Stephens halted his men, and they wheeled
FOuDu I'D JIOUI vi tiN b'"sNs EiNih- - Auo'-
cheer for Old Glory and another for the
fair woman who had gladdened their hearts.
Madam L. Louis parents lived in Rich
mond and during the last three years OF the
civil war he spent all the time in that city,
being occupied mainly in embroidering
shoulder straps for Confederate generals.
VIVID MEMORY OF THE DAY.
81 can remember the morning of the
evacuation as well as though 1t had oc-
CURED only last year said Madam Louis
yesterday. 81 got up at o O'Clock ana look
ed out Of the window; it was the graDdest
sight YOU ever looked at. The city was on
fire in a dozen different places, and the
sun was rising. Afterward the streets
were filled with a very noisy crowd, and
people were destroying and burning every
thing movable My father wanted me to get
out, but 1 wouldn't go. I had $4,000
worth of tobacco in my rooms and had de-
termIped to save. it. Then the idea came
to me that as soon as the troops came Into
town 1 would hoist the flag, and would be
assured protection.
".You wouldn't dare do that, my father
said, you'll be shot the minute you hoist
it, I was willing to take my chances, and
1 kept a close watch for the troops. The
flag had was one had embroidered In
1856, when was Rachael Semon. 1t was
about two and a half feet square and repre-
sented Gen. Washington on horseback wav.
ing q Union flag, and trampling the British
flag underneath his horses hoofs. The
Stars and Stripes stood out plainly. 1had
kept the flag all through the war con.
ceaIed behind the back of mirror, and
knew it would be Of service in the midst
of disorder if the Union troops should enter
Richmond.
"It was a beautiful flag, and took me
months to make" said Madam Louis.
"It was Of the kind of work now styled
.Kensington,' but we didn't know 1t by that
name in those days.
CHEERED THE FLAG.
"WelI, about noon that day saw the
soldiers coming, and in spite OF what
my husband and father said, waved
the flag. The soldiers drew up and
cheered, and Mai. Stephens came into the
house and thanked me, and left guard to
care for us. AR soon as they had gone
away I offered $40 a load to dra ymen
who would get my tobacco to my sisters
house in another part of the town. and it
was loaded up all right, but the city was
fast filling with Yankees and they stole
it off the drays as soon as one got square
from the house.
"It 90 happened that all the houses
around us were burned; but our place
was left intact, and if hadn't attempted
TO move the tobacco 1 would have been
$40, 900 better Off"
Madam LOuiS explaining her position
during the war, said that her feelings