Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-08-03

wednesday southeasterly WINDS.
f LEE CAMP The regular
nontblv meeting of r. E, Lee Camp,
= moderate Veterans, was held at theis
SsIi last night with full attendance OF
msmbers, Commander Ramsey, presid.
Ing ,ou o,ao,ad
The committee on badges reported
P 65ring the meeting delegation OF
,.iiss rom the Auxiliary appeared, to
ron had been entrusted the presen-
,srion of battle flag to the camp.
Mrs. James F Alexander, on behalf
- the committee, presented the flag,
9th the following beautiful remarks,
ubicb were enthusiastically received
commanders a1d Veterans of Lss
Cum We arc assembled here to night
~, auxiliary 10 your camp to present
soyon THIS Il :, Tine witness and in-
ma non OF many victories. which was
emily bJrue on every field from Ma.
"a "a. 10 Anpomattox, was conceived
80 80 tbs ii.ld of battle, sired on the ti-li
~ battle and on the last fatal f5.d
S,..ssd to nave place or meaning IN the
word But The men who followed and
~. world. which va ched its proud ad
,anc, y defiant stand, see it still tie
nnsfuJned banner of brave and gen.
srou. people whose deeds have out
lived This country, aud whose tnsl de-
n.af INIT added lustre to their erandest
victories 1t was not the flag of the
C,nfederacy, but simply the banner,
tina battle flag of the Confederate sol
5ier The whole world can lutte in a
chorus of praise to the gallantry of the
mn who followed where this banner
Id We feel, in presenting it, not as
we would have felt Sc years ago; then
we would have presented it ss banner
nr.you TO follow to victory; now we
nre.ent ii a a pail 1t will be used to
royer the c4sket of your members a.
the Great Commander will call them
from around this camp fire and bid them
enter the army of the Celestial City,
a. he has called those whose names are
eppraven on yonder granite monument
many of whom you, as soldiers aud 9th
cars committed their bodies 10 the
grave aud their souls to the God who
gave it. they had no casket or pal
but simply blanket. But in their
last hours in the heat of battle
they followed this flag (Which our aux
ilmry has endeavored to copy which
hal led them on to victory, and tonight
We present this banner, not the blood
stained banner of 81 TO SO which so
many Of you followed on long and
weary march, but the battle flag made
by one Of our women to cover the casket
Of some. perhaps all that are here pres.
emf, remembering similar one covered
the cssket of your noble chieftain,
S,ouewall Jackson. and was the pride
Of Lee. aud when this sad time comes.
which it will to all, may you hear the
great Commander say, "Well done good
and faithful soldiers AS oommander
and veterans we would not in present
ing this flag cause sorrow or sadness
to fall on you, but present it to you as
camp, knowing that it is customary
for each camp to have something OF the
kind to be used on such occasions.
Therefore, We as the Woman's AuXilia
ry to Lee Camp, feel that it has been a
great honor to permit us to present you
this emblem of love, praying that God
may stay the hand OF time and deal
gently with you, and while you as
camp have followed this banner from
the Fights OF Gettysburg to the swamps
OF Chickahominy may not forget the
banner of the Cross that floats to-day
from the heights of Calvary.
On behalf OF the camp Commander
Ramsay responded as follows;
Ladies of the Memorial Auxiliary to
Il +. Lee Camp
1t is with no little emotion, perhaps
with some embarrassment, do | receive
this flag at your hands. You in pre-
seniing this flag and receiving it on
behalf OF the camp are performing our
parts to 3 function absolutely unique;
such an occasion has probably never
before arisen. Mortuary chapels
abound, christendom is dotted with
them. but did one ever before
hear Of a mortuary flag? Flags are the
evidences of the nations tokens Of
power, symbols of might. Battle flags
are made to lead men into the fight.
Men follow them, rally around them,
defend them, die Tor them; but was
battle flag ever made to cover the
dead? think not. In the bygone
time fair women worked the banner
with cunning fingers; but was ever
banner before wrought by fair hands
Tor pail? Military commanders have
received flags to be borne as the ensign
OF tue company, the troop, the battal-
ion, the regiment; but did commander
ever receive a flag to be borne TO the
grave? Other commanders of camps
have received banners. A former com
mander of this camp received that
leagtIiul banner to be our camp flag.
but did camp commander ever receive
before banner TO be laid on the cssket
or the coffin of his comrades and on his
own? To me the thought is inexpres-
Sloly sad, sad next to the doleful
earth 10 earth, ashes to ashes, dust 10
dust 1t is part of my province, it is
NY duty on behalf Of the Camp, to re-.
Urn GU its thanks for your gift, but to
ne 1t seems almost needless, work Of
slpererycgstion. for you know this
Camp thoroughly appreciates oil you
nave done, the Camp thoroughly ap.
pFeestes its Auxiliary. We could not
nave done without you, for before
Tue Auxiliary WAS organized the ladies
VINO are now its members gave Us their
hearty cooperation in everything.
Without you we could not have erected