The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-15
TO PROTECT THE FLAG
OLD GLORY MUST NOT BE USED
FOR ADVERTISING
So Says the Minnesota Historical
Society in n Resolution Adopted
at Meeting Last Night-Capt.
William Gerlach Reads an Inter-
esting Wartime Paper.

The executive council of the Mime
sofa Historical society last evening
adopted resolution calling upon con-
gress to prohibit the use of the Ameri-
can lag for advertising purposes. The
resolution was introduced by Gen. John
Is. Sanborn and was as follows:
Resolved, That the Minnesota His
torical society heartily favors the
enactment of a law by the United
States congress to prevent the deface-
ment Of our national flag by attach
ing any advertisement or printing or
painting thereon, or using any pattern
or representation thereof for private
gain.
The resolution was warmly supported
by Capt. Philip Reade, of Fort Shell
Ing, and it was unanimously adopted.
The death of Judge Charles E. Van
derburgh, of Minneapolis, who was
member of the society, was the sub
Ject of a resolution expressive of the
society's sorrow.
Secretary Warren Upham reported
that during the month SAT books manu-
scripts and other articles of value tn
the society were donated to the library
The council elected Samuel M. Davis.
of Minneapolis, and the Hon. Frank B.
Daugherty, of Duluth, annual members
of the society.
At the conclusion of the routine bust
ness of the meeting Capt. William Ger
ZACH, of Fort Smelling, read his transla-
ton from the German of Col. Freiherr
Won Werthern's paper on the "Hessian
Auxiliaries in the North American War
of Independence. This paper was orig
inally read by Col. Werthern in the
officers club of the hussar regiment,
Hessan-H omburg, in Novembe 1894
After referring to the presence in the
United States of the German troops,
and describing the manner in which
correct date had been obtained, Capt
Gerlach related some incidents of in
terest.
An incident in the Southern campaign de-
serves mention here, he said, for a bayonet
charge by infantry to capture man-of-
warts not often recorded in history. Pre-
vost Operating against Charleston) occupied
a posi,io on Johns island separated from
the mainland by an arm of the sea, Stone
river, Stone Ferry the Hessian regiment
Trumbach held position, a sort of tete de
pont, on the main land, while the regiment
Wissenbach, with four guns, had been post
ed on the island in support.
On June 20, 1873, the former regiment
was suddenly attacked by superior force,
but held its ground bravely, forcing the
Americans to retreat Meanwhile an Ameri-
can man-of-war, the Rattlesnake, xteen
guns, had entered Stone river to take the
Hessians in rear Getting, however, under
the well-aimed fire of the guns of the lat
ter, the vessel was sunk in the shallow
water. The tide going out, left her high
and dry In the mud. and gallant charge
by The infantry resulted in her capture.
Another incident in Gen. Steuben's career
is also quite pleasantly related During Gin
toms retreat from Philadelphia much hard
work was done by the dreaded American
rifemen. Their best opponents on the Eng
lish side were the Hessian yaegers tenn
porarily mounted on native horses.
One day during the retreat, Gen. Ven
Knyphausen, commander of the Hessian d.
vision, who had personally known Gen. V.
Steuben at home, perceived the latter cut
accommodating, rather close to the English
lines. Quickly pointing him out to some
mounted jaegers, he ordered them to capture
him, but shouted after them not to hurt
him.
They gave chase, but Steuben was not
ready to be caught. Turning he went back
run into the American lines. Extra
brave probably on runaway steeds), some Of
the jaege s got there too, and were gobbled
up. Steuben addressed them why the
devil didn't you fellows shoot?" Der herr
general hat so verboten" (the general forbid
it, was their reply.
Steuben lost his hat. which was brought
home by Gen. Knyphausen and Is still
kept, valued trophy of the campaign, by
his descendants.
Speaking as soldier; the colonel closed
by calling attention to the lesson learned by
the German troops during their American
service:
"of special interest are the tactical les
sons of this peculiar war. 1t brought into
the foreground the value of the individual
man, and out of this theory the tactics of
our day have developed.
I'm our Che refers to the German army
field service regulations we find many rule
which owes its first application and develop
ment to the pressure of circumstances In
the American campaigns. 1t was the school
of minor war, Of outpost and advance guard
duty, theater of bold enterprises, where
the troops are dependent upon the ingenuity,
presence of mind and energy of the COM
mander-where the sharp eye, the bold
heart. and the sure aim of the individual
soldier are of decisive moment.