St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-09-21
"Winnie" Stood by the Flag.
A Story of Commodore SchIev.

They tell story, a true, unvarnished
story Of him that touches the patriotic
chord OF every man in the navy who
happens to hear it tor the first time. The
civil war had just broken out when bro
Their was to meet brother, and fathers
shouldered their muskets to kill sons.
The Niagara had just come home from
the Asiatic station, proud and as i'm
pregnable in those days as the Iowa or
the Puritan is today. Getting into
soundings, the boys heard of the news,
the sad news that threatened to divide
Union. the grandest and greatest that
God had ever blessed and that men mad
ever fostered. The word came aft in the
usual way that bad news travels,
and shipmates of many days looked at
one another, shook their heads and said:
"You are southerner, Jack. can't
fight you'll" "And you, Bill, are north
ernor. I'd be dog to fight you'll
That was the spirit and they the men.
The South wanted men, wanted them
badly. The North called for patriots and
hands went to the gun butts. But it
was hard to ask those of the Niagara,
North, as well as South, to draw arms
against one another. Military laws re-
cognize no other laws where military
laws rule, and it just had to come to the
moment when the captain of the ship
had to ask how many of his old ship
mates and friends cared to stand by the
old flag. He called her officers together,
and as they gathered about the long old
fashioned table in the wardroom he said
to them, his voice trembling with expect.
ancy with every world
Gentlemen, this question OF the civil
war is the parting OF the ways. Some Of
us will never meet again and some of us
will die doing what we believe to be
right. Uncle Sam has educated, fed and
clothed us, aud we have sworn to stand
by him. Yet, no oath can bind a man
beyond the strength Of his conscience and
changed conditions make achanged man.
On that table have written out the dear
old oath OF allegiance. have signed it..
stay by the flag. Let each of you go to
his cabin and think it over; then let him
come back here and sign below me or let
him go his way in peace
Then they went away, whitefaced and
undetermined. A half hour passed before
the first man came back to put his name
to the paper that meant that Uncle Sam
could have his life if needs, but not his
sword. Then others followed, until niue
names appeared under that of the COM
handing officer, The Others had gone,
gone to the South that claimed her sons
just as the North was doing. AS the
ninth man was appending his signature
to the document the captain came into
the cabin, picked up the paper and shook
his head. The name he looked for was
not there. He dropped the paper and
turned to 60 away when he heard a
heavy, determined foot coming down the
companionway. 1t seemed to him that
he recognized that foot. Yes, he was
right.
A young, handsome, tall midshipman
from Maryland approached the table
and the captains voice faltered as he
asked: Winnie, do you sign?" Aye
aye. sir. Same flag and same Uncle Sam
in Maryland as in Massachusetts, you
know"
God bless you, boy" said thecaptain
your father and l fought side by side as
lads in 1912, and while there are some o.
us who are going away, / prayed God