The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-01
THE PALMETTO FLAG
PRESENTED.
BANNER THAT FLOATED
) OVER CITY OF MEXICO
GIVEN 70 THE INDBPEND-
ENT BATTALION.

GIVEN 70 TIE INDBPEND-
ENT BATTALION.
Columbia May "a EARLY this
moraing Major Thompson and his
battalion pulled up stakes and lefs
che Fair Grounds for Sbandon. where
. separate camp. distinct from all
athers, has been located Sixty
sents on the slope of the hill. just in
the rear of the pavilion, afford shel
Ger for the men and there are several
aeree of open fields for q drill ground
III. D B. Wilson has been appoint
ed quartermaster aud 1t. A. A Moss
oommiissary. Electric lights illumin
ate the grounds at night and a bold
Aranch furnishes bathing facilities
for about ten men at a time
FLAG PRESENTATION.
Col. Banding. veteran of the
Mexican war, accompanied by one OF
die old co.arades, Jim Power, pre-
sented the old Palmetto regiment
dag 10 the Independent battalion in
&he following speech:
Major Thompson As president OF
,sbe Association and sankipg officer
OF Survivors Of the Palmetto Regi-
mens, Mexican war; and BY author
sty Of the association, | have the hon
or and pleasure Of presenting to you,
or. % . Commanding officer Of the
&ist Independent Battalion. South
Garoiina Volunteers, q. S. A for
-khe war with Spain. this United States
Dag, aud this spear head of the State
deg. which was carried by the Pal
saesso Regiment. 8. G Volunteers,
30. s.. q from Charleston, via Vera
Nsuz, into the City of MEXICO.
sYoa have been pleased to honor
5us By eoasesting to accept them as
Fonssbsttafion eolors
They shave history bonored By
sssepecpse. .of the United States That
Astorysis too long to be detailed on
tfais occasion brt that your boys
may know somewhss of it, permit me
80 say that the Palmetto State fsg,
,pseseaeea to The regiment in Charles
won IN December, 1916, by the ladies
Suf South Carolina, was lost during
ehe civil war, but this was the spear
ssead, and is now representative of it
III vas unfurled 9th March. 1a47,
aasong the frst flags of the Volunteer
Division of the q. S A on the beach
Ut Nera Cruz, and the 6rft blood that
Mes shed in the seige of Vera Cruz
wss that Of South Carolina's and Geor-
giiass sons together under :ss folds at
-Eao Maiabran Ruins skirmish 10Th
'szoh. Is47, the day after landing.
11E{ssWssse de the standard of one of
stee three parties ordered to storm
Vera Cruz 26ih April, but the city
4eat out white flag at daylight and
uarrsndered on 29th It was carried
% The march up to Cerro Gordo, the
rsurfeSaer Of Jalspa, through the
saese ofsPeroie. aud the surrender OF
ERcebas Tbepce with Gen Scett's
4rsay, August, lS47, into the valley
ns Mexico- was in the thickest of the
battle Of Gontreras and Churubusco
sssa 18th and 10Th August-was the
estScs, if uot the second flag planted
..usstfs,p The Castle of Chapultepec and
.xss xae 6rst American flag planted
sca the walls of the City of Mexico on
,she 18th september, 1S47
in the battles of the valley. under
Sss folds was poured out the life blood
pf Col. Butter. LIT. Col Dickinson aod
.esz other officers and about one sixth
.ssss sse rack and file Under it were
Uounded Major GLADDEN. and nine
-ssAer ofaficers and about one-fourth of
Sssse sank and file aggregating Is of
30 aaicers and II "a of rank and file
euzaged Three eolor-beareEs were
.seos down while bearing it through
ms battle of Churubusco, one in
weosming Chapaltepec aud Lieut..
She,seok when planting it on the
Gasasa de :Be.ea of the city After
,ua;ering the city Gen Scott. seeing
saePalmetto Gag so tattered and torn
ay shot aud shell, ordered taa: it be
.sssed ON ordinary occasions. but be
ssnrsea. covered and carried back to
Sautb Carolina az a sacred relic, and
In sss place gave Us United States
gegul.tioD Regimenta! flag This is
xhss Gag; and though it has but 20
sseses-the 29th being that of Texas
wit therefore be the more honored
Get me further state that it is the
a .a,.:eI SNnfh