New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-17
THE CAPTURED CONFEDERATE FLAGS
LESSONS THAT THEY MAY TEACH IF KEPT
IN NORTHERN HANDS

IN NORTHERN HANDS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In this hour OF empowering patriotism
when sectionalism. II not wiped out" entirely
is silent during wars alarms one discordant
note strikes me as marring the general harmony
I refer 10 the action taken recently looking 10
the return Of flags captured during the war for
the Union to the regiments from which they
were taken This. II seems to me. is a mistaken
policy. that tends TO minimize and detract from
some OF the bravest deeds OF that gigantic
struggle.
And this leads me TO say. the creator 81
The Townsend Library, now owned by Columbia
University and as student FOR nearly forty
years OF the annals Of that period. that II we
20 be in the future a really united country
united In fact well in name-we must
adopt a broader view in recalling the events OF
the four year tragedy than has been generally
taken. The North must do homage 10 the
heroes OF the South: the South must admit and
emphasize the bravery OF those who fought
against them. The North must learn to glory
in the rugged valor OF Stonewall Jackson the
calm strategy OF Lee the hopeless herosm Of
Pickett and his men in his immortal charge ut
Gettysburg. the skill and bravery OF those great
warriors. the Johnstons and Longstreet. and the
exploits Of Wade Hampton. Joe" Wheeler (who
never lost lghD. and other Confederate heroes.
not because they were Southerners, but because
they were Americans and because their valor
reflects credit on our common country, equally
with that OF Grant. Sherman and Sheridan.
We OF the North must remember and teach
our children that the South with not more than
eight hundred thousand men. strove vaiantly
against over two million volunteers enlisted by
the North. 1t blot her escutcheon
that she had finally TO succumb against odds so
tremendous but infinitely TO her credit that she
was able to prolong the struggle through years
and months many OF which must have been
darkened In all Southern homes by the black
OF despair
When ! speak Of the South however. II should
not be forgotten that the States south OF Mason
and Dixon's line were not a unit in favor OF Sc
cession Three hundred thousand Southerners
fought in the Union ranks and glored in Union
Victories. every Southern State except Georgia
and South Carolina furnishing men who fol-
lowed the Stars and Stripes. and even those two
States gave each FIVE thousand colored troops
to the Union Army.
II may not be generally known, but II Is a
fact that in proportion to her population East
Tennessee sent twice many OF her sons to
battle in the cause Of freedom any other State
I'm the Union II was a son Of Virginia General
George III. Thomas. who won for the North the
great battle of Nashville-a victory that General
De Peyster. the well-known military historian
has characterized THE finest achievement Of
the war strategically and tactcally considered
the very Waterloo OF the Rebellion" II was
too a native OF Tennessee. Admiral Farragut
whose naval record has electrified the world.
SO far as bravery is concerned. there is little
choice between the two sections. The regiment
that lost the most In killed and wounded during
the war on either side, was the 18th North
Carolina Confedera'~ Regiment, and no noble
deed in the ranks OF the Northern armies but
was duplicated by our brethren at the South.
Coming 10 the present war we note that the
South is still we'll to the front. Thus Hobson,
who sunk the Merrimac is n son OF Confed-
crate soldier and Ensign Franklin Buchanan
Sullivan now serving on the Marblehead, is a
era ndson OF the famous Confederate seadog Ad-
riral Buchanan. while sons of Generals Pickett
and L.ongstreet have applied to President Nc
Kinley for staff appointments.
We cannot ignore these facts, nor, even II we
would wipe out the annals OF the war for the
Union. Its history Is written in the blood OF