The Grenada sentinel., 1899-10-28
THEGRENADA RIFLES FLAG,
Presented to Dixie Chapter Daughters
ofthe COnfederacy.
Touching and VIII Timed Addresses In
Accepting the HonOred ColOrs.

An occasion that Will be ever men,
orable in the annals OF Grenada was
the ceremony attending the presenta-
ton to the Dixie Chapter, Daughters
OF the Confederacy, OF the flag borne by
the Grenada Rifles and captured by
Majory Gregory, Tenth Indiana Regie
ment during our civil conflict. Some
fifty veterans, representing the W. r.
Barksdale Camp, assembled around
the judges stand at the Fair grounds,
Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by
the Dixie Chapter, Daughters of the
Confederacy, of Grenada, there to re>
ceive the time-worn standard, which
was spread to their gaze, reviving sac
red recollections treasured in their
memories. Chaplain J. C. Carothers
offered an invocation to the Throne
Eternal, after which DR.. j. W. Young.
in behalf OF Mrs. P. S. Dudley, to
whose patriotic exertions the cherish
ed emblem was returned, read the fol-
lowing feeling tribute, which was lis
tened to amid countenances bedewed
with tears and hearts heavy with sor-
row:
FRIENDS AND VETERANs:
To you We extend most heartfelt greet
ings as we assemble here to honor the home
coming Of this dear old relic of the sacred
pasta relic though faded. worn and weak
ed by age, al the more priced by us, coming
home, as it does, after thirty-seven years
of forced captivity.
You, dear comrades of my brother. MEM
bers of gallant Company G., can well recall
the hour when your Captain. W. 8. Statham.
received it from the hands of Miss Molle
Cranberry, representing the devoted
ladies OF this, our little city OF Grenada.
assembled in the chapel of our still beautiful
college, to bid you God speed in defense OF
right and home;" and how proudly you bore
its bright colors from us in 1861 to join your
comrades ut Cornth, Miss, where your
captain was made colonel of the grand and
glorious Fifteenth Mississippi Regiment.
Wars sad misfortunes lost you this ban
ner, but not your courage. Since Jan. 10,
1862 1t has been held captive by Maj. b. M.
Gregory. of Zionsville. Indiana, an officer OF
the Tenth Regiment of that State, and
sacredly has he treasured it. Often has it
been looked upon as a trophy won from
brave and gallant men, but now, dear
friends, plead with you to bury all section
n1 n, tfv nj IL, II, ifc fa1o6 and
tattered colors with the spirit In which 1t Is
to us: an offering Of peace; "A gift to
test our own fraternal chivalry; one to re-
unite our once divided country into one
grand glorious union.
Could the kind impulses of Mai. Gregory
have controlled the action Of his regiment
this dear relic would have been in our pos
session last year. Now that his kind heart
is stlled. his soul answered the Roll call
up yonder." let us remember him with
fraternal gratitude and with kindly resolu-
tion send greetings to his family and regi-
ment.
To you dear Veterans. | would say, it is
with us to stay; that you are to use it when
you will, and though our childrens' histories
present to their study no faces Of less rank
than our noble generals; you, dear friends
and soldiers. we'll know there would have
been no captains, no colonels, no generals
but for the brave. noble and glorious pri-
Yates who fought and won the battles that
their loved officers might be promoted. If
not in our school histories your gallant
deeds are read, they stand eternally record
ed above lin bright letters of gold"
Now to you. my Sisters, members Of Dixie
Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy," I
entrust this sacred banner. You will treas
ure and guard it well I know. Look to the
pleasure and welfare OF these gallant men
who revere every thread Of its faded folds,
aid them in every effort to perpetuate the
deeds of Southern chivalry." Teach your
children when they look upon it, that there
never lived better, braver grander, heroes
than those who followed this flag in 1851.
When the "sun shall have set" for some OF
US, when all our loved Confederate Veterans
shall have 'crossed the river and are resting
beneath the shads," then shall it be consign-
ed to the care OF some one Of the grand ME
mortal Halls" in which are being collected
the sacred relics of our Lost Cause" and
there will it record one OF the brightest pages
OF Misssslppis history in the heroic strug-
gle OF Company G., the "Grenada Rifles" OF
ktT1. r.