The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-22

First Regiment Battle Flags VIII
Have Place of Honor.

First Regiment Battle Flags WIZ
Have Place of Honor.
Two of the three flags used by the First
Georgia Regiment during the Civil war,
will be borne at the head of the line of
veterans In the parade tomorrow after
noon. One of these IS the battlehag of the
regiment, and the other the flag of Gle.
burne's division, of which one was given
by the commander to each regiment of
his division. The third of the three flags
used by the regiment during the war, is
too worn and fragile to be used on parade.
1t Is framed and glass-covered, and is on
exhibition for the occasion at the Vet
Grams Hall in the Whitfield building.
There is an interesting bit of history in
connection with each of these flags Each
! is of different design. The one last al
luded to Is the Confederate National flag.
1t was made of the wedding dress of Mrs.
Fannie Johnson Leigh, of this city. and
presented by her to the City Light Guards
one of the companies of the First Regi-
ment, through the commander of the com
pany Capt. S. Yates Levy, and was used
as the regimental flags during the war.
The battlef1ag of the First Regiment.
which VIII be borne in line tomorrow. was
also carried during the war At the bat
tie of Peachtree Creek. July g. 1854 the
brigade of which the First Regiment was
a part charged three lines of breast
works in succession. At the first line
of breastworkS, Color Bearer Josenh
Singer of the Oglethorpa Light Infantry.
Company B, was killed. He was sue
ceeded by Frank Dimond of the CITY
Light Guards, Company D, who was
killed at the second line of breastworks
The flag was carried to the third line of
breastworl<s by Private Lpptrot of the
r1yhn II.
member of the color guard was also
wounded during the fight. Veteran VIII
lam Rose, one of the color guard who
was wounded while defending the flag on
that occasion, win carry the flag in the
parade tomorrow.
Gen. w. II. T. Walker having been
killed at Peachtree Creek, the brigade to
which the First Regiment belonged, was
transferred TO Cleburne's division. Each
regiment of the division was presented bv
the general with one of his division flags.
There has been some division of opinion
as to whether the field of this flag was
blue or green, some inclining to the belief
that Cleburne had chosen green in honor
of his native Ireland. The consensus OF
opinion seems to be, however that the
field was blue. A large circle Of white
occupies the center.
Capt. ]. p. White, who was with the
regiment al the time, gives this interest,"
The crest of the Cleburne family, Capt.
White states, was a black wolf holding
in his right paw blue flag with a white
ball in the center, the motto of the device
being Forward" Desiring a distinguish
ing mark for the regiments of his divi-
sion Gen. Cleburne adopted his family
crest as a division flag, or at least this
is the explanation now offered.
Whatever the origin of the flag the mon
under Cleburne's command knew well that
his motto was always forward" The
The First Regiment was very highly com
plimented by Gen. Cleburne for its
gallant charge on July % and at
the battle of JonesbOro, which
occurred shortly after. the request which
he made upon the regiment through his
aide was that 1t should be as gallant as
Ii had been on july p.
The Savannah veterans viii have the
right of the line of the veterans organ
izations in the parade Tomorrow and at
the head of the Savannah veterans VIII be
carried these two flags of the First Geor-
gia. Veteran Rose carrying the battle
flag, and Veteran J. c. Cornell. who was
a sergeant of the Republican Blues car
rying the Cleburne flag. A guard Of honor
composed of well known veterans of the
First Georgia, viii escort the flags The
guard viii be composed as follows: Capt.
John Fllnncry, DIR. w. II. Elliott. surgeon
of the First regiment, Capt Fred M. HUI.