The sun., 1900-09-14
WILL DEMAND THE
RETURN 0F THEIR
OLD WAR FLAGS
Fourth Regiment Survivors Say
Flags are Kept in Cob
Webs and Dust.
WANT STATE TO KEEP THEM
Twelfth Annual Reunion Held With
out Flag in Sight. General
j. HI. Hofman's Eloquent
Speech Was the Fea-
ture of the Day.
WANT STATE TO KEEP THEM

1
survivors of the Fourth Delaware Regi-
ment at the 18th annual reunion at
Brandywine Springs yesterday at the
manner in which The battle fages of the
regiment are being cared for ut the
| building of the Delaware Historical
| Society.
| The statement was made that these
priceless old relies are reposing iii an
open case full Of cob webs and dirt. and
the flags Of the other Delaware regi-
mcntS are in the same bad condition.
Earnest remarks along this line were
made by various comrades who al de-
clared that it was an outrage and an in
suit to the old soldier.
| 1t was finally decided thar commit.
tee should he appointed to demand from
the Historical Society the flags Of the
regiment. II was also decided to appeal
TO the next legislature to have the State
government take charge of them and
place them i'll the State House at Dover,
where if placed in glass cases could be
seen at any time and be safe from des-
truction.
Tho flags had formerly been in the
keeping of Smith Post, G. A. r., but
when some Years ago it was thought
that the post was going to disband
the flags We're turned over to the His
torical Society.
During the business session Comrada
Ellwood Craig noticed that there was
no American flag anywhere in the large
dancing pavilion where the meeting was
held. His discovery considerably agi-
tated the old soldiers.
The session was called to order at 2
p. M, by Comrade Seffords.
The following new officers were elect
ed President. Ellwood Craig: secre-
tary and treasurer. Comrade .Tefforls:
Chaplain. Daniel Green; vice presidents
Go. A. w. ii. Barnett; Co. r. +. II.
Williams; Go. NJ. Fl. Biist: Co. d. John
Bullock; Go. r, e. ] Harkins: Co. r.
J McMichael; Co. G. Robert Downey;
Co. II. Joseph Williams: Co. I. Il Ferka-
son; Co. X, William Richards.
An executive staff was named for So
curing place fol holding their thirteenth
1nnual reunion. II is composed of
Samuel Lewis, G. Williams and James
Agnew Of Wilmington.
Lieutenant Challenger made few re-
marks about the Battle of the Brandy
Wine which took place 1874 years
ago last Sunday.
The main feature of tine reunion was
an address by Gen. ]. William Holman. |
of Philadelphia, who was the general
commanding the 4th during the war. He |
called attention to the fact that the rcgi-
ment Went ont with 1000 men and re-
turned with 300
He said in rart:
Comrades Of that old Fifth Corms Of |
the Army Of the Potomac that Grand |
Army that has written in undeniable |
characters upon the pages of the |
worlds history, | am here to greet you
TO acknowledge in person the gratifica-
tion that | feel, after an interval eX-
tending over the period longer than that |
which is tho lot. of the average human
life. that ! am still horne in kind rn-
by those whom | had tho
honor to have had attached TO mycom-
mand i'll the great and prolonged and
struggle for the preservation
of the Union. We meet here today on
ground made sacred by the blood of the
patriots Of 1776. who here fought to es-
tablish free nation. 4 nation which it
Is our fortune to aid in perpetrating.
.tAs we meet here today uron historic
grounds 50 WIS our first meeting thirty
six years a@9, upon historic s,raiind
made sacred l,g the blood ~ the niijcers
and men OF the Army Of the potmac
two Years previolis. II was while the
Fifth Corps was Mt Gold Hnrhor that or
The morning OF .!une G. 1862. received
no orders assigning the 4th Delaware
Volunteers under Colonel Grime NV t0
ny brigade, which WAS there d"Sisnated
nc Second B,igade, Fourth I}irisior
Fifth Army corns. Col Giimshaw NJ
thon@h my senior in ram; doing pe tie
bonor Of serving under my command.
"0n tie following day shortly aftc
sunrise, ! received the orders assigning
70 my brigade the tnsk Of sei2inm anG
b"!'iina the iron bridge spanning the
'hioliahnnin@ river The task wle ,c-
'pmnlishea without serious los. The
incidental thereto ~ave no
however annie opportunity to illl~a If
he character of iii CificGs nlnI a i
e your regiment anl The oaafl 400
hen inspired and bestowed Vs. 1,e,.er
boron ftcr IN tlln sang'1inrry hsttlns IL
~hieh we We're engaged FIR 4 movement
cssoncd.
In the tcrrihlc ordeal 10 viii !, 40
lnigaae was Subjected in the "r,,rt.'+ ~
~ lines Of Petcr"hrr@. Iuna IS -''p"l
2'"utennnt Colonel novall "oln,e p,ling
innr sister rr"iment II" 2r,l III v..r
nd CantPin ''r"'ori "a.om3n{ir.e /,
eth Po. Vetc.an Na'rn+onrs ,r.,.n
.illed whiln .ra''"u-'v inn,iips, tha,. 80.
''p"tive ragin,""t~ vor,, C'.l. c,.i,o t,-,..
;.''teusnt Co'rptl C,.lr tan,ma,, ':o.-
=th .>ew N"r'. ic,,t,sn~n4 O.,
5tr.vey'. cor,'~r"lin~ ~ 1'-+h W.,
- 1""rn v-orrflea loa,i,,~ I,,,. Two cr
r e"''c''+h ''e~,,"ortcl co,nmau.!ere M.
- s-~ - .--e-. ~ -,.-.--.,i. -.
'usiaineu --.-s .Ae 4.t@;auon achieved