The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-05-24
RETURNS OLD FLAG.
Standard OF the Park City Grays to be
Returned to This City for
the Dedication.
WAS UNFURLED LAST IN 1865.
Past and Time When it was Presented
by Kenosha Ladies TO Soldiers.


by Kenosha Ladies to Soldiers.
q In sending the flag to the Post IN
Kenosha the present owner of it sent
the following letter:
Rochester, N. Y, May II, 1000.
Mr.. F. H. Lyman, Kenosha, Wis.
Dear Sir-Y our esteemed letter OF
the 9Th, informing me of the proceed
ings to be held by the good and pa
triotic citizens of Kenosha including
the dedication of a monument Sin
honor of the brave men of Kenosha
who VIGOROUSLY defended the Union
on land and sea during the war of the
great rebellion 1861-1865'', reached me
yesterday on my return from Florida.
You also told me that you and others
are making effort to gather together
some mementoes of the early war his
tory of Kenosha; that among other
things you were anxions to get the flag
presented by the patriotic women to
CAPT. McVean and his company known
as the 'Park CityGrays', and express
the thought that may be able to tell
where and how the flag can be obtained
Your statement that you were pupil
Of Miss Locke, who afterward became
the wife of Mr.. McVean and afterward
my better part, touches my heart.
Again, Col. McVean was one of my
own race and blood, kinsman, and a
playmate of my early childhood and as
you stated Mrs. Mcpherson always
cared for that flag. These matters en-
deared the flag to me and it Grapes the
Co1one1s portrait on the wall of my
par1or. I have the flag. It has often
occurred to me that your good and pa |
triotic people should have the flag and
have a safe depository for it. Was
often resolved to send it there, but as
often resolved, for reasons already |
appearing, to retain it. 1t may
be useless for me to state as 1 do |
that it has been and is characteristic |
of the Co1one1's and my race to cling |
to those relics that aided in making
their history. I fear that you have
opened a way to secure the flag for
Kenosha. It is part of Kenosha's |
history. It is the emblem of its Ike
nosha's) history at a time that threaten
ed a dissolution of the union of the |
United States and all that was held |
dear-the liberty and freedom of the |
people as a government.
/ Can you give me the assurance of a |
safe depository for the flag, if it is sent
to you? believe that the flags of the |
''boys in b1ue'' of the Civil War should |
be gathered together and as safely and
securely kept for the inspiration of
c.14a 1OxyI
France the co1ors and standards cap
tured by the great Napoleon from the
enemies of France.
| Let me hear from you with your as
surancc of the safe keeping of the flag. |
/ will send it to Kenosha and if | can
| find the then Mrs. McVean's letter to
her husband at the front l will send
you letter that will inspire you with
pride of your old teachers and the
patriotic women who presented the
flag, with the highest regard for the
patriotic and devoted wife of the Colo
| mel. Yours respectfully,
VIM. J. MCPHERSON.
The return of the old flag will reveal |
many memories to the boys of the
army connected with the stirring days
of 1861. They will recA11 when the
flag was presented to the regiment by |
Mrs. Fred S. Lowell, of beloved mem
DRY, in 1861. The Kenosha Telegraph, |
in speaking Of the presentation, print |
ed the following:
"The ladies of our city made a very
rich and elegant flag for the Park City |
Job +pS NV
ladies on Thu rsday afternoon last on
the day previous to the departure of |
the company for their rendezvous in |
Milwaukee. The presentation took |
place in the park in the afternoon and |
as the day was fine a large crowd as |
semb1ed to witness the event. The |
Racine American bug1e band came
| down to en1iven the occasion with |
| their spirited stirring music. About 4 |
O'Clock the company marched into the |
park which was already filled with
! large concourse of citizens. The ladies |
who made the flag were represented by
| thirty young ladies wearing Co1Ors
to represent the states of the Union for
our patriotic ladies will not admit that
a single star has fallen from the g1ori-
Gus galaxy of states-on1y few have
become Slightly dimmed by an obscur-
ing mist which will soon pass away.
The ladies and speakers took raised
platform, while the company in double
file rested on their arms in front of the
stand. The exercises were opened by
a very eloquent and appropriate prayer
by Rev. J. T. Matthews. Mrs. F. S.
Lowell then IN the name of the ladies
of the city of Kenosha presented the
flag to the Park City Grays with
short patriotic speech. The flag was
received on the part of the company by
Col. Lane in some appropriate remarks
The band then played sThe Star
Spang1ed Banner, after which three
cheers for the ladies of Kenosha made
the We1kin ring. Short and appro-
pirate speeches and addresses were