The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-08-02

write even a small part o.
what came under his OBJ
servation, of Lincoln, dur
ing the time he was or
duty at the White House. He i.
fully aware of the great amount o.
matter on this subject that has been
published since the war; and these
authors are such eminent men thai
it is not to be wondered at that he
feels it were presumption in him to
even attempt to follow afar off In
their footsteps. Consequently, he
has hesitated about giving out these
"crumbs" of his observation, from
= the fact that they may be esteemed
as trivial and of little worth; es-
pecially so since these numerous
authors have feasted us so royalty
from the table of him whom all
Americans so highly esteem and
reverence. These crumbs are a few
that fell from the table unnoticed
by the great writers who were priv
ileged to "sup with him." and the
writer has at last been persuaded to
give them to the readers of THE
TIMES, hoping that they may not be
deemed too trivial and worthless to
occupy valuable space. To me the
memory of the incidents here re-
corded will ever remain one of the
most pleasant pages in the volume
of my life.
A part of my duties at the White
House was to attend to the "Presi
dents flag" handsome silk one
made by the Union ladies of Wash
ington and other cities to adorn the
Presidents grounds. This flag was
raised to the top of the tall staff
each morning at six o'clock and
lowered each evening at sundown.
There was, and probably is yet,
very beautiful and impressive mill
tary ceremony connected with the
raising and lowering of the flag, and
the President had expressed a desire
to attend these services when posi-
Bile; and to that end | was instruct
ed to notify him each morning and
evening so that he might attend if
his engagements would allow him to
do so. 1t is to be regretted that
the flag ceremony cannot be ex
planned very we'll In writing, be-
cause so much of its effects are
composed of the number and condi-
ton of the troops drawn up for that
purpose, and the fine music and
crowds of people that would attend.
In the first place, the troops must
be in good CONDITIONAL in full
uniform, with buttons and shoes
shining, arms-jn prime order and
the color guard and all officers wear
ing white gloves. Cavalry must be
we'll mounted, and the infantry and
cavalry were generally picked troops
while the music was generally the
best that could be drawn for the oc-
casion. No unseemly noise, such
as loud talking or frivolous conduct,
was allowed among the spectators
on the ground, and of course there
was nothing of the kind among the
troops. The color guard, consist
ing of the color sergeant and twelve
men, had charge of the flag, and
when they marched onto the grounds
they were usually escorted by a
number of troops as a guard of
honor-not for the color guard but
for the flag. A hollow square was
formed around the flag staff with
the color guard, the commanding
officer and the President as COM
mander-in- chief, in the center. At
the proper moment the flag was
carefully unfolded by the color SER
geant and his corporals, not a part
of 1t for moment being allowed to
touch the ground; and when the
ropes were attached and all ready,
the command, "Soldiers, salute your
flagl" would bring all soldiers to
''present arms" and the officers to
salute with their swords. The mu-
sic burst out, the flashing guns and
bayonets, the drums, bugles and
fifes giving fan-fan, and then the
aag-The Star Spangled Banner
would float gracefully and proudly
up to its lofty position above the 4
all buildings of the city, the Presi- Y
lent and all citizens, in the mean
ime, standing with uncovered heads [
ind waving handkerchiefs and cheer
ng loudly. OF course the bands
we're FIRST on the ground and played ,
continuously before and after the
ervices for some time. The Presi-
lent highly enjoyed being present
IN these occasions, and he became {
S enthusiastic as a boy on the
morning of the Fourth Of July, when
Ie saw the flag 60 up to the top OF
4 = = i \ /.