The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-10-21

General Basil Duke and General
John B. Castleman have been over
wheimed with letters from old Con-
federates asking what they knew OF
the story Of Henry Clay Renfrew. an
ex-Confedefate who carried away the
last flag of the Confederacy and es-
capped with il 10 the Navigator Islands
says the Louisville Courier-Journal
Renfrew was supposed to have been
a member Of the Second Kentucky
under General Duke. A reporter called
on General Duke 20 learn the facts
I'm the case. NO. said the General
"Renfrew's name has slipped my mem-
ory ] thoroughly believe the truth
Of the story The fact that his diary
shows him 10 have been in both the
Second and the Fourth Kentucky IS a
point that goes far toward establish
ing the authenticity Of the tale. If Il
were simply a cooked-up yarn the au-
thor would never 5ave thought to put
him I'm two regiments. The matter OF
which flag he took must be a bit un-
certain You know. we old Confed-
crates were so busy that We could not
worry much about the flags. l don't
think I had a brigade flag Renfrew
probably got his company flag, as most
OF the companies had some emblem or
pennon. have talked to several Of
my men and they say that they re-
member Renfrew perfectly. He came
from somewhere near Midway. From
what they tell me he was a gallant sol
der" The reporter then hunted up
one Of the men who was a private un-
der General Duke. "RenfrewT ex-
clair1ed the old soldier "Of course
remember Renfrew He was one Of
the finest fellows in the army. When
knew him he was about 2S years old
and in Bart Jenkins brigade. Rem
frew. Bayless and Mosgrove were
mates. They were all college gradu-
ates and naturally drifted together in
the company. They messed together
all the time. Every one Of them was
brave soldier. Bayless now lives in
Cincinnati. know that Renfrew was
in that last march as one OF Presi-
dent Jefferson Davis escort Most Of
that last command surrendered at
Mount Sterling. Some Of them how
ever. tried to work vest to join Kirby
Smith. The command split and lost
sight Of Renfrew. Bayless Of Gin
clnnati could tell all about him" The
story Is to the effect that out in the
far Navigator Isle floats an old Con.
federate flag that has never been sur
rendered. And now all over the cOun-
try old soldiers are rousing themselves
and Overwhelming General Duke with
injuries concerning the story Of the
Young Kentuckian who brayely bore |
that flag. then willingly expatriated /
himself rather than surrender it. Four !
years he followed it. and then. for /
twenty-five more. 1t fioated proudly un /
surrendered before his hut on a little /
Pacific island. Now Private Henry I
Clay Renfrew. c. S. A.. lies buried I
in a rocky headland Of that far isle. 1
He lies so that. rising. his face would /
look toward the east. toward the land I
Of his youth and his love And over /
the grave Of the dead soldier floats the /
tattered battle nag the stars and oers /
for which he gave up home and friends /
and an that made life tolerable. The /
native who befriended him takes care /
Of the grave. Captain Martin Schuy- /
Ter. formerly captain in the Seventh 4
Ohio cavalry. brought back the story
from the Philippines. He told It to I
Captain II. F. Allen, also Of the Sew
enth Ohio Captain Schuyler met the I
native and from him learned the story
Of the aag. The native told him that
many years ago an American. who said
he had drifted along the western coast /
Of South America. after passing .
through Mexico. settled IN the Naviga- J
tor Islands and lived alone. flying be- I
fore his hut a Confederate battle hag. 4
which he said was carried by the cav /
airy escort that Travelled with Jefer- 4
son Davis In the last stages Of his 4