The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-10
MEN VINO KISSED THE FLAG

once Il saw thousanus OF men Weep
ing as they tried to kiss our fiag.' says
a veteran of the Ciyii War. IN the Pa
triotic Review" They had been capturoo
in the battle OF Murfrsesboro. Tenn. and
the writer was in the number. For .
long while we existed I'm Libby prison,
where, when looking out through the
slsssless windows of an exceptionally cold
winter. We used to see the Confederate
ensign floating over the state House in
Richmond. We were. for all practical
purposes. I'm a foreign land. and oh. how
we were despised and spat upon, But by
and By We were sent away from the flihy
warehouse to City Point. on the James
river. whence we were taken TO Old Point
Comfort. and SO on home again.
After leaving Petersburg. 1 was, with
sixteen other members OF my regiment,
In the last car or a long train that waS
running slowly. and which. as we neared
city Point, curved about large hill that
overhung our left, Soon the boys In the
front car began 70 shout. and a. the
locomotive moved along this shouting
grew louder and more extended. We who
were well toward the rear end OF the
train know nothing whatever OF the cause
OF this hearty cheering while still In the
/.
ume We were almost mad with easerness
and excitement. Meanwhile the train was
swinging around the hill; presently our
car had also made bend, aud then we
too Joined I'm the wild enthusiasm that
rose loudly above the ratrling wheels and
the escaping steam. For there. only short
distance Away, lay a steamboat from tho
north awaiting us, and the Stars and
Stripes were not only noatins at her
sternpost. but II was spread to the breeze
all over her. IL was the first time I'm many
long and weary months that any OF us
had seen the flag and In all my life /
never before or since saw q nag SO
beautiful"
Another veteran tells this story: There
was once hard battle. known I'm history
as that OF Missionary Ridge. 1t was
fought close TO Chattanooga, Tenn, and
before we mad reached the heights no
fewer than half dozen fellows had come
To grief while trying TO bear our regi-
mental colors with the advancing column.
IL was thus. too, all along the front,
heroes everywhere. color bearers falling
az the brown leaves fall in autumn. But
no chieftain had sung out TO us. Sol
diers. behold your ha8s. Follow themr
Indeed no one ever knew why that
particular army OF Cumberland fled for
ward and IL was with grave concern
that Grant saw the magnificent charge he
had ordered TO the first line OF rifle pits
continue beyond that point. Thomas.
who crdred those men up the ridge?' he
Numbered at the hero OF ChIckamauga.'
who was by his side on Orchard Knob.
i don't know. replied Old Pap 4 did
not Granger, did you?' NO. said Gen
eral Granger; they are doing It without
orders
Charles A. Dana, who saw the battle,
always maintained that the storming OF
that ridge was one OF the greatest mir
acles In military history. There were
half a hundred regimental flags carried
up the steep hillside and into Bragss
batteries that day. and perhaps all OF
them fell as often from some color
hearers hands as our own. I know Moth
ing about that, but have vivid recolleo-
tion Of seeing one nae-aiready and long
since rfddled with balls, torn with the
fragments OF shell. tattered by the wear
of six or more killed or badly wounded
men. for hardly had Il reached the earth
when another quickly seized II and held
IL aloft again. And OF those still living
who were in that regiment not one likes
IL when our united countrys emblem is
called by any other name than flag.
I'VE can not bring ourselves to say Old
Glory That appellation is sentimental
and means nothing. Old Glory. Baugh
Old! Why, our flag is new ever youth
ful In Its vigor. And IL never stood and
IL never Will. hope, for glory alone
Never was there a worse misnaming OF
that wonderfully beautiful banner which
floats throughout the world as emblem
attic OF great country and great ma
ton"