The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-06-26
RESTORING CAPTURED FLAG.
Dramatic Incident at the Southern
Industrial Convention.

Industrial Convention.
An impressive feature of The South
ern Industrial Convention, held last
week in PhIladelphia. was the restora-
tion Of captured flag by q Federal
cficer to the chief city Of South Caro-.
Ens, from whence it was taken in the
latter days Of the Confederacy, aud
which has been carefully kept az a
relic Of the late uppleasantuess. The
officer is GsD. ". W. e Davis, Of
Doylestown, Pa , who was formerly i1
command Of the Fsi iersl forces on
Morris Island, aud while there 10 1864
one of the sigoal fsgs of the Confer
crate ram "Chicora' fell into his hands.
He took advantage of the opportunity
at Pnilsdelphis to siguslize the occa
sion By returning the flag to is right
full owners, and il wss gra,iously &C.
cepted on the part Ct Charleston by
one Of its delegates, Dr.. Kollock,
whose response evoked great applause
and was worthy Of the occasion. In pre-
senting the f.g which he has cherished
as one Of his most priceless relics Of his
war experience, Gen. Davis said:
The duty ds7olVing on ME, in con
nection with the evening function, is
of the most pleasing character, and the
pleasure isnhanced by ischalging it
in this presence. am here 10 c1trdst
to our Southern guests relic Of the
war between the States and to dspute
cne Of the their M N 1er5 to rctura it to
tee City Of Charleston, S. G, where it
properly belongs. When Charleston
fell into the hanls OF tie Federal
forces oa February IS, 1865, among
the spois of war was tee signsi hsE O;
tae Confede!a,e ram Chicora. Il vas
taken from the locker of the vesse! by
L eli. Wm R 4 lott, m=rly O: IN ;
Command, AID subsequently, presented
to ne. l3 the meDaime | determined
to return it to the rigktjul owntr if he
could b. found, but it was never done.
Mr. E:iss5 suggested We take adva1-
;age Of the meeting of thu Southern
Industrial Convention in this cisy to
discharge this duty. Thin met my
views and I an here to-nigh; for ths5
purpose. To you, DR.. Kollook, I com.
nit this symbol Of the nsticn's quarrel,
sad ask you to give to tie Mayor of
Charleston to make such disposition as
may seen proper, and / hope the flag
may be cared for il a manner com
mensurste with the courage that de-
Tended it in the strife Of battle. Hap,
PLY and wonderfully for both sides
that war has passed into history, and
our bruised SINS are hung up for nonu-
ments and the ourage and ferbesrance,
and fortitude, the suffering and the
tears thst marked its progress have
crystallizad the nation into o more per-
feet Union. The Union bassed on af
fection, respect and mutual good will,
and the Southern Industrisl Conven-
tion assembled here gives evidence that
both the North and the South fully
realize that peace hath her victt les no
less renowned than war If more we're
wanting, let US cne and ali il this City
of Bcotherly Love, founded in deeds Of
peace by William Penn, wherein the
immortal Declaration of Ind spendence
vas made and promulgated and the Con-
stitution adopted, swear to retain our
allegiance to the Union"
In accepting the f :g for Charleston
Dr.. Kollock said: 1T would seem
more fitting that some battle-scarred
veteran, some mau who hal borne ii
proudly to victory or defended it in
retreat, scme one who had heard the
booming Of cannon and bursting Of she'll
some one who had shed his blood in
defence Of the cause for which SO many
gave their lives, should receive this
most precious relic from its generous
and ohivalrous csptor. But then these
men are rapidly marching away never
to return, and already many have
crossed over the river and are resting
in the shade Of the trees. Upon Us,
their sons, devol7es the duty to pre-.
serve these relics Of a csuse they hold
so dear and to keep bright ir our meu-
cries and those Of cur children their
glorious deeds. Aye; gentlemen, Of
the North and South, it is such deeds
as these that tend to soften the feel
ings Of the psst and help to cement
again the affections Of these brothers
who differed, quarreled and fought-as
only the brave 6ght-to the bitter end.
What memories this flag calls up from
the past, snd what has become Of the
brave hands that bore it mid shot ard
shell to victory or defeat? Methinks
l can see through smoke snd fire these
brave men in grey crouching behind
their works of sand aod logs, while
from the front in continuous stream
come the shot and shell from the Fed
eral feet, and again as they land, the
boys in the blue, charge bra7ely across
the sands only to be moved down by
the ruthless fire Of the besiegad, and
thus tbs battle wages. Now for the
grey and now for the blue, until like
the mist before the rising sun the grey
line fades gradusl!y away snd is seen
no more. Thank God, gentlemen, that
these dsys are past, and let us pray
that never agsin shall these brothers
raise their hands in anger against oae
another, bua that year By year and uay
b. dsy they shall meat as they do to.
day, for the best inte,e,t5 OF this great
country and its people.