The National tribune., 1902-12-11


of old soldiers. The regimental colors OF
the Connecticut troops were, on their re-
turn from the war, deposited for the time
being in the State Arsenal at Hartford,
with the intention of having them finally
removed to the new State House then in
contemplation. Sept Ii, 1879, was. by
q formal act of the Legislature and proc
lamation of the Governor, designated as
Battle Flag Day. when the regimentai
colors should be removed from their tempo
rary to their permanent resting place; anu
all surviving, soldiers of Connecticut were
invited to assist in the ceremonies of their
e removal.
T. More than 5000 veteran soldiers re-
+ sponded to this call. The city was decked
in holiday attire. Including the military
escort, there were more than 10000 soldiers
in line. and fully 10000 spectators We're
: watching the impressive movement. MAJ
Gen. Joseph r. Hawley commanded the
: military: and there rode with him at the
head of the column distinguished officers of
r-the-a army and navy, besides his personal
: staff, made up of Connecticut officers in
!; the civil war. Every officer and man
knew what it was to follow and TO value
the flag.
ss,is'- -DEPosITTSG FLAGS AT STATE HOUSE.
1t was far more than an ordinary mill
{ tary. parade or any civic celebration. The
circumstances of the occasion appealed to
the soldiers sense of duty and moved the
DrofeundeSt depths of his patriotic Sentl-
Inent and of his heroic devotion to his
country's flag. The regimental cOlOrs,
8 which these soldiers had defended on the
field to the last, and which many OF their
fellows had died for, were not yet safe in
their final restii g-place, and the State had
e. made a new call ON her soldier sons to
bring then, home for safe keeping. At this
call the more stalwart had sprung forward
: with ataerity, while the sick and wounded
had summoned their failing strength for
p; one more march in support of the dear old
flag. ,.-.s '.'
"Grandest of mortal sights
= % THE sun-hrowned ranks to view
The eolOrs ragg'd in a hundred fights,
And the dusty frocks of blue"
A Color Sergeant, partially paralyzed by
sA-shot through the body, had such desire
to be with his colors until they We're in
theazplace of their final keeping that he
persuaded two of his comrades to support
him on either side, while his trembling
hands chung to the cOlOr-staf, and he was
helped along step by step until he yielded
his charge into the hands of the Governors s
representative for deposit under the State
House dome, and his last soldier work was
done.
After a march through the principal
sstfeets of the city, the soldier procession
formed in front of the new State House on
the beautiful park to the north of it. The
line of Color Bearers WAS in front of the
veterans. There were about so flags in all.
As these were brought forward one by one.
their bearers, amid the cheers of the old
regiments, gave them into the hands of
Gen. Hawley, who in turn passed them
over to Governor Andrews, and he accept
ed them in the rame of the State for per
manent preservation.
1t was brilliant assemblage in front of
I,o Stafo HnnyQ and tho act of surrender
ing and receiving the battleflags was I'M
pressiye beyond description. WheE, for in
stance, the bullet-pierced and weather
stained coloss of the 7th Conn.,. Gen.
Hawley's own battalion. were brought
filled his eyes, his face was suffused
with emotion, and when he at
tempted to speak the words of acknowl-
edgment to their brave bearer he could not
utter word; but his silence as lie simply
waved his hand in the direction of the
Governor, was more eloquent. than any
speech could have been.
. Governor Andrews, in receiving these
battleflags in the name of the State, said:
They come back thus riddled by shot.
tattered and torn, blackened and grimed
with the smoke and powder of battle, but
they bring US no word of flight or dis
honor That sacred and myster aus SYM
pathy which goes out from aln.u>t every
fireside within our borders to all the bat
tle6elds of the rebellion finds in these rag
aged ensigns its dearest and its intensest
expression. Lovingly and tenderly let us
lay them away in the mOtherly arms of
the State whose trophies they now become.
that they may teach their lessons of pat
riotism and duty to all future genera
tions-
= A cynical German sociologist. who had
sneered at American institutions. and who
4 I.nn. af<t., .,fsr frtn nhsnrv
the demonstrations of this Battle Flag
Day" said at the close of the proceedings.
in view of the evidence it furnished of the
abounding patriotism an6 loyalty, and
love of the country's flag:
81 have no fear now OF this country or
of its Government. With such men for
its supporters, and with such sentiments
controlling them, this country is safe"
A SACRED SYMBOL EVERYWHERE.
Among the lessons impressed on the
young cadets in their training in the Mill
stary Academy at West Point. none is
deemed of more profound and practical
importance than the duty of holding in
high honor the National flag as the SYM
boI of all that is worth living and dying
for by soldier of his country. When the
colors are brought to their place III the
daily parade, and on every special occasion,
and again as they are taken back under
guard, they are received and accompan-
led with manifest signs of pre-eminent
honor, and in the reverent salute which Is
given them, as they come and go, every
officer and soldier has an appreciative
share. On the last visit to West Point
of Gen. Sherman, as he was passing with
interest from one point to another of the
place where he had received his lessons as
Young cadet, the cadets We're impressed
by the fact that as he came to the National
flag, the grim old hero of hundred bat
ties barred his head and reverently bowed it
In silent homage before that symbol of all
for which he had served and battled and
commanded in his years of warfare. The
old flag had his hearts affection. and that
affection was ready to show iteelf at all
times.
When the flag goes up on Il naval vessel
at sunrise each morning, every sailor ON
deck faces toward and gives formal sa-
lutte. So deep and real is this feeling of
yeneration for the flag as sacred symbol
in the heart of every officer and sailor in
the navy that il shows itself Oh every oc-
casion A gallant Admiral was shown at
Il prominent New York jewelers.. hand
some sword, made for presentation to a
volunteer officer. 1T was laid Oh a table
spread with an American flag. The Ad-
miral protested at this use of the flag for n
table cover. 1t WAS said in explanation
''This sword is for q defender of the flag
'.The place for defender is under the
flag not above it, said the Admiral "And
\ it stirs my Indignation TO see flag used as
table cloth on any pretext."
FORT sUMpTER's FLAG.
On April II. 1861, the National flag was