Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-30
HISTORIC FLAG
Given to the I'd Maine Before
Battle Of Bull Run.
1attered and Blood Stained Frag-
ments at the Capitol.
Was Gift to Regiment from Maine
Women of California.

Forty-two years ago, the goth of last
July, the Second Maine Infantry was
drawn up in a hollow square at Centre
vile, Virginia, the first Maine regl-
lnent to tread the soil of that state.
And in the hollow square were senators
and representatives from Maine ana
California, other prominent ofhclals
and Mr.. George 3. Haycock of CAN
fornia. The day was the one before the
battle of Bull Run and the occasion
was the presentation of a beautiful silk
battle flag to the regiment by Mr..
Haycock in behalf of the ladies OF
San Francisco, California, who
had been formerly residents of
Maine. The banner was a very
large one, of the heaviest India
silk, and cost $1,000. On one side of the
red. white and blue, it bore the
American eagle and "a stars; on the
other, the arms of Maine and Cali
fornia with the legends Eureka and
"Dirgo" on separate shields. while the
Goddess of Liberty stood between the
two with a hand resting on either
shield. The staff was of manganita
wood and the slide rings and battle axe
at the top We're of solid California
silver There We're Is silver stars on
the belt for the color sergeant and the
socket was also of solid silver. bearing
tie inscription Union and Liberty"
The presentation of the banner was
made with the following memorial
signed by III ladies, whose names
are those of old Maine families, almost
all with representatives in the State to-
day.
san Francisco, Cal, June Goth, 1861.
SOLDIERS of the Second Regiment from
Maine:
We ask you to accept from us, wo-
mon of San Francisco. who were born
in Maine. a banner for your regiment
4 or home is on a Pacific coast. The
ssof i;tl connections and the severe trials
Which otter p@rts Of the land have
suffered from the iteLeliion have hard
lytrlI.. Led us. But our hearts are not
less frcTdntiy pledged to the cause of
the t5n,rv r.e love than the hearts of
Amt: ::aa. wives, daughters, mothers
end sisters who are feeling more deep
" t - .is ftors and sorrows of war.
- c q pledge of oar loyalty to the
Constitution and of our sympathy with
the patriots of our dear native State,
we send you this national banner to
which by your ready enlistment you
have enlisted your service of lives.
cit represents the whole country, not
only by the full number of stars upon
it3ffield of blue, but also by the arms
and emblenas of Maine and California,
the extremes Of the Republic, which
are written upon it in red, white and
azure. This; flag will say to you that
so degrees of longitude are spanned by
the Constitution of your country
which has called to you to arms against
the treason that would strike it down.
1t is not for one state that you have
put on the soldiers dress. It is for Il
Nation that hears the pines of the
Sierras answering the pines of Aroos-
took, and the waves that roll into the
Golden Gate in chime with those that
swell tie tide in PASSPORT bay.
MAY the flag which we beg you to
accept insoire in you by the eloquence
that always streams into patriot hearts
from the Stars and Stripes and by the
sympathy with which we shall hail
your triumph under it in this struggle.
May the National banner wave, as
heretofore, over you and over us. over
the American valleys of the Penobscot
and of the Sacramento, and over the
millions that shall come after US.
blessed by it's protection for countless
years.
"A poem in dedica ton of the flag was
also read. The poem was a very
spirited one, and was written by Mrs.
r. Amanda Simmons of San Francisco.
The following is an exact copy:
California to Maine.
Gnsc. ibed to the officers and soldiers
of the % Regiment in behalf of the
California ladies from Maine. by f.
Amanda Simonton, San Francisco, Cal,
June 18th, 1850.
Soldiers. whose deeds shall ennoble
The State that gave us BIRTH
Whose names shall lend new lustre
TO the annals of the EARTH
From the shores of the blue Pacific
We turn with pride untold
To the brave. gone forth to battle
From cur cherished homes of old
We dwell by the gates of sunset
Yet in fancy we catch the peal
OF the stirring, martial Changers,
And the flash of the FURNISHED steel.
And we answer back with an emblem
That each loyal soul inspires
The flag that speaks of the conflicts
And the triumphs of our sires.
TO the winds unloose our standard
Till foiled in each traitors art;
Be the only stain upon it
The bio cd of n patriots heart!
We fear no vile surrender
Where cowardice controls,
For old Plymouth'S tinty firmnoSs
Is the base of Northern souls.
Let it float above the foremost
OF the close embatted lines,
Where the sons of Maine stand daunt-
less
| And answering as her pines.
| Ana wherever it CLEANS ana brlSntenS
| Through the smoke of painting guns
| Remember Names absent daughters
| Are loyal as her sons.
| Peace brought by a States dishonor
| Is more fatal than the sword,
So like the waves of ocean,,
| Be the patriot hosts outpoured
In the sacred name of Freedom
! ct treason vanquished be-
| And God bless the brave defenders
| Of Union and Liberty!
Oh swift may the joyous tidings
| Re-echo from hill to shore.
! Ger prairie and wide Savanna
I That carnage shall be no more!
| And where the Potomac murmurs
| Let the jubilant shouts resound,
L Vow