The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-29
Battlefiags of Mississippi.


 The director of the Department of Ar chives and History is collecting data rea- tive to the historic battlehagS of Missis sippi. It Is known that many of the bull let-pierced and blOoa-stained banners of the Confectionery have been sacredly pre- served by the patriotic people of nlissis- sippi, and detailed informa ton about them Is desired. Ii is an interesting historical fact that six flags have waved over Ms sissl2pi at different times, representing the sovereignty of six governments. The director is anxious to know if there is in existence a flag of the State of Mississip- pi which was adopted by the secession convention of lSa. In order that such a flag may be identified the following de- scrption Is given White ground, the magnolia treeoiH the center, blue field in the upper left hand corner with white star in the center; the flag to be sur rounded with a red border and red fringe at the extrepty: h,his is the standard known as the ''bonnie blue" flag. and the director Is particularly anxious to know if it or any oppfps gre in existence. He would appreciate a4H infoEmation along the lines indicated.
 In his recent pape fsdon "Sumter in the Civil War" a brave k-CHrhederate off,
 
 a country boy at the battle of Chicka- mauga.
 The reading of this incident recalled to one who, as a wartime child, had wit messed the home-leaving of that particu- lar voting soldier. the following:
 A Reminiscence.
 It was a Saturday morning in the spring of '62.
 A little Confederate girl sat on the porch of her country home and looked out over ar lorchard where white and rose-pink clouds of bloom were resting among the tree-tops, where bees were humming with 8 riotous industry and the birds were just running over with song.
 She sighed as she looked, for it seemed hard, after having beer in school all week, to be obliged to stay in floors Sat urday, too, until she could have finished knitting a whole fingers length of a sol Gier's sock. This task was not to be measured by her pudgy little finger, either, but by the mothers, which was ciscouragingly long. Before she could possibly accomplish it, not only would the morning be gone, but most of the afternoon also, and, all that time, the honeysuckles would be abloom down there on the creek, the dog-wood blos- soms Haunting their whiteness against the tender green of the far-off hills, and the wild crab-apple flowers sending up a fragrant invitation for her to come and explore their little hollow down in the south grove.
 Then. too. she had been intending alA week to plait a shuck hat for Jenny Lind the weather-beaten doll lying there on the porch seat and gazing at nothing with such a round-eyed and smiling lack of expression.
 "Oh, dear" complained the child to the doll, how do wish there were no boxes to be sent off to soldiers, so I wouldn't have to be knitting up nearly all my play-hours,' and then, for about the sixth time that morning, she measured on her finger the amount of sock accom- plished and eyes the result unapprov- ingly
 This knitting works original intention was to be white, but there were dark rings running around it, some darker than others, according to the condition of her hands when doing those particu- lar sections. She took comfort, however In the knowledge that her work could be washed to uniform whiteness before being packed into the box, with other useful things, to be sent to the hoys at the front, As she began to think now of these far-away soldiers, she was con- science stricken that she had been mur huIlHS against TOT them and her fingers at once grew very busy while she bravely tried to put away all him dering thoughts of doll-hat and wild flowers. F.. S#MMw A short time after she had resumed her task a chorus of barks arose from under the big oak tree near the gate. where three half-grown pups. Bell, Douglas and Breckinridge were resting from their earlier mornings rabbit-hunt.
 AgaiE the little girl dropped her knit ting as she ran to the rescue of the coming guest; but May Jane, the young | woman oming up the path from the | creek was not at all afraid of pups, even | those with such distinguished names. | and she came on toward the house. ig noring them completely.
 Where is your mother, dear?" she asked but there was no need to answer for the mother had heard the dogs alarm and met her neighbor at the door.
 I've just learned" said May-Jane that dmund Holt is to be off for a sol. Her today and I thought I'd go over to their house awhile to give the old folks