Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-30
THE FLAG IN BATTLE.

THE FLAG IN BATTLE.
When or Where It Was First Borne
History Records Not.
Where in the whole world Is anoth-
er thing meaningless in itself that has
signified so much or served SO greatly
in the dramas Of national life as the
flag? asks the London Globe.
One tradition says the Saracens first
carried an orthodox standard into bat
tie and thus gave the idea, as they gave
so many others, to the crusaders. But
obviously the flag is far older than
this, and it is interesting to note its
development from the first inanimate
object borne aloft on staff 80 as to
be generally visible down to the COM
plicated blazonry Of royal banner in
our own ages. The Egyptians thus
carried before their hosts the figure Of
sacred animal on a spear, and the
Assyrians, as their carvings tells US,
inspired the hopes and centered the
attentions Of their soldiers the same
way. The royal standard Of the Per-
slams for many years was black
smiths apron; hence the Persian
"sun." The lion was an obvious after
thought. The Turks used a horses
tail, the rank Of a pasha being known
by the number Of tails he carried, and
probably this suggested the much BIZ
furcated pennon Of early western chiv-
airy familiar to every one who has
studied the Baveux tapestry or early
illuminated missals.
In the middle ages, devoted to dis
play and military arrogance, the flag
stood in relationship to the great cap
tain's array as his personal armor
stood to himself; it insured recogni-
ton in the melee and supplied ral-
lying point for the fighters such as
nothing else could have done. This
led to an etiquette of flags which ap-
portioned shape and size to every rank
Of the peerage, from the royal standard
itself down through varied array Of
banners, gonfalons, ensigns and other
"bits Of red rag" and kept the heralds
college busy, besides supplying the
poets with admirable local colorings
for their battle pieces. Does not Scott
tell us in some famous lines:
Then fell that spotless banner white,
Lord Howard's lion fell;
But still Lord Marmion's falcon flew
With wavering flight, while fiercer
grew
Around the battle yell. =
Here, 1t will be noted, the whole gist
and point of the fight centers in the
pennons Of the leaders, and Of the
same vital Importance Of the flag there
are innumerable instances in medieval
literature. When the Douglas unfurl-
ed his standard at Otterburn-a flag,
by the way, which is still in existence
he declared, and thought not with
out reason, that the mere sight Of that
famous cloth would put the English
host to rout. And even In COMPARE
lively modern and prosaic times the
belief that dreaded captain was be-
to turn the scales of battle.
Thus in the French war of 1897 the
French Rear Admiral Sarcy when
cruising with six frigates in the bay
of Bali came in sight Of five-sof our
Indiamen, one Of them the Woodford,
Captain Lennox. They were home
ward bound and all richly laden, and
to all appearances they had no chance
of escape, when Captain Lennox res
cued them by an act Of great judg-
ment Of mind. He first Of all hoisted
in his own ship a flag which the
French admiral knew we'll, that Of the
mizzen, and he made all the other
ships in his company hoist pennants
and ensigns to correspond. But he did
more. He detached two Of the India
men to chase and reconnoitre the enc
N.Y. and as these advanced toward the
French accommodating frigate, the Cy-
belle, the latter, completely deceived,
made all sail to join her consorts, on
which the French admiral, believing he
was in the presence Of a powerful
British squadron, made off with his
frigates under all sail, and Captain
Lennox and his consorts completed
their voyage in safety.
The flag indeed preserved its CLAM
our long after the time when it was the
cynosure Of conflict, the emblazoned
meteor Of victory, as Milton calls 1t.
Napoleons officers, retreating from
Moscow, burned their standards and
in the excess Of their bitter affection
mixed the ashes with wine and drank
them 80. The same was done at Metz
and Sedan, and even today there Is
probably no soldier in the world who
would not do a little more for his COL
ors than for anything else within his
martial horizon. The idea has pene-
trated into all ranks Of society. To
nail ones colors to the mast Is the
last expression of desperate resolve,
just as to haul them down indicates
the abyss Of humiliation.
How BERING DIED.-In the June
number Of Harper's Magazine, Col
Inns Shackelford tells the true story
Of the fatal expedition Of the Explorer