The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-12
BATTERED WAR FLAG
BANNER OF GALLANT TWENTY
 THIRD DONATED.
Was Presented to State Department of Archives and History by Capt. D. c. Byrne of Bay
 Minette.

The battlefiag of the gallant 23rd Ala bama has been added to the store or war relics of the Department Of Ar chives and History. The flag was pre- scented to Director Owen for the Depart l ment by Captain D. c. Byrne, once Ad- jutant of the 43rd.
 The donor, Captain Byrne, Is a promi-
 sents Baldwin County in the Alabama Legislature.
 The 2ard was one of the famous fighting
 commands which Alabama contributed to the armies of the Confectionery.
 The regiment fought through the war. having in the first years of the war been | attached to the Army of the West. 1t surrendered at Salisbury, N. C.. in 1865, as the great war came to an end. The 23rd Alabama was organized at
 Montgomery, November 1s. 1861. It was at different times attached to the Bri- gades of Generals Leadbetter, Tracy,
 Lee and Pettus. It had on its rolls 1 200 | men. When the end came at Salisbury, the command had been reduced to sev- enty-six men.
 The first Colonel of the regiment was Franklin King Beck of Wilcox County. Colonel Beck, as his name would indi- cate, was related to Vice-President Will liam R. King. being a nephew of the dis tinguished Alabama statesman. Colonel Beck. at the head of his regiment, laid down his life at Resaca. Major James T. Beck of Camden, Judge of Probate of Wilcox County, and Major Commanding the Alabama squadron of cavalry, is a son of Colonel Beck.
 The second Colonel of the 23rd. was Joseph B. Blob of Montgomery, the hus- band of Mrs. M. D. Bibb. an honored res- ident of this city.
 The old battlefiag is made of silk. It was in the days of '6i a brave and hand some banner. The long marches, the storms of battles and clements through which 1t passed. are told of in its torn l and tattered folds.
 Director Owen regards 1t as A most valuable addition to the cherished his. torical relics in his department. To this store Of relics he is desirous of havino for permanent preservation all flags and banners that can be obtained. To tbis
 end he has sent out the following circu. | lar: ''oo- Circular No. 2:
 The Department of Archives and His- tory desires to locate and obtain. for ner. | manent preservation in it's collections ',, nags, banners, guidons, markets or em- pIems, carried or used by commands from AIapama In the Confederate States Army. Almost every company, battalion. reei ment and brigade had it's flag. As is well Known many of these were captured. and are now in the War Department at Wash ington, or in the custody of Northern States, or of museums or historical | societies.
 Many, however. were saved. and bv l loving and jealous hands have been pre-
 served through the passing years. Some | have drtfted Into local collections. or into
 the keeping of camps of Confederate Veterans. or of Chapters of the Daurh- ters of the Confederacy.
 In the course of events these custodians must pass away, and to them. and to others also. 1t is respectfully suggested ohat the State should be made the reno | sitory for all valuable relics Placed in the keeping of this Depart- ment they will be sacredly and carefully ! guarded and preserved alike to the | generosity of the donors, and to the glory | Of the brave soldiers of whom they are | everlasting memorials.
 The visitor to the capitols of many, of | the NorthernStates finds on exhibition not only hundreds of the flags boren in bat | tie by their soldiers, but he will also find | many war tropics exhibited What Is to be found preserved in of | ficial custody in the capitol building of | Alabama at Montgomery?
 Will not the patriotic men and women | of Alabama see that the reproach no longer obtain? Will they not forward to | the undersigned, not only all flags, ban
 ners. etc. which they can discover, but
 also all Confedrate relics which should be
 preserved? Thomas M. Owen. Director. !,