The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-01-29
REBEL FLAG
Returned After Forty = Two
Years.

The ties which bind the reunited
North and South have been strength
ened by an act OF thoughtful courtesy
on the part of Fred J Scheve. of Mas
coutah, Ill. He has sent back to
Woodbury., Tenn, after a lapse OF
forty-two years, flag he captured as
a trophy at the surrender of Fort
Donuelson In 1862.
On February 10, 1862, Fort Don.
nelson, one OF the rebel strongholds,
surrendered to the Federal forces.
Just prior to the hosting of the white
flag by the Confederates an order had
been issued by General U. S. Grant to
charge the fort and take,it, even If
every mai In the brigade were forced
to use his bayonet. THE Bloody
Ninth OF Illinois" was designated as
the regiment to lead the charge, and
every member of that famous regi-
ment threw his cap in the air and
yelled.
Colonel August Mercy drew his
men up in line, made few remarks,
aud ordered them to charge.
They had rushed forward on the
double-quick for perhaps 100 yards
when up went the white flag.
At the sight of that token of uucon-
ditional surrender there were not only
yells from 1.-The Bloody Ninth" but
yells from every man who wore the
blue.
On rushed the boys from Illinois.
They were the first to enter the bar
ricade. Everything, naturally, was
In confusion. Other regiments of
the besieging forces rapidly filed In.
In the excitement Fred J. Scheve. OF
Mascoutah, H., member OF Company
c OF the Bloody Ninth" captured a
beautifully made company flag. He
carefully tucked II away under his
coat, and for fear one of his superior
officers might demand it from him he
wrapped the flag about his body and
concealed it In that manner until the
mail service was resumed. Then he
sent il to Mascontah.
1t was the flag OF Company D,
Eighteenth Volunteer regiment of
Tennessee, commanded by Colonel J.
R. Palmer, in General John C.
Browns brigade. 1t had been made
by the young ladies' OF Woodbury.,
Tenn, and presented to Company d
Captain n. J. St. John, commanding
on May %, 1861. In each star was
written in ink the name of one OF the
fair maiders who had helped make
the flag. On the white bars was the
appropriate inscription, giving the
name OF the company, "St. Johns
guard" its commanding officer and
the date of the presentation.
During that bloody strife, where
ather opposed son, and brother
fought brother. Private Scheve en-
dured all the hardships of a soldier.
While marching with Sherman
through the Southland he became ac-
quainted with two or three Southern
families.
Years passed. Private Scheve still
held the beautiful trophy of war.
For the past twenty years he has been
a retired business man. During the
last ten years he has made several
trips to the South, In company with
his wife, to visit the old battleields,
stained with his blood and the blood
of his comrades and oldtime foes.
On these occasions he has always
called upon his old Southern friends,
whose children have long since grown
into manhood and womanhood. And
on each of these trips Private Scheve
has tried to find the ladies whose
names adorn the flag he captured at
the fall of Fort Donnelson.
There was nothing on the flag In
dicating that 1t was presented by the
ladies OF Woodbury., Tenn. All 1t
said was Woodbury." He found on
consulting the postal guide that
nearly every Southern state has a
Woodbury." but he quietly contin-
ued his seach.
Last spring Mr.. Scheve and his
wife made visit to one of his old
Southern friends In Alabama. There
he obtained a clew as to where his
trophy OF war was made. Upou his