Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29
THE FLAGS RETURNED
FORMAL CEREMONY AT coNFED-
ERATE GRAND CAMP.
Petersburg Crowded With Visitors
Election Of Officers by Veterans
and Sons Of Veterana
Special Correspondence of The star.

which has been in session here tho past
three days. was brought to close last
night with the ceremonial presentation and
acceptance Of the confederate fiaEs re-
turned by act OF Congress to the state OF
Virginia, and q reunion ball in honor Of the
sponsors and maids. and today the throngs
that have filed the streets for the past
week are leaving by every train. The day
yesterday was given up to business meet
ings OF the Grand Camp and the Sons OF
Veterans,
The meeting OF the Grand Camp. which
was held in the Academy OF Music. was
opened with prayer by Grand Chaplain
Hyde. and the day was taken up with hear
ing the reports Of the various committees
Bob Hunter of this city, secretary Of the
military records Of Virginia. who stated
that the muster rolls OF the state will never
be completed until the state makes an ap-
preparation sufficient to bear the expense Of
the work. Major Hunter asked the CO.
operation OF the camps in securing the
company muster rolls. in order that the
work may be made as complete as possible.
Judge Christian OF Richmond offered
resolution urging every camp in Virginia to
raise sum OF money to erect a movement
to the women Of the south" The resolu-
ton was received enthusiastically and the
first steps toward the fund raising was
taken.
In the afternoon the Grand Camp pro-
ceeded to the election of officers for the
coming year, and selected Judge John H.
Fuilin OF Wytheville grand commander;
Col. Wm- H. Stewart of Portsmouth. first
lieutenant grand commander; Gen. T. T.
Mumford of Lynchburg, second lieutenant
grand commander; Gen. G. c. Wharton Of
Radford. third Lieutenant grand command
er; David A. Brown. IT.. Of Richmond,
quartermaster general; Col. T. c. Morton.
Staunton, inspector general; DIR. James Of
Petersburg. surgeon general, and Rev. Dr.
John T. Hyde, grand chaplain.
After hearing committee reports and COM
pleting routine work the Sons Of Veterans
also elected officers for the next year, as
follows: Willie Odds of Norfolk. division
Petersburg, first brigade commander, and
John Lightfoot, jr., Of Richmond, second
brigade commander. These officers will
later appoint their subordinates.
From Richmond in Private Car.
The sixtytwo confederate flags which the
national government returned to the state
of Virginia. and which have been in the
custody Of Governor Montague, were
brought over from Richmond in a private
car guarded by a detachment OF Virginia
state troops and in charge Of Carter r.
Bishop. Thomas Smith, r. q. Thompson.
Judge ]. NJ Mullen, G. B. Gill. B. b.
Vaughan. George S. Bernard. Thos. Atkin-
son, T. f. Heath, Geo. Cameron, jr., con-
shutting committee of the Grand Camp.
An audience that filled every seat in the
big Academy of Music and packed the aisles
as far as the police would allow and over
nowed into the street assembled last night
to witness the ceremonies incident to the
placing of the flags in the custody Of the
Grand Camp Of Virginia.
The stage, too. was all occupied. Among
the ladies seated it, besides the spon-
sors and maids, were Mrs. VIM. Malone,
Mrs. VIM. McGill. daughter of the late
General Malone; Mrs. James McGill. who
was Miss Lucy Lee Hill, daughter of the
late General A. P. Hill, and Mrs Montague,
wife of the governor
The ceremonies were opened with prayer
by the Rev DR.. Hyde, grand chaplain of
the Grand Camp, and at the conclusion Of
the prayer the grand commander, DR.. Har-
wood, called the meeting to order. Capt.
John Lamb, member of Congress from the
Richmond district, who made the presenta-
ton address, was introduced by Adjutant
Carter R. Bishop of A. P. Hill Camp, C. U.
Mr.. Lamb reviewed the history of the
events leading to the return Of the flags to
Virginia and drew beautiful word pictures
of the happiness of the old soldiers in re-
ceiving them.
Flag Of Stonewall Brigade,
He stated in part:
THE flag Of the Stonewall Brigade
which accompanied these flags was gra-
ciously sent by the governor of this state
to the command in Jefferson and Berke-
ley counties-theAlsace and Lorraine Of the
new world. You should have seen the sur
vivors of that immortal band as they gath
cred around the stand at Shepherdstown
and with tears streaming down their cheeks
strain their eyes to behold again on that
nag homes of Cross Kays and Port Repub-
lie and Winchester and Manassas, and Cold
Harbor and Malvern Hill, and Fredericks-
burg and Charlottesville. Then you should
have seen the three thousand of another
generation and heard the shouts of JOY that
rent the air as they pressed to the front
and each side Of the grand stand to look
upon the blood-stained banner under which
their fathers had marched to victory or
died in defeating. Had you been at Louis
Vile you would have seen a delegation of
these old heroes carefully guarding that
banner, and showing 1t with pride and ex-
ultation to the members of our western
army, who as they passed uncovered said:
Boys, there's Stonewall Jackson's old
flag. Don't you wish God had spared him
to be with his men at GettysburgT"
In conclusion he said:
THE pleasing task assigned me has been
performed In a spirit of veneraton for the
past: Of gratitude for the present and an
abiding faith in the future of this noble
commonwealth. These flags are committed
to her keeping"
Gov. Montague's Address.
Governor Montague, who received the
flags on behalf of the state. was introduced
by Richard B. Davis of Petersburg in an
eulogistic address.
In accepting the flags the governor re-
ferred eloquently to the gallantry Of the
men who fought and fell while following
them. and urged that the flags be kept in
some f1re-proof building under state super
vision for their safe preservation
The last speaker of the evening, ex-
Governor VIM. E. Cameron, was introduced
by Col. Thomas Smith of Fauquier county
He, too. paid a high tribute to the courage,
faithfulness and endurance Of the con-
federate soldiers and in conclusion said
that these flags were once the symbols of
all that makes life dear. Sacred memories
have come back to US. The return of the
flags was most kindly done, and was done
graciousy. He hoped that the southern
people would never refuse to accept an olive
branch from an enemy.
AT the conclusion of Governor Cameron's
address, after benediction by Dr. Hyde,
Commander HARDWOOD declared the Grand
Camp adjourned sine die.
The flags were with few exceptions wrap
ped In bundles with mark to show
where they came from, but among those
marked and mounted on stats are those of
the 18th and 9th Virginia Infantry