The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-12-14
n OF dishonor it by hauling it down

O!cy VI w ncHluk tOn, -. w., AOA CIO CAinl
of Captain Armstrong, beg leave re-
rotary of the Navy, the propriety, JUS
tice and good policy of bestowing some
mark of its appreciation of the loyalty.
spirit, and good conduct of William
Conway, quartermaster of the navy, on
duty at the navy yard at Warrington,
Florida, when the same was surren-
dered on the 18th of January, 1861;
who with manly pride and in spirit of
i patriotic devotion refused to obey the
order TO haul down the national flag on
the occasion of that surrender. The
evidence of this honorable devotion to
the dignity and credit of the flag of his
country is found in the record of the
testimony in Commodore Armstrong;
case. Respectfully submitted by order
of the court, A. B. Magruder, Judge
Advocate"
The secretary of the navy thereupon
took notice of the event in the follow
ing official document:
"Navy Department, Washington, d.
c. 1t appears from the testimony taken
in Captain Armstrong; case that Will
liam Conway. an aged seaman, doing
duty as quartermaster in the Warning
ton (PensacoIa) navy yard at the time
of its surrender when ordered by
Lieut.. Renshaw to haul down the nat
lonal flag, promptly and Indignantly re-
fused to obey the order. The love and
reverence thus impulsively displayed
for his country's flag in the hour of its
called noble and chivalric because dis
played by one in humble station. 1t is
the more deserving of commentator
for Gil hO rG ina TO n thn cprViHa NOT
usually expected to set examples of
patriotism and fidelity to their trusts,
but to follow them. The department
deems it no more than strict justice to
William Conway that this testimonial
from the court in his behalf should be
made known throughout the service. 1t
therefore directs that this general order
be publicly read as early rs practicable
after its receipt, by the commander of
all naval stations and all vessels in the
navy in commission in the presence of
the officers and men under their COM
mand.-Gideon Welles, secretary of the
navy
Former New England citizens living
in California raised fund for the pur-
chase of gold medal for Conway and
this was transmitted to him through
the agency of Maj. Gen. H. w. Halleck
and the secretary of the navy.
Strangely enough, Capt. johnson was
off Fort Pickens in the L. S. bark Mid
night, within sight Of the Pensacola
navy yard, when the orders relative to
the conduct of Conway were read. ''At
the reading of the same he said, with
all hands at muster, and being the only
officer from Maine, and in fact the only
Maine man on board the ship with the
exception of an ordinary seaman, l
stretched to my utmost height and
drank in patriotism and courage from
the reading that lasted me through the
four years that | served in the navy,
helping me to make such a record as
did not, hope, disgrace my country,
my State or my people
In concluding his paper, Capt john
son said that he found Conway forgot
State o. Manner is not to be found on
Camden's soldiers monument, though
perhaps this is not strange as it is only
through the recent publication of the
navy records of the war that the papers
in the case have been brought to light.
Recent Investigations disclose the fact
that Conway died in service at the
Brooklyn navy yard, Now 80, 1865, less
than five years from the day that he
upheld alone his country's honor. Yet
he was buried in an unmarked grave
that cannot now be located. Having
stated this, Capt. johnson then said:
"And [ earnestly think, sir, that the
name of this grand old American tar
should be rescued from oblivion. | be-
lieve, sir, that his name is fully as
worthy of that honor as is that of John
Paul Jones, for while he was distinctly
American, Paul Jones claimed to be a
citizen of the world and had too many
nationalities. He was a Scotchman,
an American, Frenchman and
Russian. He was everything by turns,
and nothing long. and was strictly
loyal to none but Paul Jones. The
only things that were distinctly
American on board the Bon Homme
Richard were the American flag and
Lieut.. Dali, who afterwards became an
admiral in the American navy.
'But this brave old American tar
shifted his quid of tobacco, gave the
waistband OF his trousers hitch and
stood firm as the rock of Gibraltar for
one country and one flag. And for it,
| think his name should be placed OH
pinnacle of fame.
And what could be more fitting than
W nave llllS UOuOlcu OISdllZdClOu
which bears the proud title OF the
Loyal Legion of America take the first
steps toward that loyal object, for who
is there among us that would not have
been thrilled to his fingers ends could
he have listened to the loyal words of
that loyal old American sailor: Il will
not do it, sir! 1t is the flag of my
country under which l have sailed for
many years, love it and will not dis
honor it by hauling it down now"
The paper read by Capt. johnson was
one of the most interesting ever read
before the Maine commandery and at
the conclusion of the reading several
of the members spoke highly of it's
merit and endorsed the idea of rescu-
ing from oblivion this long forgotten
Maine hero. The medal presented not
long ago by the citizens of Los Angeles,
Cal, and the Maine residents in Cali
fornia in honor of the heroism of the
hero to whom Capt. johnson referred
in his paper was exhibited. Major H.
S. Burrage suggested that a big boulder
with bronze tablet should be erected
by the commandery and presented to
the town of Camden in recognition of