The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-09-09
FLAG OF 18TH IS
BACK IN ALABAMA
Historic Emblem Sent from
Governors Island
REGIMENT HAS FINE RECORD
Flag of the Fifty-elehth VIII Soon Be
Given to the Department BY Col
onel liner of Ash
Vile.
REGIMENT HAS FINE RECORD

Montgomery September S.-tSpecial)-
Back to the chief city of the country for
which its followers fought and many
of them died, has come the torn and tat
tered flag of the Eighteenth Alabama
infantry, Confederate q ties of America
long in the hands of ~ who were once
enemies of its followers, but now for
tunately, brothers of reunited country.
Captured late in the war of the SIX
ties, the flag has been in the possession
of the survivors of the Union army and
of late years in the Military Service In
stitution museum of the United States,
Governors Island, N. Y. 1t was returned
through the efforts of DR.. Thomas M.
owen, director of the Alabama depart
ment of archives and history and is now
a part of his very valuable and historic
banner collection.
The story of the finding and return OF
this flag is of the greatest interest. Sew
eral months ago lady of New Orleans,
visiting in New York and sightseeing
on Governors Island, discovered the nag
in the museum. She wrote of 1t to Gen.
George P. Harrison, commander of the
Alabama division of the United Confed-
crate Veterans, who sent the letter at
once to DIR. Thomas M. Owen, head OF the
history department. DR.. Owen. who has
a thorough knowledge of the ways OF 60
ing at such things wrote to ascertain
If the banner could be secured, and was
gratifed to be able to interest the own
ers of 1t in It's return. The matter was
then taken up by the governor with the
no he oId of
cry of heroes came in today, and is now
reverently shown to those who care to
stop and lovingly handle its torn and
ragged folds. On it is inscribed the first
three battles into which 1t was carried,
''Shlloh," "Farmington'" and Black
land"
Did Fine Service.
The Eighteenth Alabama covered itself
with glory in the fight for the lost
cause" 1t was raised at Auburn in Sep
tember 1861, and mustered out at Me-
ridian, Miss, May 4, 1865. The first colonel
was e. C. Bullock of Barbour, who died
In service He was the father of Miss
e. NJ. Bullock, principal of the Girls High
school of this city. The department of
history has a fine oil portrait of him at
this time. He was a man Of wide ac-
quaintance and made fine officer.
The second man to command the regi-
ment was Col. Ell S. Shorter, also of
Barbour. He was the uncle of Mrs. Jelks,
wife of Governor William d. Jelks, and
Col. Harry r. Shorter. deputy state COM
missioner of Insurance. He was also the
| brother of Governor Shorter. He retired
| to take up other duties and was sue
| ceeded by Col James T. Holtzclaw OF
| Montgomery, not so many years dead.
| Colonel Holtzclaw being promoted to brig
| adler general the command fell to Col
| IT pf w
| the men out
The companies forming the regiment
were from Coffee. Covington, Coosa, Tus-
| caloosa. Butler Pike, Shelby, Talladega
and two from Jefferson. The Jefferson
companies were commanded by Captains
James Oliver and James Haughey. DIR.
r. w. Jones Is now running a serial his
toy of the Eighteenth In his paper, the
Jones Galley Times, the manuscript of
| which will become the property of the
/ department of history. IT was at the
suggestion of Director Owen Of the de-
partment, that the history was prepared
After Flag Of Fifty-elghth.
DIR. Owen will have within few days
another interesting flag, but one that was
never in the hands of the enemy. 1t Is
| that of the Fiftyeighth Alabama, c.. S.
| A., now In the possession of Col. John w.
liner of Ashville, who was its lieutenant
| colonel This flag has been In the hands
of friends of the command for a number
of years and lately held by Colonel In7
yer. He was In Montgomery this week
and informed Director owen that he
wanted to add 1t to his very interesting
collection. AS soon as he gets back home
and packs it the banner will be sent to
| join its numerous fellows.
The Fifty-eighth has also record of
| gallantry and devotion to the cause. 1t
was made up from the middle counties
| of the state with some companies from
| the north, and was In the fight all the
time. Its officers were men who have
| made fame since the conflict has closed
! Colonel liner spent some time in the
! history department and was very glad
| TO see the evidences there collected of the
| struggle long and disastrous but ever
dear to the hearts of those who took
part either actively or passively In it,.
] He said he could not longer keep the
! flag of his command away from the place
1t ought to be, among those of the other
commands
Letter From Rodenbough.
The following letter accompanied the
flag of the Eighteenth, from the officer
| in charge of the museum:
Military Service Institute
of the United States.
Governors Island, N. Y, Sept. T. 1905.
To His Excellency, The Governor of Ala
bama, Montgomery, Ala.
Sir-Some time since a communication
was received from Thomas M. Owen,
| LII. D., director state of Alabama de-
| partment of archives and history inquir-
| ing IL 1t would be possible for the mill
| tary service institution to return to your
state the flag of the Eighteenth Alabama
regiment, c. S. A., then in our museum.
At meeting of the executive council
OF the institution, held August Is. l was
instructed to return the flag to the gov
/ ernor of Alabama as requested. In ac-
cordance with the resolution I have this
| day forwarded by mail. under separate
| cover to your address, the flag in ques-
ton. of which please acknowledge re-
| ceipt. Very respectfully
7. f. RODENBOUGH,
Brig Gen. U. s. A., Secretary.