New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-13

fastened (often with thongs) to any stick o.
straight branch that was handy
AS was done in our armies. the Confederatez
often put the names OF battles in which a rect
ment had participated on their flags. This vas
usually done with white OF black paint. In
Few cases strips Of light colored material are
seWed on the flag. and the names Of the bat-
ties are painted on these stripes, as is Gus
tomary in the English army. In some instance.
the number of the regiment is painted on tbs
flag. Some regiments had this done in sr,an
letters and figures above and below the star a.
tne centre OF the color Others. again had the
number In large letters and figures on The raj
or the nag. Thus. the color OF a Florida rel
ment in the Confederate Museum in Richrno1S
more in height VI
Few OF the colors had fringes. and few a..
nailed 70 the staffs, and, far as the writar's
knowledge goes, there are none the stars ~
winch are painted or embroidered In every
they are sewed on. ''N
The real rebel battle flag was truly esrrsa5
on hundred battlehelds. II became the unior
or the later Confederate flag flown on shius ana
from buildings white, Oblong flag with a
union IN the upper corner, next the star Tbis
was also used as a battle flag, but apparently,
more in the West than IN the East 4 $500
many were captured by General Sherman's arr9v
ana among these there is again no small vari
ETY.. Some have as union the battle hac rita
out the white edging 70 the cross: others. aEais
have the colors rSversed-that Is the 6eId ~ 49,
union is blue and the cross red an arranger,s,-
OF colcrs which would seem to have been a ne
take This style OF flag was often very LARGE
one or these which the writer measured ia 49,
iy "A by feet. II belonged to the Esd MisSisSinn,
and was captured at Peach Tree Greek bv 10
10th Wisconsin Volunteers. One in Washington
has heavy bullion stars and heavy firing a.
white silk. but again. small flag has fed ~
white cotton, the red Of the union IS unerino ar1
the blue Is nannel 1t seems 70 have no history
Next In order in numbers appear 10 be M
Virginia State eoIoFs. The writer has not ssa1
any other true State eoors carried with the bar-
tie flags. but of the Virginia ones there ara a
great many 10 De found These flags four feet
, and half or more square. are made OF DARK
blue merino, with a circular centre OF white
upon which is painted. in crude design and
crude as well as faint Coloring, the we'll known
arms of the State of Virginia. Over and unda-
the arms are painted ribbons casually one is red
and the other blue, with the inscriptions "Vlr.
ginia" and sic Semper Tyrannisr OF eourss
these flags also in varied states Of praserva-
! tion as rule. the color has acquired dun blue
greenish tinge- More than one flag Of this kind
was captured at Winchester on September 10
1864, and at Sailors Greer. April g. 1865 by
New-York cavalry regiments. There were prob
ably other regulation State colors, but as has
been said, the writer has not seen anv Of which
it could be ascertained that they were carried
were those of Virginia.
The two classes of flags, the tattle flags ard
the State cOlOrs, seem 10 have been those which
were universally carried; others. now to be re-
ferred TO, are more or less individual OF be-
lOnged to special organizations, and are IN soma
cases fantastic in design
One OF the most interesting in the War De-
partment is flag Of the LIST Georgia, because
IL is evidently made OF Union flag. which had
been taken to pieces. The stripes OF the old flag
| have been sewed together again, and, with the
union, used to make up flag Of the type OF the
Stars and Bars Thus the red stripes OF the
new flag are each made up Of three old red
stripes, while the white stripe is made up Of
four white stripes. The union has been painted
over. On one side 1t shows the arms OF Georgia
and the inscription Washington Rifles" Or
old stars have been scraped off apparently and
new stars painted on the silk, together with
other Inscriptions. The union is in very bad
condition, and badly cracked ana torn, but the
stripes are well preserved The flag was capt
ured at Cheat River in 1861.
Another peculiar but handsome flag is that
of the 47th North Carolina Volunteers. captured
by a Pennsylvania regiment on April :, 1863 az
Sutherland Station 1t has broad white stripe
broad blue stripe and a red band along the
staff the width of both stripes, bearing single
large star and an inscription II Is in an ex-
cellent state of preservation but fastened 10 a
rough branch. This style of flag was also car
Pied by other regiments and other examples Of il
are TO be found in Washington and probably
elsewhere.
General Arson G. MeCoOk at Missionary Ridge,
is, again. of peculiar design, being blue field
with a white edge. and an oval white centre:
upon which is embroidered in black "3Sth ALA
In the Confederate Museum in Richmond are
a number OF flags Of peculiar design. One suca
flag is a red and white, with black shlela
shaped centre This flag was used, according 70
the record in the museum, at Battery Wagner
and Fort Sumter, and belonged to the Carolina
Light infantry. IN tIS Sdllie AluScu4l - -
of the LIST and Sd Florida, of the same general
appearance as the battle flag, but IN colorns
different. for the field is red. the cross white,
edged with blue. and the stars orange IN me
centre is a heart shaped shield, with the names
OF the regiments and a star. Another nag i
peculiar design is one IN Washmgtoh ssE
IDENTIFY originally signal flag. red with a WhiLs
ST. Andrews cross. and the inscriptions IN oiack
Fort Sumter and Battery Wagner.
There are at Richmond great many any o.nse
flags of more or less fsnciful design-such as a
blue field with number OF stars IN the shape OL
cross, flags with palmetto trees the sinse s'aI
of Texas, etc, but it would be imposslol47 -
give a description OF all, and perhaps useless
as they were not generally used ana are h0L y.
general interest; in any event, space Would nc.
permit OF even a. brief description OF them buy
there is one more flag at Washington 10 wnlcn
reference must be made IL Is tne caISliS
standard once belonging TO the l4th EHS, ,
Cavalry. 1t is a large flag of rather pale Diue.
with a white fringe showing on one side lev
remnants of painted centre OF uncertain eeslss
and on the other, in the middle or the naS ~
most extensive piece OF embroidery WIich tt7
writer saw on any Confederate nag. IN SeI-l-
circle above is the inscription: "l4th ResL va
Cavalry" below are two sprays OF lsaVss; - ~
ers, etc. OF rather delicate design ana ~ -. 80.
circle thus formed are the date "1s64 ana Sns
words God armeth the Patriot rms COOt
has its own staff and spearhead, ana Is ~
good state Of preservation. except the palnllis
referred to. IT seems to be the only caPIurSI
flag OF its kind, and was taken near Nlis's-'
Va, in 1864. -.
The writer has not attempted to single out
the colors OF any particular regiments oeca.SIS5
of the standing OF those regiments. II Wou W.
require many volumes to tell the stoIy % -
gallant acts performed under these old coeIS =
to give even brief reference 10 the Regiments
to which they belonged.
some one NAV read something new in these
lines: others viii pass them over as most ul,1
teresting: but the writer feels sure that nans MAJ.
will read them and recall with interest," the - -
exciting and irving DAYS OF their lives, even
in our hurried modern times they are oeeoIas'S
a very old story GHERARDI DAVIS
New-YoFk, March IL, 1910.