The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-09
SENDS BACK THE FLAG
BUNTING OF tsTH ALABAMA IS
 HETURNED.
Tattered Pennant Now Nestles With Other Precious Relics of Con-
 federecy fin Archives of
 the State.


 The flag of the old 18th Alabama regiment, which signalled to battle so many of the Confederate braves of this section of the State, now nestles in the pennant collection of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, having been received yesterday by Gov ernor Jeiks from the, Military Service Institution of the United States at Gov ernor's Island. The flag was obtained principally through the endeavors of Dr. Thomas M. Owen. director of the department.
 tered folds. was received through the mails. having been sent by Brigadier General T. F. Rodenbough, of the United States army. secretary of the Service Institution. It was through the kindness of lady in New Orleans that Dr. owen was informed of the nag being on exhibition in the museum of the institution. She happened to see it while on a visit to New York and Governors Island. Her discovery was reported to pr. Owen who immediately thereafter began negotiating for its re- turn here The lady's information came through General George P. Harrison. of Opelika. Commander, of the Alabama Division of Confederate Veterans. whom she wrote in regard to the mat ter.
 An answer to a letter of inquiry sent by Dr. owen. revealed that the secre- tary of the institution would consider the proposition and 1t was found by a meeting of the executive council that there was no objection to the flag be- ing returned to Alabama. Previously Governor Jelks had been requested by Dr. owen to correspond with the sec retary and use his influence for obtain ing the relic and it was to the Gov ernor that the following reply was sent: "The Military Service Institution of
 United States.
 Governors Island, N. Y.; Sept [. 'sTo His Excellency, the Governor of
 Alabama, Montgomery, Ala:
 'Sir-Some time since a communi- cation was received from Thomas M. Owen, IL. D., Director, State of Ala bama. Department of Archives and His tory, inquiring if 1t would be possible for the Military Service Institution to return to your State tho flag of the 18th Alabama regiment. C. S. A.. then in our museum.
 At a meeting of the Executive Coun- ell of the Institution, held August 18th was instructed to return the flag to the Governor of Alabama as requested
 Tn accordance with the resolution have this day forwarded by mail, under separate cover, to your address, the flag in question. of which please acknowl- edge receipt
 'Very respectfully
 'T F. Rodenbough,
 "Brigadier General. T. s. A. Secretary"
 The flag of the 18th Alabama is dear to many survivors of the war between the States who are privileged by the magnanimity of their erstwhile enemy s sons to gaze upon it this late. in the age. The flag was raised at Auburn in September, 1861 and mustered out in Meridian. Miss. May 4, 1885.
 The regiment, from a purely mili- tary standpoint. had a varied experi- ence in the question of commanders It was commanded at different times by four colonels. The first was Colonel E. c. Bullock, Of Barbour County, who tUed in the service of the Confederacy Colonel Bullock's name is we'll known Tn Alabama history. He has a daughter living in Montgomery, Miss E. M. Bull lock, principal of the Girls High School A fine oil portrait of Colonel Bullock recently contributed, now hangs in the gallery of the Historical Department al , the capitol
 ne SeCOnQ COlOHel OI IHt
 successor of Colonel Bullock, was Colonel Eli s. Shorter, also of Barbour County. Colonel Shorter's career is familiar to all yersed in Alabama his tory and relatives surviving him arc Mrs. W. D. Jelks, wife of the Governor and Colonel H. R. Shorter, Deputy In surance Commissioner of Alabama They are niece and nephew of Colonel Shorter. respectively. Governor Shor- ter of Alabama was a brother of the second colonel of the 18th regiment
 Upon Colonel Shorter's retirement from the colonelcy of the 18th, Colonel James T. Holtzclaw,- of Montgomery succeeded in command. Colonel Holtzclaw died at comparatively re- cent date The command finally fell tc Colonel P. F. Hunley, of Shelby, who originally mustered the men out. His accession was due to the promotion oi Colonel Holtzclaw to the rank oi brigadier general ...~
 By request of Director owen. Dr. E W. Jones. Jefferson County editor. is preparing history of the 18th Alabams to be presented to the department tO running the narrative in serial form in his paper. The Jones Valley Times.
 The regiment, briefly stated, was composed of companies from the coun- ties of Coffee. Coosa. Covington. Butler Pike. Tuscaloosa. TalladeRa. Shelby and Jefferson. Jefferson County furnished two companies. ---
 Probably the next battle flag of the Alabama soldiers of the Civil War to be returned to the History Department will be that Sof the 5sth Alabama regi- ment It Is known to be In the posses sion of Colonel John W. Inzer, of Ash vile, who was It's lieutenant colonel He has chung faithfully to the relic ever since the war was ended for 1t was never in the hands of the enemy and will thus differ from most of the flags now in the possession of the State De- partment The majority of the em- blems consist of those returned from the United States War Department by an order contained in a resolution of the last Congress.
 Colonel Inzer was in Montgomery this week and while here expressed ad- mIration of the work that Dr. Owen Is doing. essayinR to collect all the relics of the Confederates in existence. He immediately consented for the return of the flag he has. This flag waved over the regiment composed of the middle counties of the State and is held very dear by the sons of the patriots who fought beneath its folds.
 
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