Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-06
The Maine BattleHa gs.


the battlefags not only applied to the
Confederate flags held at the war de-
partment in Washington, but also to
the flags of various northern regiments
which for some reason have been kept
at Washington since the close of the
Civil War rather than returned to their
respective states, whose sons marched
under them into battle. Thus 1t comes
about that four Maine regimental flags
have been sent to Augusta from Wash
ingtor and will be treasured at our
capitol along with the other Maine
battleflags there.
In this connection the curious fact
is brought out that the state of New
York has never collected and treasured
the battleflags carried by it's regiments
in the war for the Union. Some of
them are now kept by regimental
associations, others are in the pos
session of individuals; some have been
at the war department at Washington
and of many others there is absolutely
no trace. Adjutant General Henry
now proposes that the State shall col
lect all of these flags which can be
found and properly preserve them in
cases in the Capitol at Albany. 1t is
much to be regretted that great state
like New York has neglected this mat
ter for 40 years. A state can have no
more precious relics than the tattered'
blood-stained flags under which its
sons fought for the preservation OF the
Union.
1t is a matter of cOngratul;'tlon
that here in Maine these flags have
been from the first sacredly preserved
at our State Capitol. Grouped in their
great glass cases on either side of the
rotunda they make an exhibition of
great interest to every visitor at the
Capitol and one which inspires the
rising generation as few things at the
Capitol do. A few years ago when
the National Guard met in annual EN-
campment in this city, instead of par
ticipating in war maneuverS around
Portland or in Virginia. the beautiful
custom was instituted of having each
regiment when it broke camp at the
and gather in the rotunda where the
impressive lesson of the flags was en-
phasized in brief remarks by the
colonel and chaplain of the regiment
Then Noses Owens immortal poem.
1.-The Return of the Battlefags' was
read after which the regiment re-
formed it's lines and marched to the
station, every man a better soldier and
a better citizen for having participated
National Guard meets again in Au-
gusta we hope this beautiful custom
| will be revived and continued.
| That poem of Owens. by the way,
| which is one of the finest things ever
| written by a Maine author, has sew
| eral times been stolen by other writer's
| and circulated as their own production.
A few years ago it was published in
| the Connecticut papers as the work of
a Connecticut author who had I'M
| blushingly sent it to one of them for
publication as his own work. The
| fraud WAS quickly exposed much to
| the confusion of the Connecticut pla-
| garist These beautiful verses have
been framed and hung upon the cases
| containing the Maine battlefags and
| frequently is a visitor so impressed by
them that a copy is made to be taken
| away. The author was born in Bath
| in 1888 and graduated from Bowdoin
in 1851, and was a brilliant young man
| of great promise. In early manhood,
| however, his mind became clouded and
he died III the insane hospital in this
city. in 1873. He wrote much in prose
and verse. but nothing that will live
so long as the beautiful poem inspired
by the collection Of the Maine battle
| flags i'm the rotunda of our Capitol.