The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-06-17
HISTORIC BATTLE.FLAGs.

HISTORIC BATTLE-FLAGs.
6Iood-stained Banners Removed tc
New Capitol.
Cheer after cheer greeted the vete
rams of the several famous Minnesota
regiments as they marched Wednes
day for the last time behind the flags
beneath whose shadows they had
fought and won so many bloody bat
ties. The line of march, which was
directed up Wabasha street from the
old to the new capitol, was crowded
so densely that it was almost impossi
BILE for anyone to move about. 1t was
an inspiring sight to see the color
beares carrying proudly aloft the bat
tle-scarred emblems. In many instan
ces it was the first time since the great
conflict that the members of the vail
ant regiments had marched behind the
flags which were an inspiration to
them during the dark days of the re.
bellion.
The day was observed with deep de.
votion, and was joined in by the PEG.
pie of the state, for nearly every por.
ton Of the state was represented in
the $4,000 spectators who viewed the
last march of the flags.
Shortly after noon the various parts
of the parade began to mobilize about
i the four sides of the old capitol, and
/ it was about o'clock before the sew
eral divisions of the parade were
formed. The old capitol itself pre-
sented gala appearance. On each
of its four sides flags and bunting of
all descriptions were festooned in an
attractive manner.
The parade was one of the most i'm
pressive spectacles ever witnessed in
the northwest. There were 10000
marchers in line, and it took the pa
, rade over an hour to pass given
point. There were no bitches or de-
lays, and no unpleasant circumstances
connected with the entire affair. The
precision with which the preliminary
arrangements were carried out was
one of the noticeable features of the
day, adding much to the success of the
program.
OF course, the veteran regiments,
with their battlefags, were the main
feature of the parade, but there were
other features which brought applause
from the thousands of spectators who
thronged the streets along the line of
march. The military display, including
the regulars from Fort Smelling and
the First regiment of the Minnesota
national guard, was imposing, but per-
haps more attention was directed to
the living flag made up of children
from the Franklin school.
Good humor prevailed throughout
the length of the column, the old vete-
rams in particular being ~ hapxy
frame of mind. Some of the veterans
showed the effects of the march and
the warm day, but few dropped out be-
cause of fatigue, and none reported
any evil effects Of their eXertions.
There were many veterans in the
city who. because ct disabilities or old
age, We're unable to march, but they
joined the spectators on the sidewalks
or gathered at the new capitol, wait
ing for the main column to come up.
The parade started from the corner
Of Sixth and Market streets and fol-
lowed the line of march down Sixth to
Minnesota, up Minnesota to Ninth, up
Ninth to Cedar, and up Cedar to the
new capitol Prior to the formation at
Sixth and Market the various organi-
cations gathered promptly at the
points OF rendezvous designated by
the committee, and were ready to fall
in when the column came along.
The veteran organizations gathered
at the old capitol, the Civil war vete-
rams on the Exchange street side of
the building, and the Spanish-Ameri
can and Philippine war veterans on
Cedar street. The color-bearers of the
eleven regiments which were to escort
their flags to the new capitol gathered
in the rotunda of the old capitol, when
Colonel c. T. Trowbridge, on benalr
of Governor Johnson, delivered the
flags to the bearers. The bearers then
joined their regiments on the lawn.
After the regiments had been
brought to attention, General J. w.
Bishop delivered brief address, com.
uniting the flags once more to the men
who followed them in battle.
The Second Minnesota, commanded
by Thomas Downs, carried six flags
and drum that had seen four years.
service. The Second had $50 men in
line.
The Third Minnesota, commanded
by ]. M. Bowler, had 70 in line and es-
corted two flags.
The Fourth Minnesota, commanded
by Thomas H. Reeves, had IS men in
line and two flags.
The Fifth Minnesota, commanded
by w. A. Van Slyke, escorted six flags
and had 76 men in line.
The Sixth Minnesota, commanded
by A, P, Connolly. was 100 strong and