The National tribune., 1907-02-07
ALL ABOUT A FLAG.
Boston Politics Badly Torn Up
Over a Proposition to Return
a Confederate Flag to New
Orleans.

For months Boston politics has beer
madly- perturbed over a proposition to
return 10 the city of New Orleans flag
which has been hangin i'll the CITY
Hall as a trophy of the war. When
Gen. Butler returned to Massachusetts
after his vigorous administration of the
city of New Orleans, he received tri-
umphal reception as the second nero
of New Orleans. A reception was given
to him and his staff in Boston. Jan. 13,
1863. and al the conclusion of his speech
in response Gen. Butler said:
Mr. Mayor-In behalf of the Army
of the Gulf, allow me to present to you,
sir. as the representative of the city of
Boston this Confederate flag, taken
from the City Hall of New Orleans. j
have not brought il here as 4 trophy
far from it / have brought it here
that it may be in one of your halls as a
memento against the evils of Secession
forever. and that we and our children
may see to what extremity Secession
would reduce any portion of our coun-
try. when they see the flag under whose
folds the fair ladies of New Orleans,
having embroidered it with their own
hands, sent forth their brothers and
lovers to fight. Keep il, sir, that it may
be q warning forever against any at
tempt upon the integrity of the Union
not for a new incentive to patriotism
TO the citizens of Boston, but as a warn
ing to those who shall come here. OF
the fate that such banner ought TO
meet-to be raised not over brave men.
but to be given as a warning TO the
traitors to the country forever.
tt will be perceived that Gen. Butler
did not present the flag as a trophy,
nor did he refer to it as the flag which
had been floating over the City Hall
and hauled down by our troops when
he took possession of the city. The flag
was. however, hung upon the walls OF
the City Hall, and has since been looked
upon by visitors as the emblem of the
Confederate authority in New Orleans
which was lowered when the city passed
into our possession.
Everyone familiar with the history
of the capture of New Orleans knows
that this could not have been true
since the flag that had the significance
of the capture was the one hauled down
from the Custom House and Post
Office by the men whom Farragut sent
ashore for that purpose. Commodore
Farragut at first sent Capt. Theodorus
Bailey ashore to demand the uncondi-
tional surrender of New Orleans and
the hoisting of the United States flag.
Mayor Monroe replied with a great deal
of rodomontade and decided refusal
TO maui down tne IidSS any " ileIt-
Mayor Monroe wrote number of fierce
letters to Commodore Farragut, and the
latter at last sent Commodore H. II.
Bell ashore with force of marines and
two pieces of artillery to perform the
duty. With Capt. Bell were Lieutenant,
after Admiral, KautZ and George Rus
sell. Boatswains Mate. Capt. Bell
gave Mayor Monroe the privilege of
hauling down the flag. which was in
dignantly declined, and then he or
dered Kautz and Russell to do it. They
had much trouble in getting to the roof
of the building and Mayor Monroe as
sured them that any man who laid
hands on the halliards would be shot
by the Indignant people in the mob
gathered around the building This did
not stop KautZ and Russell an instant,
however, and after gaining the roof
they found the halliards so knotted as
to be unavoidable, when Kautz cut
them with his sword. Lieut., Kautz
wanted the honor of hauling down the
flag, but Capt Bell replied that he had
already promised that to Russell, but
If Kautz insisted upon his rights as an
officer they would have to be conceded
to him. KautZ generously waived his
privilege in favor of Russell, who hauled
the flag down and hoisted the United
States flag in its place. The flag hauled
down, which was the Pelican banner
adopted by the sovereign and indepen-
dent State Of Louisiana, was taken