The National tribune., 1907-07-04
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line,
Two Flags Of Truce.

Isaiah Phipps. Co. A, oath Ind,
Mitchell, Ind, speaking of the disputes
among the comrades with regard to the
flag of truce at Vicksburg, says there
general officers on Gen. PembertOn's
staff The first one was on July 3. at
8 o'clock. and was received by Maj.
David Kelly. of the 9th Ind, who was
officer of the Day at that time. He
was Informed that a flag of truce was
approaching the line. and he hastened
out to meet it and found two men on
horses who wished to confer with the
general officers of our army. Maj.
Kelly then called Capt. Columbus
Moore, of Co. ID, 10Th Ind. to his as
sstance. The Confederate officers
were Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgom
cry, of Pembertons staff. They We're
dismounted, biinGfoided. and taken to
Gen. A.. ]. Smiths headquarters where
they were turned over to another de-
tail of officers who. in turn, took them
to Gen. Grants headquarters. A long
conference was held and a place ap-
pointed where Grant and Pemberton
should meet the next day, July 4, to
agree to terms of surrender, which they
did Comrade Phipps does not know
who met the second flag of truce when
Gen. Pemberton came out on July to
keep his engagement with Grant. Maj.
Kelly is recorded on the Park Commits
sion at Vicksburg. Miss, as the man
who received the first flag Of truce.
The Private Soldier.
Daniel Cunningham, Co. G. 9TH Pa.
Cav, Monument. Pa, thinks there is a
great deal of talk about monuments
being raised to Generals while no one
SAYS anything about the private soldier
or his rights. The boys who enlisted as
privates, leaving home and school to
help their country, and who after three
or four years of hard fighting returned
to their homes and took any kind of
work they could get to do are those
who should be considered by the coun-
try. and instead of spending so much
money raising monuments to Generals
some should be expended in giving these
soldiers n larger pension, so that their
last days may be spent in comfort. Near
Comrade Cunningham lives a man who
went to the war in "a, served SO days,
and got s1.50O for substituting, and
who now receives a pension of S12 per
month. He came home after the war,
took his $500 and studied medicine.
and now gets IS or S6 a visit. which
Comrade Cunningham has to pay when
ne calls him professionally. He thinks
Congress ought to do better for the
three and four-years soldiers.
The Confederate Seal.
The Confederate veterans are consid-
erably wrought up over the whereabouts
of the great seal of the Southern Con-
federacy. There were several seals used
by the Confedelates, but this particular
one was specially engraved by one of
the best artists in London on a silver
block which was inclosed in a fine case.
At the time of the evacuation of Rich
mond Mrs. Jefferson Davis gave it to
her husbands bodyguard and valet, Jas.
H. Jones, colored, with instructions
where to conceal it. Jones, who has
been for years employed in the Senate
Chamber at Washington, went to Rich
mond at the recent meeting of the Con-
federate veterans. and was received
with much honor by delegation Of Con-
federates, and given a prominent place
in the parade. He says that he has been
offered $1,000 to produce the great seal,
but that he would never betray the trust
imposed upon him by Jefferson Davis,
and that the secret would be buried
with him.
Rich Mountain.
Martin Foyer, Co. l, 18th Ind, Hew-
ins, Kan. takes exception TO several
things in the account of the battle of
Rich Mountain. In the first place there
was too much prominence given to the
18th Ohio, but the Ohio boys always
were successful in claiming honors.
Then, the rain did not begin till after
10 o'clock, when the troops were on the
mountain preparing to attack. Rose
Grams did not start for Beverly the next
morning, but remained on the battle
field, and sent a detail of Is, oS which
Comrade Boyer was one, into Pegram's s
camp, and they held it until the brigade
came up in the afternoon. They cap
tured 6S men, who We're neither sick
nor wounded, but bright, intelligent
young men belonging to the Military
Academy of Charlotte, Va, called the