Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-11-06
Civil War Stories
The old Flag.

attempting to force the Confederate
cavalry into a fight near Lexington,
Henderson county, Tennessee, our com
mand under Gen. Sullivan encamped
for the night at a place called Spring
Grove. Before we left camp on the
morning of Dec. 30, 1862. l noticed
quite a stir at headquarters, and
knowing that something unusual was
transpiring | FASTENED TO the place to
ascertain the cause. The officer Of the
day, Col. Cyrus l.. Durham, was much
excited An orderly came UP from the
guard line on the road leading TO the
town with the statement that a little
girl wanted to see the commander of
the Union soldiers.
II shall not be betrayed by a little
girl who wants TO get into the lines to
carry some information to the enemy"
said the officer.
she has something she wants to give
you,'' said the orderly
Perhaps an Internal machine of
some kind to hinder our march TO err
kins' cross roads" said the officer. but
make everything ready to move, J viii
ride out and inspect the vis'tOr
think can tell by brief interview
what her character is" So saying he
mounted his horse and rode to the
point where the little girl was in wait
ing for permission to speak.
Well, my child" said the big OFF,
Ger, what do you want 30 see the
commander of the Union soldiers
.about?"
Please" said she, in trembling
voice, "are you the general of the
Union army? My grandfather lives
over the Hill ON the other road; his
name is John Lucas and he is as years
old"
Interrupting her the colonel asked
what she wanted to give him? She
pulled out an old much worn American
flag and from 1t dropped letter writ
ten on large foolscap paper, which she
quickly picked up and handed to the
officer. The trembling hand Of old
aOlAh ASGNfS ltt1NA W kAbANh H. AAS NNANhASA
was so much affected 10y reading it that
he read it over again. 1t was plain
that his feelings were in some way
touched by the letter which was as fol-
lows
II address you as an officer who is
fighting for the dear old flag. | send
to you by my little granddaughter. |
could not think that anyone would dis
turb one so beautiful and innocent as
she is or that you would refuse to ac-
eept her Offering or question her mo
tives. She has helped me to preserve
the flag from the enemies of our coun-
try For two years 1t has been my Gus
tom to hoist the flag ON tall liberty
pole that stands before my door on
every Fourth of July, ON the 22nd of
February and on the Sth, the day on
which the battle of New Orleans was
fought. / participated in that battle
under Gen. Jackson, of my own state,
who said the Union shall be preserved.
/ have lived a miserable life since the
rebellion commenced. The rebels have
twice attempted to cut down my liberty
pole. They declare that the old flag
shall never be hoisted on 1t again. IL
will soon be the Sth of January, and
unless the rebels are conquered before
that time | cannot fulfil my promise
without shooting some OF my neigh
hors. / am too old and feeble to fight
for the flag alone. | send II to you,
the only evidence | can send you Of
my affection to the Union and the love
of the old flag. Keep it to remember
a true hearted. loyal Tennessee, Jack
son Democrat. If / live to see the old
flag floating over an undivided country
| will purchase q new flag and hoist 1t
on my liberty pole-never TO be tnken
down until the winds scatter its
threads to the four wings Of the earth.
If you can do so, please call on me; If
not, farewell.
"Signed, JOHN LUCAS"
The colonel was so delighted with
the old mans patriotic letter that he
wrote to him ON paper torn from his
diary the following:
'NGod bless you, John Lucas, for your
sentiment l cannot see you now, but
| will bring thousand men, If there
are that many In my command, and /
viii see that the old flag floats on your
flagstaff. Goodbye, G. l.. d."
He then kissed the little girl and
gave her the only silver dollar he had.
Many Of the soldiers made presents to
her. and if the men could have reach
ed her she would have had something
from everyone. She was most beauti-
full child and every one who saw her
longed to do her some kindness
American Tribune.
One for Himself.
The beautiful old wartime song, "Let
Mo Kfaa Him for HIs Mother wac