The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-11-12
Civil War Stories


Tho Old Flag.
The time when the union troops were
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. %, 1862, | noticed
quite stir at headquarters, and
knowing that something unusual was
TRANSPORTING | 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 or
he Union soldiers.
Il shall not be betrayed by 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 Per
kins' cross roads," said the officer, but
make everything ready to move. | will
ride out and inspect the visitor.
think | can tell by a 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 to 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 IS years
old"
Interrupting her the colonel asked
what she waited to give himf Sh'
pulled out an old much worn American
flag and from 1t dropped letter writ
ten on large foolscap paper, which sh'
quickly picked up and handed to thu
officer. The trembling hand of olt
John Lucas had written it. The colone
was SO much affected by reading 1t tina
he read 1t over again. 1t was plau
that his feelings were In some wa.
touched by the letter which was as tol
lows:
81 address YOU as an officer who Il
fighting for the dear old flag. l sen'
to you by my little granddaughter.
could not think that anyone would dis
turb one so beautiful and innocent a
she Is or that you would refuse to &C
cept her Offering or question her mo
tives. She has helped me to preserv
the flag from the enemies OF our coun
try or two years it has been my Gus
tom to hoist the flag on tail libert.
pole that stands before my door Oh
every Fourth of July, on the Ind o
February and on the Sth, the day oil
which the battle of New Orleans wa
fought. 1 participated in that BATH
under Gen. Jackson, of my own state
who said the Union shall be preserved
I have lived miserable life since tn
rebellion commenced. The reoels hay
twice attempted to cut down my llbert
pole. They declare that the old fla
shall never be hoisted on II again.
will soon be the Sth of January, an
unless the rebels are conquered befor
that time | cannot fulfill my promis
| without shooting some OF my neigh
b0rs. am too old and feeble to figh
| for the flag alone. l send 1t to yot
| the only evidence / can send you q
my affection to the Union and the lov
| of the old flag. Keep it to remembe
a true hearted, loyal Tennessee, Jack
| son Democrat. If l live TO see the oil
| dag floating over an undivided countr
| will purchase new flag and hoist
on my liberty pole-never to be take
down until the winds scatter II
| threads to the four wings of the eartl
| II YOU can do so, please call on me;
not, farewell.
| signed, JOHN LUCAS
The colone was so delighted wit
the old man. patriotic letter that h
wrote to him on paper torn from hi
diary the following:
| God bless you, John Lucas, for you
sentiment. cannot see you now, bu
will bring thousand men, if ther
are that many I'm my command, and
will see that the old flag floats on you
Flagstaff. Goodbye, c. l.. d."
He then kissed the little girl an
gave her the only silver dollar he ha,
Many of the soldiers made presents
her. and If the men could have reacl
ed her she would have had somethin
from everyone. She was most beaut
full child and every one who saw he
longed to do her some kindness
American Tribune.