The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-22
;Qv. LETCHER
AND THE FLAG
Incident Related by Hon. John
Goode Recalled by
Mr.. Stebbins.
Iltor Of rhe Tlmes pisnateh

ditor Of The Times Dispatch
sir-The Hon. John Goode in Els
frticle In the last Sundays issue Of
ne Times Dispatch on Governor John
etcher alluded TO an incident H.hich
-curred while he was Governor and
avs Before the final action of the
invention was taken adopting the or
nance OF secession. an incident oc-
nrred which illustrated fully what
lanner of man he was. when some of
ne more hot headed citizens threat.
ned TO haul down the American flag
fhich floated over the state Capitol,
ide b. side with that OF Virginia,
GOVERNOR Letcher sternly interposed
D prevent the flag from being
disturbed until the State had dis
olved the bonds that bound her to
be Union 7 was present when the
hcident alluded To occurred and its
renes arc az wildly before my mind
ow. after the lapse of forty seven
ears as n it were only yesterda y.
I was Saturday. April 10. 1861. the dag
'ort Sumter fell. From the time the
rst shot had been fred Al Fort SUM
er the morning Of april 18th. the most
htense excitement had prevailed. The
ulletn boards OF the various news
aper5 were thronged with crowds
aeer 10 hear the latest news from
he scene OF conflict At last when
he telegraph announced that Fort
umter had surrendered the long pent
70 feelings of the secessionists burst
prth in Wild and tumultuous cheers.
rh,le gloom and depression settled
own on those who had fondly hoped
bat some plan might be devised BY
Al =,
Ind civil war averted
Late in the afternoon the guns of
be Richmond Fayette ARTILLERY were
brought TO the Capitol Square. and from
he slope south of the Capitol was fired
salute Of orc hundred guns.tn honor
Y the first victory of the Confederate
'tates, and All during the night bor.
Tres burned brightly At the principa
treet corners
During the firing Of the cannon an
nlmenEe eoncourse OF people gathered
IN the Capitol Square and surged back
md forth amid the widest excitement
many OF these fayoring secession
wearing blue cockade or rosettes ON
their hats or the apels of their coats.
As has always been the custom when
ever legislative Assembly is in ses-
sion at the Capitol, the United States
and Virginia state flags floated from
the Capitol.
suddenly man appeared on the
roof OF the Capitol and began to climb
tha flagstaff TO which the Union flag
was attached All eyes were at once
centred upon him, AS he climbed
the staff bent beneath his weight and
1T seemed as ii II would break and
preclpitate him 10 death. At las, he
succeeded in hauling down the Union
rag and ran up the Secession flag
me excitement was now at fever heat,
w men governor Letcher was informed
OF what had been done he Immediate
TO take down the Secession flag and
MOIST the Union flag again. This be-
Ing ACCOMPLISHED the crowd surged
around TO the Governors mansion ana
cdiled Tor the Governor, and as he
appeared 70 the front porch the cry
arose, Speech Speechl." / do NO,
myself remember what the Cioverno,
said. but in talking about the jnci-
cent to gentleman many years ar
forwards he said that he was there and
remembered distinctly what he said
nat When the cry of Speech" was
made the Governor said My Fellow.
,ilizehs-lt Is time for weeping
rather than speaking, There is n con
Virginia in Session in this city, and
untii they decide that she has with
drawn from the Union, the Stars and
Strlpes shall float from that Capitol.
Nor shall / ever forget the prophetic
words my mother spoke to me that
night When reached home | found
jler alone IN the dining room arrans-
ing the tea table. She was a woman OF
unusual intelligence and thoroughly
iainlilar with the history of our coun-
uS, and seemed to be absorbed In
meditation, as she busted herself
around the table. The firing of the
cannon continued into the night. and
with each report the window sash
would rattle, for we lived near the
.dpltol square. At last she broke the
silence by saying; ''NIy son. we are
going to have war 1T will be a lone
ana bloody one, and the issue ia very
doubtful Dear mother, she epdeared
all the sufferings, hardships. heart
aches and privations of that fierce
struggle. but did not live to see til;
end, for about six weeks before the
evacuation of Richmond. God took her
JOSEPH STEBBINS.
South Boston, Va.