Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1909-07-16
The Flag Of The Tensas Rifles.

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December 81, 1881, from the pen
Iof Hon. H. B. Richardson, the dis.
tlnguished engineer and former res
ldent of st. Joseph, in which a
complete history is given of the flas
of the celebrated command known
as the "Tensas Rifles, +" as well as
a tribute to the .valor and devotion
of that famous company, so few Of
whom survived that terrible conflict
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 81, 1884.
Editor North Louisiana Journal:
From an article in the Journal of tic
18th inst, it appears that the flag pre-
scented 10y the ladies of Tensas to Capt.
Tenncy's Company, on the eve of its
departure in May, 1861, has been, or is
about to be restored to the parish.
1t may interest some of your readers
to be told the recollections of one of the
few surviving members of the "Tensas
Rifles" as to the history of the flag
while it remained with them, and the
circumstances of its loss.
The ceremonies connected with the
presentation will probably be recalled by
many of our older citizens. The Tensas
Cavalry were in attendance, mounted in
line, in rear and on the TANKS, while the
Rifles We're drawn up in front of the
Court House steps, from which Mr.. ].
W. Collier made an appropriate speech
for Miss Stacey, who in the name of the
ladies of Tensas, presented the banner
Capt. Tenney responded, and the writer,
Who had received the compliment of an
election by the Company as its Color
Sergeant, carried il with much pomp and
circumstance, as the Company moved
thence to the steamboat awaiting our
embarkation at the landing, nearly OPP
posite the plank road
Ii the flag is with you to show for it.
self, it need not be said that it was OF
the richest silk, fringed with gold, fash
Toned after the correct pattern of the
Confederate 'stars and bars" ''not a
battle hag'D and had upon it, beautiful
ly embroidered, cotton bale bearing the
inscription 'Tensas Rifles"
1t was duly displayed and admired on
the steamer and in New Orleans. When
the Company arrived at Camp Moore
and became Company d of the Sixth
louisiana, it was still fondly sought to
unfurl it on parade and elsewhere; but
we learned, perhaps somewhat to the dis
gust OF some of us, that it was not Gus
tomary, nor in accordance with the grim
regulations of the War Department, for
regiments to carry ten flags at one time;
IN fact, that one was sufficient. So the
flags of the ten companies comprising
the regiment werenot permitted to wave
over Us while in regimental ranks, but
were sternly relegated to Company quar-
tiers. Indeed the Color Sergeant himself
felt in duty bound TO divest his sleeves
of their gorgeous cheyrous, and coniine
himself to simple exercises with the
musket and blyonet.
1t was debated among our officers
whether it were not better to send the
flag to some place of safe deposit until
our triumphant return; but it was never
done, and when we went to Virginia a
few weeks-later, the flag went with us,
and evoked much applause whenever
spread to the breeze from the tops OF,
platforms of the cars as we passed on to
the front.
In the middle of July we had been for
some time in camp at Fairfax Station in
front of the army about Manassas June
ton, and the flag was folded in its case
in the Captains tent. On the morning
OF the 10th or 18th, perhaps, we were
called to fall in for the first time with
the expectation Of meeting the enemy;
and at the same time came orders 10 |
strike tents and move all baggage to the |
rear. ! would not dare to say how many |
wagon loads OF necessary baggage the |
Rifles then possessed, but am sure it was
more than many regiments, or even brig
AIDES, could have proved property to at
later date. As a consequence there were
many cherished conveniences in the way
If mess chests, dressing cases, citizens
suits, yalises, etc, upon which their
'wners that morning looked their last
The flag, however, was supposed to have
'een specially provided for, and a num-
Der OF the Company, myself among
hem, saw it go into a wagon, and heard /
he teamster charged to handle it with
care.
Then came march to Bull Run. 10
jnion Mills; with the battles of the 18th
II Blackburn's Ford, and of the-elst at
Manassas, so-called.
The marching was probably the hard
st we ever did, as it was the first; and |
We tried very hard after it was over
md for anything we knew, the war over
lso-to make ourselves believe we had
'een engaged, or at least were under fire.
n the battles that had been fought and
ION.
When we came, some days later, to
II If