The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-06-14

MIR. Peterson Says He Did Not In
tend to Wonud or lrritatc-Oniy
Wanted Flags and Facts.

To the Editor Of The Herald and
Nsws: I have read the statement OF
Mrs. J. A. Burton. The spirit of COM
radeship is strong, but the colors OF
tie old company are very dear to
tlose who saw service. Only those
our comrades can appreciate our
feelings. Those colors do not belong
; to the family Of any individual mem
her of the company, living or dead;
and the plan was to let them be
handed down to the keeping in trust
to the survivors of our company &C
cording to rank. We had afterwards
decided, however, to place them in the
relic rooms in Columbia. 1t was with
that in view when the survivors un-
dertok to get possession Of them and
we thought the successful plan, after
T had failed to secure them, would
be through the Daughters, but in my
letter requesting the Daughters to Sc
cure them I stated that 1--WE will form
ally turn them over to the U. D. Z.
Memorial day." And we did not in
tend they should be turned over in
behalf Of the family Of any member
of the company. I saw the program
published and read where it said
presentation of flags" but none OF
the survivors of Company B thought
for a moment it referred to our old
flags because we had not been mott
fed that they had been received by
hthe Daughters, If We had konwn 1t
be would have been present. I'm
Eunately we are not mind readers
we did not think the Daughters
request their presentation
tut some notice to some survivor
ie company.
he survivors want the flags plac-
n the relic rooms, but want the
aet and true history to accom-
them. That is all.
to DR.. Cromer's statement I am
gitive that my memory is not at
gult. ''This matter has not been dis
hissed from my mind as it has from
mind of DR.. Cromer, and I know
&hat the statement I made of the con-
%versation with Dr. Cromer to secure
#the flags is absolutely correct in ev-
cry particular, his statement to tn
B-contraFy Notwithstanding.
Mrs Connor turned the flags over
! TO Mr.; Speers the day Captain Con-
hor " as buried. It was two or three
keekss after the burial Of Mr.. Speers
hen I. mentioned to a mutual friend
ask him to get the flags that they
Rght be placed in trust in keeping o.
%ehe next ranking survivor, Mr.. E. P.
Bradley, as had been agreed upon by
the survivors, Mr.. Speers himself be-
ing one. There was nothing in that
to annoy or irritate.
I have no desire to wound the feel
ings of anyone and would not have
gone in the newspaper at all but for
the publication of an Incorrect state
ment which wounded the feelings of
all the survivors of +"at old company.
I did not take the initiative in rush
ing into print. T only did so to keep
the record straight. That is all.
AS to the venom and poison and
slur at me personally in the doctors
closing pa~aeTar', I will let that pass,
for like navy others who were not
old enough to hear arms and to fol-
low the flags, 10 can not appreciate
how dear and near to the veterans
this old company's banners are, and
can not, therefore, appreciate our
feelings.
I regret this newspaper contro-
versy as much as anyone. My main
purpose was to place these flags in
the custody Of their rightful owners.
That has been accomplished. Cur
purpose now is to have them placed
along with other relics of that great
struggle in the capitol building at Co.
1umbia and to have placed along with
them their true history. Not to wound
or irritate. No, no, not that. This
ends the newspaper controversy so
far as I am concerned.
w G. Peterson.