The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-21
Lieutenant Governor J. Tay-
lor Ellyson Receives Letter
From Son of Man Who
Painted Bedford Dragon
Banner-Wants Relic Him.
self

The first clue TO the identity of one
of the three captured battletiags now
In possession of the State of New Jer-
sey has been received by LiutenaEt-
Governor J. Taylor Eliysun in the shape
of a letter from Edwin Hoffman, Ut
Bedford City. Va.
1t will be recalled that one Of the
flags bore the legend Bedford ORA
goons,' and on the reverse side the
great seal of Virginia and the GUST of
George Washington. The painters
uame-the work was lone In oil coiors
was on the flags. Hoffman. Mr.
Hoffman writes MIR. Ellyson that the
painting on the flag was undoubtedly
done by his father. stephen Hoffman,
as he was probably the only man in
that section al the time capable m
such work. Mr.. Hoffman would like
very much TO gain possession OF the
flag for this reason. and wants 10 Know
IL h Is entitled TO 1t.
The article in a recent issue Of lie
Nirginian. which told of the effort to
establish the identity OF the Trio or
flags led Mr.. Hoffman 10 write.
Governor EiIyson Zoe not think Mr.
HOFFMAN Is entitled TO the flag under
the circumstances, his idea being 10
ascertain the survivors Of the Bedford
Dragons and return the flag to
them. II no survivors exist, MIR. Ell
Tyson thinks possibly the State OF New
Jersey might be willing to restore 1t
10 the keeping Of the son OF the man
who made the banner. He will get In
communication with Mr.. HOFFMAN AT
once and endeavor to find out from
him II there are any survivors of the
company which bore the flag IN the
War Between the States.
Seeks to Restore Flags.
II will be remembered that on ms
recent visit To Trenton, n. j, Lieuten-
ant-Governor Ellyson was shown three
battle flags in possession or the State
Of New Jersey by his friend, Lleuten-
an Acknowledgement Sadler. OF that
State. which are believed TO have been
carried in the war by Virginia troops.
and requested the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
10 interest himself In the labor " love
of returning them to the survivors IT
they can be located. The most i'm
portant Of the trio Of flags was a big
sllken banner which there IL reason
10 believe was the headquarters flag
of General S~tonewail Jackson. Mon
siay the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES received
n letter from Colonel Fred. A. dds, Gf
Raleigh. n. e. director of the North
Carolina Hall of History. n one OF
the best Informed men in the south
on Confederate history, which throws
some light on the matter and lends
color to the belief that the banner IS
The priceless relic OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
E1iyson hopes 1t Is.
in his letter Colonel Odds ~recites the
fact that 1862 about a ndre or
these large. fine silken Confederate
flags were made in England BY Con-
federate symeathizers and brought 10
the South by q blockade runner
through the port OF wilmington One
Of these handsome flags. Colonel ODDS
saws, was used as n headquarters nag
by General Bryan Grimes Of North
Carolina AT Appomattox and Is now
In the Hail of History at Raleigh
Colonel Odds advances the opinion
that all OF these flags went TO hlgh
officers in the Confederate service, ana
very likely the one held by New Jer-
sev was given To General Jackson, anu
was one OF the lot that came from the
English svmpathizers, He thinks the
Tags were OF too excellent q manu-
facture 10 have made by the Confed-
eracv under the handicaps Of those
days.
Throws New light,
MIR. Fftyson was inclined TO the opiu-
ion that the flag had been made by
The women Of virginia. and at rrst
blush hardly tlought tnat toionei ot"S
conjecture was correct. for one rea-
son hecause Jackson was killed in
May. 1868. and Colonel Oids states That
the English lot OF flags was imported
fl that wear. However. on SECOND
thought. IN view of the fact that Gen
eral Jackson lived In North Carolina
and the further possibility that the
flags might have been brought to the
South early in tss3-Colonel Odds does
not give the date-Mr. EHyson THINKS
row that this Is probably the history or
the origin OF the banner in posses
sion of New Jersey.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Eilyson Is now
bending his efforts 10 identity TIE nag.
n possible. az the one which hoated
over General Jaeksor's headquarters,
ara expects to be able to accomplish
this through two or three OF General
.Iackson's personal STAFF who are yet
living.
When the Identification OF the ban
ne~ Is complete, II wGf he restored 10
pichr1ond Confederate historical at-
.horities .hy New Jersey. and elaborate
ceremonies will be arranged to marx
shz 1neaci1u