Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

Two flags of especial interest have
recently been added to the col
lection of historic banners owned,
q and placed on view by the Ma
tionaI Museum. The latest ensigns to
tell Of a nations victories are the boat
flag of the Varuna. which did its valiant
part in the Mississippi river conflict OF
1852. but gave its life for the cause, and
the flag of the sth United States Army
Corps which accompanied Cen Lawton
through his various campaigns IN the
Philippines, was with him when he died
and covered his casket when he was borne
to the grave.
The nag Of the gig Of the Varuna is
the first boat flag to come into the pos
session Of the National Museum and this
particular ensign has vital story OF its
own which makes II of uncommon inter-
est to the visitors who see it day by day.
This regulation boat flag. with its thir-
teen stars and thirteen stripes. occupies
A case by itself in the northwest section
of the old National Museum building. 1t
As in an admirable state of preservation,
and card tells the observer that 1t was
the Boat flag flown on the gig in which
Commander Charles S. Boggs. U. s.
Navy. left the gunboat Varuna. com
manded by him, when that vessel was
sunk below New Orleans. April "a, 1852.
during an engagement between Con-
federate fotilla and the United States
feet commanded by Admiral David G.
Farragut" The card also tells that the
nag is the gift Of Rear Admiral John c.
Watson United States Navy.
As Admiral Watson resides in Wash
ington it was a matter Of interest TO
learn from him the real story Of the boat
nag Of the Varuna. The admiral. grad
uate OF the Naval Academy. was. in his
twentieth year the flag lieutenant Of
Admiral Farragut. who commanded the
west gulf blockading squadron in the CIVIL
war. Al the time OF the successful en-
gagement of Forts Jackson and ST
Philip, near the mouth of the Mississippi
river. he followed the occurrence from
the deck OF the flagship Hartford.
That the naval battle which
crippled the Confederacy," said Admiral
Watson. few days ago. Not so pic
turesque an episode as that of Mobile
bay two years later. but more decisive
for IL cut the Confederacy in half, and
the subsequent capture Of New Orleans
went very far toward settling the re-
suits of the war. whereas the affair
of Mobile bay had no such value.
Commander Boggs of the Varuna
was very brave officer and his fight
was a splendid one. He was for a long
time a friend Of mine, and after his
death I was proud to receive from his
daughter the flag of the boat in whic
he left the Varuna- the last to leave
her sinking side. II was with pleasure
that I lately presented il to the Ma
tionaNMuseum.
Commander Boggs' own report gives
an account OF the occurrence as 1t
actually happened" and Admiral Wat
son quoted the following from the re-
port which that ofiicer sent to Admiral
Farragut hve days after the occurrence:
After passing the batteries with the steamer
varuns under my command the morning Of the
24th. finding my vessel amid q Of rebel
steamers. ! started ahead. delivering her fire
both starhoafd and port At every that she
passed. The first her starboard beam that
received her hrs appeared to be crowded with
troops Her boiler was exploded and she drifted
10 the shore. In like manner three other ves-
sells. one Of them runboat. were driven on
shore In flames. and afterward blew up.
A. I'm. the varuna attacked BY the
Morgan ironeiad about the bow, commanded By