Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-06-28

W"
first American flag that came TITO existence after
the enactment of congress. As Evidence of the
theory they point to the Il stars instead Of ID.
Had this flag had an official predecessor the mis-
take in the number of stars would hardly have
occurred.
This historic standard. kept intact by long and
loving care, shows its age In muct-frayed edges
and worn patches. The T. stars, arranged in
three parallel perpendicular rows, still stand out
stanchly on their unstable foundation. fer the
blue field and the Is red and white stripes have
grown pathetically threadhnre,
The National museum contains q collection Of
remnants Of flags that participated In navel en-
eagelncuts from the time OF the Revolutionary war
to the war with Mexico: also those Of foreign YES
sells If war captured by the navy during those
periods. This display of fragments is quite inter-
esting. II was collected hy Peter Force If Wash
ington. and presented by him TO the library Of
congress, which transferred it 30 the National
museum.
Among these remnants is a piece Of The Brit.
ish flag Of La GG1erriere, used during her encolin-
ter with the Constitution, an1 Of the Java. worsted
hy the same i~naomitah'e American, as we'll ms II
fragment of the flag Of the Alrerjne brig Zoura,
captured under Decatur.
A division Of the museums tng collection re-
lates to the Civil war, and the most Interesting
Of these is the garrison i'ae Of Fort MouItrIc, In
Charleston harhnr, South Carolina. This flag was
lowered December &c. 1850, when Mai. Robert
Anderson. First United STATES artillery. moved
his forces to Fort Sumter. The ila- was secured
by his second In comnnnl. Capt, AhNpr lolA''c-
day, and remained In his possession until present
Cd to the Smithsonian institution at Washington.
In the National museum also Is the United
States flag raised in New Orleans by the volunteer
Ill.,. - "a. a., nA,,,.n tt.r -, 1SNn SThir
was the first Federal flag raised by citizens Of any
of the Confederate states after the commence.
ment of hostIlities. Here, too, is the FLAG OF the
United States ship Kearsarge, In use at the time
Of the surrender Of the Confederate cruiser Ala
bama. also the first United States flag raised IN
Richmond after the surrender. This was used as
headquarters flag hy Gen. f.. q, G. Ord, q. S. A..
when he took possession of the city. .
The history of our var with Spain is Illus
trated ut the National museum by Il series of flags
Of picturesque interest. Theirs is here the Spanish
garrison flag used at Fort San Crfstohai, San
Juan. Porto Rico. during the entire war, and
foated over fhe fort during the botnhart!nent by
the American fleet. May u, 1895. There IS. too,
the flag lowered from the ~cnstomhonse at the
plaza, Ponce. Porto Rico. when 1t surrendered 10
the United States. The yellow stripe in this flag
was painted red to give 1t a chance 10 escape
Identification. Another flag here was taken from
the trenches before Santiago. and still another IL
a cuidon used by Spanish infantry at Port" Rico.
The museum IL also custodian OF the pennnnt
flown by Admiral Schley on the Brooklyn during
the battle Of Santiago.
The United States Marine corps has a number
of flags Of vita, import. 1t is proud of It's tro-
plies. and well 1t may be. for II was the foremost
In winning them. The Marine corps possesses the
first American flag under fire In Cuba. This flag
was raised by the Marine battalion Mt Guanfa.
nnmo, the tenth Of June, 1898, and few during
the hundred hours of continuous lighting by the
marines ut that point. After Its use In this en-
gagement It was hauled down and sent TO head
quarters ut Washington.
Another noteworthy flag belonging to the corps
Is the signal flag used by Sergeant Quick NJ me
battle Of Cnzco. During the engagement the fleet
stationed In the bay. while firing on the enemy.
was seriously endangering the unseen marines on
land, who already had the Spanlards surrounded.
A volunteer was requested to 60 out and slgnal
\ to the fleet to stop firing. Sergeant Quick In
mediately responded, md In full view OF the
enemy stood md wlg-wagged the Dolphin TO stop
firing. The signal flag was rent In several Places
but the sergeant escaped injury. For this act ne
received a medal and honorable mention.
Among some later fiags to come into possession
Of the Marine corps Is the large United STATES
flag used by the marines during the siege OF the
legntlOn III F'eking NJ the Time OF thc DvAct VS.
II may be recalled TINT the guard OF the oregon
served In Picking. This was their post nag ana
was planted on the Tartar city will. where " was
jealousy guarded. Later 1t was holsted on tne
ruins of the Imperial Chen Men as a signal 70
the allied forces, md II has the honor OF being
the first signal the latter had that their fr1enaS
were still living. The flag shows Its hard usage
MT the hands Of lts enemies, being torn IN sew
erai places by vollcys Of shot and shell assai''
Ing II.
Another Chinese n,cmento possessed BY the Nm.
r1ne corps Is a large imperial dag captured on me
walls Of Ticntsin by the marines when they AZ.
tucked the city. This is a large pen'iant.sharrd
affair Of turkey red, with enlgmaticnl Chinese
characters In it, center.