The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-10-04
CIVIL WAR FLAG !.
FINDS WAY HOME
RESTORED TO CO X ssRo IOWA
AFTER MANY YEARS.
FADED AND TORN BUT VALUED
Held For Years at Knoxville by
Captain Wells, Who Had Pre-
served It For Years.-A Price.
less Relic.


Members of Company X of the 33d
Iowa Regiment have recently had re-
stored to them a priceless relic of civ
il war days, flag presented to COM
pany X So years ago while the regi-
ment was in mobilization camp in this
city.
Survivors of this old Company are
elated at the recovery OF the old col
ors. Mr.. Cowan has consented that it
be on public exhibition for few days
in the Herald window
The colors are faded and the flag
is worn and tattered, in places but no
one may look upon it, thinking of
what it signifies and represents and
knowing what it means to the old sol.
Tiers who saw it in the days of long
ago, without a sense OF quickening
blood and new thrill of patriotism.
In the summer and fall of 1862, at
the call of President Abraham Lincoln
for volunteers to put down the rebel
| lion, the 33rd Iowa Infantry was raised
by volunteers from Marion, Keokuk
and Mahaska counties, four companies
| from Mahaska, and three companies
from Marion and Keokuk each. Com
pany X was one of the four companies
from Mahaska county. The companies
were all complete in August, 1862, and
went into camp, known as Camp Tut.
| tie, now the Fair Grounds Of Oska-
loosa. Shortly after Company K was
organized, some young ladies, friends
of the members of Company X, made
flag and presented it to said COM
pany, Miss Victoria Dunbar made the
presentation, and the flag was accept
ed on behalf of the Company by Lieu.
tenant John M. Baugh, who afterwards
married Miss Dunbar. The Regiment
was ordered South the Goth day Of
November, when they marched to Ed.
iyville.
During the stay in Camp futile,
the flag was used part of the time as
'Regimental Flag" and used by the
| company at two or three funerals.
The company took the flag as far as
st. Louis, and there they found that
companies could not have flags. 1t was
therefore deposited in some Iowa head.
l quarters in st. Louis, and by some
means came into the hands of Captain
| Charles Wells of the Sth Iowa, and
has been in the Wells family until the
| BIRD Regimental Reunion held in
Knoxville a few days ago, when Mr..
! Frank Wells, son of said Captain
Wells delivered the flag into the hands
IF company boys. The members of
the company had lost sight of the flag
all these years. The last time that
| Captain Wells was in Oskaloosa just
before his death, he was talking about
the flag with some of the comrades,
and they assured him that it was
Company X Flag, and he said that no
doubt it was, from what he has learn
ed lately, and promised the next time
| he came to Oskaloosa he would bring
/ Il, or the first time we we're at Knox
vile we could get the flag. The Com.
pany were greatly rejoiced at recov.
ing the old flag, and they appreciate it
| very hlShly, anu COhsiuSi IL ohO VI Iho
| most precious relics from their three
years of service IN the Civil War.
After 55 years, at this last Regi'
n entail Reunion at Knoxville, the flaG
was carried by William Boyd of Com
pany X on dress parade, who was one
of the Regimental color Sergeants
during the Civil war.
The members of the company at
the recent Reunion instructed w. R.
Cowan to bring the flag to Oskaloosa
and place it in Phil Kearney G. A. R.
Post Hall for safe Keeping, where it
will be found and cared for in the
best possible manner.