The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-08-17
G. A. r. Trophies

If the flags of the Civil War SO
sarefully treasured in the G. A. R.
room of the Wisconsin state capitol,
could talk many are the stories they
could tell of heroic deeds of the boys
and men in blue.
No one could occupy nobIer posi-
ton than H. w. Rood, one of "the
boys, who is trusted with watching
over these treasures and instilling in
those who come to visit the G. A. R. a
spirit of patriotism and veneration
for those who gave their lives for
their country.
Nearly every flag of the 50 in Mr..
Roods care, is almost riddled by shot
and shell. Bullet holes are plainly
seen in many of the stats. The staff
of the first infantry was shot in four
places and mended by. Stats and
strings.
Story of 9th.
One of the most interesting and pa
thetic flag stories is concerned with
the flag of the 37th regiment. At the
battle of Petersburg, June II, 1864,
the color-bearer, William H. Green,
was wounded in both legs. Sergeant
Green crawled from the field, drag
ging his colors with his teeth and
saved his flag. Just a month after
this heroic deed, Sergeant Green died.
The flag that Immediately com
mands attention Of the visitors is that
of the famous Iron Brigade. This
brigade made up of the End, 9Th and
7th Wisconsin regiments, the oath
Michigan and 10Th Indiana, came to
be recognized at the time of the bat
tie GAINESVILLE, August %, 1862. On Sept.
II, 1868, when the brigade was at Gull
pepper, Va, citizens of Wisconsin, In
diana and Michigan then in Washing
ton, presented the flag which is now
framed and hanging in the G. A. R.
rooms to the troops. 1t was made in
New York at cost of $1,000. Because
of its size, it was too heavy to be
carried about and was sent to Wis
consin.
Mr. Rood, who for 35 years was a
schoolman, takes the greatest pride
displaying these flags and telling their
stories to the visitors, especially the
children. Not only does he enjoy tell
ing his stories in the G. A R. room,
but also on his visits to the schools as
state patriotic instructor.
Every teacher should take a pride
in instilling the highest ideals of Am
erican citizenship in her pupils, Mr..
Rood feels.
Symbol of All Good.
Gin every grade from the kinder
garten up, our flag may be exalted as
the living symbol of everything good
in America and not one thing that is
bad" says Mr.. Rood. every mean,
low, dishonest, unclean performance,
whether in public life or private, in
school or on the playground, casts a
slur upon our flag and degrades citi-
zenship."
Mr. Rood has the feeling that since
the school is the training camp for
American citizens, the flag should be
in sight in the school room.
Not only the flags have part in in
SCli1illS bHSSS GlS4lSHIS VI pdGAiOLloHu
AS the pictures Of the heroes in blue
who have passed on, or who remain
in the slowly decreasing army of the
Civil War veterans look down upon
the young visitors, they stand for all
that is good and noble.
Another war hero here is "Old Abe"
Wisconsin's soldier bird, SO dear to
the heart of every member of Company
C, 9Th Wisconsin infantry which
came to be known as the Eagle Regi-
ment. So famous did Abe become
that the Confederates would rather
have captured the Yankee Buzzard"
as they called him, than wole regi-
ment without him.
Old Abe Target.
Old Abe was carried in battle along
with the colors. A few times some of
his feathers were slightly damaged
and once a little blood was drawn