Evening Star Newspaper, September 22, 1892, Page 13

THE EVENING STAR: 7 ” WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1892—PART TWO. SUMTER’S TORN FLAG. ‘Sacred Relics of the War Now Pre- served in This City. MRS. ANDERSON’S TREASURE. ‘The Flags That Bade Deflance tothe FirstGun of the Confederacy—Gen. Anderson's De- fense of the Fort Mre. Anderson’s Historic ‘wrip—tattered Flags With a History. —_-_—_— imter flags and an account of re Amilerson was pubiiebed ip That sccount hae been N AN UNPRETEN- tious yet pretty resi- dence on Rhode Island avenue Mra EB An- derson, the widow of the late Brevet Maj. Gen. Robert Anderson of Fort Sumter fame, resides in unostenta- tious retirement. Inan effort to locate the bis- toric Sumter flags through inquiries at the War Department and correspondence with the authorities at West Point, to which latter place it appeared, in the course of the investigation, one of the flags had gone, having covered the pall of Gen. Ander- son when b.s remains were taken thero in 1871 and being subsequently returned tothe family, the writer was enabled to trace them to their present place of deposit in this city, in the eus- tody of Mra. Anderson. The writer recently calied upon that lady for the purpose of seeing these flags and obtaining sketches of them for Tux Star. Mra Anderson, upon hearing the object of the visit, very kindly consented to allow the flags to be sketched, so that they might be presented to the readers of Taz Stam during the Grand Army encampment, at the same time remarking that it was the first time this privilege bad been extended to any one and that the flagsbad never been out of the possession of the family except on the one or two important historic occasions which are referred to below. Mra. Anderson regretted very much that ill health precluded the possi- bility of her remaining in Washington during the encampment, saying: “I should love to see the old war veterans, being myself one of the order, though not enrolled among their mem- ders GEx. ANDERS After seeing these flags and obtaining sketches of them while looking up their bis- tory it was ascertained that there had been some differences of opinion with regard to their still being in existence, and advantage is taken of this opportune time to settle this question and to establish the identity and lo- ate definitely the whereabouts of these inter- esting Baga AN OLD CONTROVERST SETTLED. The disposition of the flags was the subject of considerable correspondence published in the Army ant Nary Journal in 1863 A corre- epondent who wrote from Philadelphia Novem- Der 21, 1963, over the signature of said that with the boat's crew that was taken in the Unsuccessful assault upon Fort Sumter s flag federates received with unstinted bursts ‘of Jey, supposing it to be the flag which Maj. An- Gerson lowered with a salute when he was obliged to evacuate the fort, and that it bad been carried by the storming party to rehoist im triumph where it formerly waved. “C.” (probably Surgeon Crawford) say: Vhen An- ered at Fort Sumter our Spartan seventy determined to cut it into pieces and keep the shreds as mementoes of their martyrdom. One of Anderson's princi- pal officers, who is now » general, was at my house just after bis return from Sumter, and aeagreat favor, after telling the story, gave me « little scrap of his precious piece, which Kies before me as I write, There may be,” be adds, “and usually are, two flags at a fort, one ather and one for storms, but only ‘one flag was hotsted during the bombardment; only one braved the battle and the breeze; only’ one can ciaim to be the flag of Fort Sumter. ‘That fag exists only in the little carefully boarded bite of bunting and in the affections ef ali loyal Americana.” Another correspondent, “H.,” dating from ‘Washington, December 1, 1863, said: “I have fn my pomension a well-worn piece of bunting, Which was presented to me with the following letter: “This i a piece of the original Fort Bumter flag flying at the time of the bom! ment in April It was presented by ¢ Anderson t Maj. Gen. Sumner, who carried it © campaign and at the headquarters flag. On his le the Potomac it was obi mine, from whom I procured this piece,” aps this was correspondent (C. Another corr tetera.” tent, who signed himself “B.." Rochester, N. Y., December 7, 1863, said: ate that I have im my pos- Presented to me by the geoeral himself, with the following indorse- would bike to session a picce of ath Meuntain, as bis ng the Army of by @ friend of Per- mm flag No, 2 to which your The correspondent “8.” in the sbove corre- spondence is correct in his statement, so far as it goes, aud “0.” is equally correct in the statement that there wore probably two flags, but is incorrect when he says the ‘‘flags exist in the little carefully hoarded bits of bunt- Me fog. 2nd te rane doth flags, son flag and the storm flag, doth being im the possession of Mrs. Anderson, left to her tender and reverent care by their gallant defender. These flags are stored for security in the vaults of a safe deposit company im this city during the summer months and in the winter, during Mra. Anderson's residence here, are draped over the painted portrait of her busvand in her home. ‘When the writer called on Mrs, Anderson the flags had been taken down from over the portrait preparatory to her departure from the ummer months and sent to the carefully and reverently unfolded and the artist took sketches of them, Mrs, Anderson and her daughter holding the ends of the torn and tat- tered banners. Thesketches obtained are good, and the flags, tattered and torn, smoke be- grimed and faded, tell their story more elo- quentiy than words could tell it The storm jag that floated over Sumter during the bom- bardment is in tatters so far as the stripes aro concerned, but not star in its union was touched “The garrison fiag is in a better state of preservation. The storm flag originally measured eight feet in length by four feet two inches in width, the garrison flag measuring Seeds feot in length by twenty feet in width, (This fag is hoisted only on holidays and great cecasions). The union is one-third of the length of the flag and extends to the lower edge of the fourth red siripe from the top. A PORTRAIT WITH A STORY, Boldly outlined upon the canvas on the wall of a room in Mrs. Anderson’s house is the por- trait of Robert Anderson «above referred to, over which the flags are draped during the winter months, This portrait has quite a little history attached to it. It was painted at Dres- den, at atime some years ago when General, or,as people generally prefer to call him,Major, Robert Anderson, was sojourning there, in search of health he had lost in the service of his country. The artist, quite a celebrated one, had painted the portrait of the King and Queen of Saxony, and these were to be placed on exhibition at’ the Munich exposition. ‘The Prople of Saxony were quite able to judge of fhe truth and artistic merit of his work from these portraits, being familiar with the per- sonal appearance of the king and his consort, but the great many Americans who would Visit the exposition and whose good opinion he sought were not so familiar with the looks of the king and queen of the country in which they were temporarily sojourning, and the artist, on explaining his dilemma to the king, ag introduced to Major Anderson, whose ap- pearance at that time was quite as familiar to Americans as were those of the royal couple to their subjects, The artist prevailed upon Maj. Anderson, with much delicacy and tact, for the major was ill and easily fatigued, to sit for bis portrait, and it proving to be a good one, fur- ther prevailed upon him to allow it to be ex- hibited at the exposition, with those of the king and queen, and the portrait was subse- quently secured by Major Anderson. A SRETCH OF MAJOR ANDERSON. Not less boldly outlined against the dark background of war does the figure of Major Robert Anderson, at Fort Sumter, stand forth upon the canvas of history. Robert Anderson was born in Kentucky and appointed from that state to the United States Military Academy, entering July 1, 1821, and graduating July 1, 1825, when he was made a second lieutenant of artillery. He served on varions details until May, 1832, when he took a conspicuous part in the Black Hawk war, being engaged in the battle of Bad Ax, August 2, 1832 Then fol- lowed various details on ordnance duty and as instructor at West Point until 1837-38, when be served im the - orida war against the Seminole Indians, being engaged in the action of Locha- Hatcheo, January 24, 1838. Subsequently his command captured forty-five Indians near Fort Lauderdale, April 2, 1838, and participated in skirmish in the Everglades. April 24, 1838. He was brevetted captain April 2, 1538, for gal- lantry and successful conduct im ‘the war against the Florida Indians, He served as aid-de-camp May 9 to July 7, 1838. At bis own request, and against the wishes and advice of the general and his many other army friends, he relinquished his staff appointment after STORM FLAG. this short service, deeming it necessary for the good of the service that every captain should be in command of his own company. He boro a gallant and conspicuous part in the war with Mexico, 1847, being engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz, battle of Cerro Gordo, the skirmish of Amazoque and battle of Molino del Rey, where he was severely wounded in the assault on the enemy's works, In that battle he re- ceived three wounds and was reported among the killed, Mra. Anderson at that time was at her father’s bome.in the mountains of Georgia, about five miles from Clarksville, and the re- orts were studiously kept from her by er relatives, She did not know of Anderson's reported death until he sat by her side and she was told of it by her father. “He was brevetted major September 8, 1847, for gallant and meri- torious conduct in the battle of Molino del Rey. Such was the man who defended his country’s flag and his country’s honor at Fort Sumter in 1560-61 ORDERED TO CHARLESTON. When Anderson was ordered to duty to Charleston harbor the great secession con- spiracy had taken root in the highest places of national administration, In the President's cabinet Floyd of Virginia, Secretary of War; Thompson of Mississippi, Secretary of the In- terior, and Cobb of Georgia, Secretary of the ‘Treasury, were of the raost active and ardent of the conspirators. It has been asserted that Flosd secured the assignment of Anderson to the command of Charleston barbor with the idea that being « southern man, with southern sympathies, be would go with the south aud turn over the coveted forts in Charleston har- bor tothe state of South Carolina. Both he and Mrs. And®rson had hosts of friends in Charleston and it was hoped and expected that Anderson would easily yield the forts, but through it all he was the embodiment of patri- | otism and honor, and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of his countrymen.” Although all his ties of kindred and marriage were with the south, he having married » daughter of Gen. Dunean L. Clinch of Georgia. a family whose uame had been associated with the history of that state from its earliest period, he remained true to the Union. He possessed, in common with bis old commander and friend, Gen. Win- field 8. Scott, who bad given him his bride on ber wedding day, and wax godfather to one of bis children, those principles of loyalty and houor which held bim trae to hia trust, MOVED TO FORT SUMTER. On December 26, 1860, upon bis own respon- sibility and to the deep chagrin cf the seces- | stonists and the exultation of the Unionists, | Major Anderson secretly moved his garrison to | Sumter, spiking the guns at Moultrie, and cut- no flag of a strange device where the stars and stripes had fluttered.” On the 27th, at merid- ian, the old flag was flung to the breeze over the battlements of Fort Sumter, after impres- sive religions service and amid cheering and patriotic music. went: ‘In compliance with the request con-| JM tained im Mr. ——"'s note of piece of the Fort Sumter flag. ‘Stili another correspoadent, “S." (Gen. Tra- gan Seymour), writiag from Folly Island, 8 ., December 3, 1563, said: fervor, arming, doubtless, gianding of the information given. oort m the flag “C." is certainly misunder- Shreds ‘aa most pre- ting down the flagstaff that it might “flaunt | The news of Anderson's action was received with enthusiasm throughout the north. He received greetings and congratulations and cannons were fired in every Union city and village in his honor. The poeition of Maj. Anderson and his little at Fort Sumter was one of extreme peril Mrs. Anderson, the devoted wife and mother, knew this. When Maj. Anderson was ordered to Charleston harbor Mrs. Anderson, herself an invalid, stopped in Now York at the Breevoort House with her children, one of them an infant in arms, and nurse. MRS, ANDERSON’S NARRATIVE. ‘To the writer Mre, Anderson graphically re- lated the story of her intense anxiety, her sleepless nights and her fears for her husband, her exciting trips to Charleston and Fort Sum- ter and return to her babes in New York, ac- complishing by her woman's wit and tact what the government claimed it could not. The excitement in New York was intense, and Maj. Anderson and Fort Sumter were on the tongue and in the mind of every one. It formed the sole topic of the hour. Cannons were being fired in his honor in New York and all over the at tho north, while in the south praise and flattery had degenerated into execration and curses loud and deep. The warmest sym- pathy was felt for Mrs, Anderson by all classes and she was the constant recipient of fruit, flowers, toys for the children and the like from persons she had never met—tokens of their sympathy and of admiration for her noble, gallant husband, and many called to see her to encourage nnd help her to bear her trying sus- pense and anxiety. But amid all this excite- ment and expression of friendship and regard she was sick at heart. It was like being suip- wrecked on the ocean, with water, water all around, but not a drop to drink. A mother’s love was battling with wife’sanxieties, Bend- ing all the energies of her mind to the solution of the problem with that indomitable energy and will which is characteristic of the distin- Guished family whenceshe sprang,she at length ethought her of faithful Peter Hart, the ser- cant who had served with Maj. Anderson in lexico, and who had married their cook. She then resolved to take Hart. if h@ could be found, to her husband, so that he might have some one by his side in whom he could place implicit confidence, surrounded as he was by foes outside and possible traitors within. With- out communicating her purpose to any one save her physician and friend she sought for Hart in places where she thought she would be most likely to find him, having heard seven years before that he was living in New York city. PETER HART. All one day and the better part of the next this invalid but heroie woman sought in the large city for Peter Hart, At last she found that there was a Peter Hart connetted with the police and sent a request for him to call on her. The faithful Peter Hart—for the police officer proved to be the right man—came and was de- lighted to see the wife of his old commander. He stood erect before her with his heels to- gether, like the soldier that he was, as if to Teceive orders. “I have sent for you, Hart, said, “to ask of you or.” “Hogthing Mrs. Anderson wishes I will do,” was the reply. “-Will you go with me to Fort Sumter?” The phlegmatic but true-hearted German was slow to answer. No doubt he thought tho journey a perilous one for the frail but resolute little woman, “This is no time for indecisi you go with me to Fort Sumter: Ereet, with heels together and a military sa- lute, the faithful fellow replied promptly and decisively, “Yes, madam!” “When? “Tonight, if Mra. Anderson wishes.” “But, Hart,” said Mrs. Anderson, “I want you to stty with the major. You will leave your family and a good situation.” “I will go, madam.” “Very well; be kero tomorrow night with only, a parcel containing a change of loth- ing.” The next morning Margaret, Peter's wife, visited Mrs. Anderson and was as delighted to see her ashad been her husband. After the greeting Margaret said: “Peter is going away with you?” “Yes, Margaret; do you object?” “Indade, ma'am, and it's Margaret's sorry it’s Pater and not Margaret that is going to do something for Mra. Anderson,” THE JOURNEY To CHARLESTON. On Thursday evening, January 3, 1861, the brave little woman and Hart left New York Hart was to play the part of servant, “I can never forget,” said Mrs. Anderson, “how the faithful fellow looked as he’came into the car, intent upon his part, and he would glance at me significantly, as if tosay: ‘You can trust me, No one shall get anything out of me.’ I was almost afraid that he would attract notice by the significant manner in which he would ever and anon giance at me. No one but her physician—not even her chil- dren—knew her destination. For the perils that surrounded her the brave, loving little woman cared nothing. Intent only on serving her husband and her country, she was com- pletely absorbed in the object of her errand, “As we neared Washington,” said she, “there came a period of indecision. Should Isto and see Gen, Scott, the friend of my husband, and ask him, ‘What shall I'say to Maj. Ander- son—what message from you shall I bear? And Mr, Crittenden, shall I stop and ece him?’ But the struggle was only momeutary—I de- cided not to be the bearer of any messagos— the delicacy of my position forbade it.” I was ly going to sce my husband, as I hada rght to, It they did not object to ms ” Mrs. Anderson nm, Hart. Will wife’ 9 doing so, all right—it they should attempt to prevent me, [ wouid most certainly all the same find some way of getting to bim, And so they passed through Washington withoat stopping. Mrs. Anderson described the scenes on the route so characteristic of those days, Ou every side were the signs of preparation for war. Farmers with trousers tucked in their boots crowded the stations, wives and sweethearts hanging on their necks and bidding them good-bye. A great deal of their talk was about Major Anderson and Port Sumter and loud were the threats of what they were going to do to him. NEARING CHARLESTON, As they neared Charleston the excitement be- came greater, and the cars were crowded with men who got on the train at Marion Court House going to Charleston to join in the attack on Fort Sumter. Mrs, Anderson neither ate, drank nor slept during the entire journey, and they traveled without intermission until their arrival in Charleston, late Saturday night From Cape Fear to Charleston she was the only woman in the railway train, which was occu- pied by noisy drunken men, who filled the car with oaths end tobacco smoke. ‘Can't you | prevent their smoking here?” she geutly asked the conductor. His only reply was: “Wal, I reckon they'll have to smoke.” She then ap- pealed to two of the men in front of her, With | sweet voice she said: “Won't you please throw | away your cigars, or else go to another part of | the car. They make me sick.” One of the men was about to return a rough ans the other, glaring at him, said: “Don't you see she’s a lady? Let's do gt =) they retired with their pipes. During trying journey Mrs. prvdaend exhibition of marvelous, In the car in which she was seated 8 pistol was discharged by one of the dranken, reckless crowd, the bullet smashing the hang- ing lamp, the pieces of which fell all around her. Sirs. Anderson exhibited and felt no fear. a instant, Gen, | ST ad Anderson takes pleasure in sending bim semall eS Suspicious glances were often and Hart was often con knew n into Mra, Anderson's employ. He did not come from where his mistress ald th ourtiun te hivew heh any Vere ane ES. deamgst yas wee indifference. her. saying sion and waite a note to Gov. Pickens; he will send me prone) ‘The man seemed to yield at the mention of Gov. Pickens’ name. He suppored she must be of some importance, While he hesitated Mra Anderson motioned Hart to call a carriage, and yushing through the gate entered the vehicle. station agent attempted to shut Hart out of the carriage. Mra. Anderson, with every nerve strained to its highest tension, placed her back against the opposite side of the car- riage and both feet against the door, thus pre- venting it being shut, and called out with great self-possession, ‘Hart! Hart! why don’t feed get wn? Don't you see the gentleman is holding the door for you and wail ing for you to, got in?” Hart, quick to seize the hint, placed his brawny hand upon and sprang through the partly opened door. The station agent. got upon the box with the driver and another man behind and they were thus driven to @ Mills House. There the parlor into which ‘Mre. Anderson was ushered was filled with ex- cited people of both sexes, who were exasper- ated because of her husband’s action in havin, moved over into Sumter, and their threats an imprecations and anathemas against him were terrible to hear. Mra, Anderson unexpectedly and by the merest accident found her brother at tho Mills House. On the following morning he procured from Gov. Pickens a permit for her to go to Fort Sumter, She sought one for Hart. ‘The overnor could not allow a man to be added to @ Sumter garrison, he said. Mra Anderson did not conceal the contempt and scorn the suggestion and excuse elicited. ‘The state of South Carolina—now claiming to be a sover- eign power among the nations of the earth— endangered by the addition of one man to a garrison of seventy while thousands of their opponents armed the batteries which sur- rounded them. Pickens was her father’s old friend, “Tell bim,” she said, “that I shall take Hart to the fort with or without a pass.” Her nworde of scorn and her demand were re- eated to the governor and he gave a pass for Peter Hart © . ACROSS THE HARDOR, At 10 o'clock Sunday morning, the 6th of January, Mrs, Anderson with Hart, her brother and two Charleston gentlemen, old personal friends of her family, started in a emall row- boat for Sumter, carrying with her a mail bag for the garrison which had been lately kept back. It wasa most charming morning. ‘The air was balmy and the bosom of the bay was un- rippled. Everywhere wore seen strange banners, but among them all not a solitary Unton flag. Presently the boat shot around a point of laud and some ono exclaimed, ‘There's Sumter.” She turned and saw the stars and stripes float- ing proudly from the battiements. ‘The dear old flag!” she exclaimed and burst into tears, They were but momentary, however, for re- prosching herself tor her wes her emo- lon was soon controlled, Secession patrol boats were passed and passwords given. As they approached Sumter they were challenged, 10 goes there?” ré, Maj. Anderson,” was the prompt re- sponse, After a few moment's delay the formal order came, “Advance Mrs, Mnj. Anderson!” THE MEETING. As Mrs, Anderson advanced up the stone pier her husband, who was in utter ignorance of her intention to visit him, came out of the sally port, He clasped her in his arms with the exclamation, intended for her ears only “My glorious wife!” and carried her into fort to his quarters, Refreshments, brought down by the gentlemen from Charleston, were served, but neither Maj. nor dirs, Anderson par- took of them. During hor visit Mra, Anderson affected a light heartedness she was far from feeling, ‘The furniture of the major’s quarters consisted of an old iron cot, a camp chair and an old leather carp valise, and she jokingly re- ferred to his sumptuous surroundings, In one corner of the room were some barrel hoops and staves, and referring to these she said ho ecemed at all cvents to have a supply of firewood, Mrs. Anderson had sewed up in the bodice of her dress quite a sum of moncy, which she had pro- cured for the purpose of placing in the hands of her husband for use if he should at any time need it in bis extremity, but he refused to ac- cept it. Now only too soon came the trial of parting, for the heroic woman had said to those who bad come with her: “Tell me when the tide serves, I shail go back with the boat.” For she would not increaso the cares of her husband by remaining with him in the fort. The “tide served” in the course of two hours, When Mra, Anderson was placed in the boat by her husband she experienced an almost irre sistible desire to draw him after her, but she thrust from her the unworthy impulse. Then the oars touched the watcr, the boat moved away and hor object accomplished she fainted in the arms of Ler Iriends. ‘They tried to per- suade Mrs, Anderson to remain in Charleston; they would send for the children to join her there, but Charleston was no place for her while her husband in Fort Sumter was being treated as an enemy. She left that night for the national capital. On arriving in Washing- ton she was driven to Willard’s Hotel, and upon reaching there was found insensible in the car- riage. A call was made to help a lady who had faiuted and among the many who responded was Mr, Wm. H. Aspinwall, an old and dear friend, who happened to be’ stopping there at the time. It was his kind face bending over her which she recognized first on her return to consciousness. Aiter suffering for forty-cight hours from utter exhaustion sho procecded to. New York and for a long time was threatened with brain fover. Mra Anderson had done what the government claimed it could not di she had taken a reinforcewent to Fort Sumter. FIRING ON THE FLAG. On a memorable Friday morning, the 12th of April, 1861, the stars and stripes floating from the parapet of Fort Sumter were fired upon by what is generally referred to as the “first cun” of the confederacy, and what was really the be- ginning of hostilities between the United States and the so-calied confederate statos of America, Under the folds of that flag, the symbol of rev- olutionary glory and national unity, the gal- lant Mhj. Anderson and his little garrison won immortal fame. Hot shot and shell rained down upon the fort and the flag from the rebel siege works, ar- ranged in the form of a triangle, of which Sum- ter was the center. Seven times during the first day of the bombardment the flagstaf was struck, Early in the day several vessels of the federal fleet were observed off the bar and or- ders were given to dip the flag to them. ‘This was done and the salute was retarned, but while the flag was being hoisted after the third dip a shell burst near the flagstaff and cut the hai- jard, ‘The part of the alliard thus cut was #0 couneeted that the flag must have come down with a run had not the end of the rope caught in the staff, so that the star-spangied baftuer was kept aloft, and on the morning of the 13th, the s@rond day of the bombardment, “the flag Was still there.” ‘This is the ineident to which Maj. Anderson roferred when he afterward waid: “God Almighty nailed that flag to the mast and I could not have lowered it if I had tried.” At 1 o'clock of the second day the flagstaff. having been hit twice before that morning, was again struck and fell. The flag was immediately secured by Lieut, Hall and so soon as it could be attached to temporary staff wes again hoisted on the parapet by Lieut. Snyder, corps of engineers, assisted by Peter rt ‘The confederate general, Beauregard, said, referring to Maj. Anderson and bis gurrison: “With such material for an army, if properiy disciplined, I would consider myself invincible against any forces not too superior.” But an army of thousands against afew score men! Let Maj. Anderson tell his own story: “Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walla seriously injured and the es surrounded by flames and its doors closed frory the effects of heat, four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available and no provisions remaining but pork, Fort Sumter was evacu- ated, and the little garrison marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors ‘tying, drums beating, bringing away company nd private property and saluting my ‘ant Gon: Abner Doubleday claims th ner 8 _the bi ft fired the first shot from ‘Sumter in de- nile ased the rt cee © firs fe - ‘Others ba ad HOISTED AGAIN OVER THE FORT. On that other memorable Friday, the 14th of April, 1865, the fourth anniversary of the evac- uation af the fort (but not the surrender of the flag) and the day on which the martyred Lincoln fell by the assassin’s hand, the same fing that floated over Sumter in 1861 was again raised over its ruins under the order of the great War Secretary, Stanton, by Brevet (for gallant and meritorious service in the harbor of Charleston, 8. C.) Major Gen. Anderson, United States army, after a brief address and amid ol ‘and tho singing of patriotic songs. The halliards were handed to him by the brave and faithfal Peter Hart. Che Matthias Harris, who was present und delivered a praver at the raising of the flag over Sumter when the ‘was removed there from Moultrie, December 21, 180, his voteo trem. with emotion, again asked « blessing on the fag of ‘the fathers. Ker. Henry Ward Beecher delivered an oration. Gon. E. D. ‘Townsond was prosent and of Ma}. Anderson's former officers Abner Doubleday and Norman J. Hall, A number of prominent anti-slavery men were among thoso who attended, the steamer Oceanus having been chartered to take the party from New York to the scene of the ceremony. A salute of 100 guns was fired from Fort Sumter anda national salute from every fort and rebel battery which fired upon that fort in 1861, In 1871 Gen. Anderson died and over his pall was draped the flag of Sumter, and it was thus carried to West Point, where he was buried. Immediately afterward the flag was again re- stored to the custody of the family, where both the storm and garrison flag have ever since re- mained. A piece of the flagstaff is at the Mili- tary Academy at West Point and another pieco in the War Department in Washington. Maj. Anderson was invited to call on tho President after the Sumter episode to receive his personal thanks, After the greeting Presi- dent Lincoin said: “You don't remember ever seeing me before, Maj. Anderson?” “No, Mr. President, Inever had that pleas- eae “Well, you have, Don’t you remember mus- tering Abraham Lincoln into the Illinois vol- unteers in the Black Hawk war?” The major had to acknowledge that he aid not, accounting for his failure ta do so by the fact that he had mustered in a large number of volunteers, “Well,” said the President, “I remember you vory weil. Mra, Anderson has in her possession » photo- graph of Gen. W. T. Sherman, on the back of which he wrote, in his characteristic and well- known chirography: “New Your, January 1, 1890. “To my near and very dear friend, Mrs. Gen. Robert Anderson, the surviving widow of that noble husband who taught me in thé school of patriotism and duty long before he was called on to defend his country's flag against cruel, bitter rebels. ‘To her { send my New Year's grecting; to her and her dear children. May os New Year bring to them God's best bless- 3 T. W. Matrixexy. —_—_ MEMORIES OF PRISON LIFE. A Comrade Who Preserves an Interesting Relic of the Club in Libby. To read of ex-prisoners of war is to call up @ harrowing memory and revive recollections the minds of many who have tried for thirty years to put them away—to forgive and forget the past, They are reminded of Salisbury, where the poor boys burrowed like prairie dogs in the filthy earth, of Andersonville and the infamous Wirz. They remember how Sherman marched into Millen and found inside the stock- ade there 700 bodies buried in “lots of fifty,” unmarked, unknown and records burned. It calls to mind Castle Thunder and Libby with despicable Dick Turner, the turnkey, and Belle Isle and all the other places where Union pris- oners were huddled like hogs to wallow in filth and gocoldand hungry. Gen. Harrison onco said of theso memories: “The annals of the war fail to furnish a sadder story than that of the host of Union veterans who suffered war's greatest hardship—captivity. The story of rebel prisons was one of grim horror. On the field our armics, always brave, were generally chivalric and humane. But the treatment of the captive Union soldiers surpassed in fiemd- ish cruelty the best achievements of the say- age. It is the back spot without any lining of silver or any touch of human nature.” “It was all bad enough, God knows,” said an ex-prisoner of war recently. “I feel about my prison experience a good deal as I felt about hell when I was a small boy growing up in tho shadow of a truly good and orthodox father, whose deep-rooted belief in a lake of brimstone and fire reached clear through his soul and clinched its twin, that ‘sparing the rod spoiled the child.’ Iwas so thoroughly ‘pickled’ that I made up my boyish mind that hell or no hell I would have a good time, for it certainly could present to me at least nonew tortures, Since I spent eighteen months boarding among the reba where the hospitality was so insistent that they built stockades to restrain our departure, and where the cost of the grub and lodging for the year and a half would not liquidate for one bang-up day out at Chamberlin’s, 'm pretty sure that I’m firo proof. And yet”—he said re~ i. a8 he flipped the ashes from ar and watched the sunlight 3 of his diamond ring—“and et there were side lights that made even rebel prisons endurable. If it hadn't been for these diversions nobody would have lived to tell of the atrocities perpetrated there. Bodily ailment was bad enough, but as long as we kept our minds from brooding and our hearts light we managed to get along. It was when a fellow got melancholy and low spirited that we know his time was short. We had dramatic clubs with the leading man as ignorant of dramatic art as a mule is of music, and there was where the fun came in, Our glee clubs were constructed of slightly better material, but from the standpoint of a profes- sioual there was probably much to be desired, Prison life developed sculptors, wood carvers, clay modelers, orators, artists, and in fact almost every calling and profession received additions when all the bars were let down and we stood before the world free men once more. To keep ourselves from gomg crazy we tried to do something all the time, and our employ- ment naturally took the bent of our inclina- tions, hinging of course upon the adaptabilit of the tools at band. I havo among my col- lection of curios @ sanitary commission envelope with the back tora off. Upon that smooth yellow surface one of my chums drew a picture of one corner of tho Millen stockade, Itis just a straggling tree and under it ® low mound, which we had piled above my twin brother, who couldn't wage the fight with starvation any further, There are two or three poor ragged devils in the foreground and beyond them one of the ‘burrows,’ where I bunked with a dozen others, I'm not quite @ million- aire. but a million in gold couldn’ buy that bit of old envelope. That comrade’s signature today ona picture scarcely larger than that No. 6 envelope is worth $25, whether he does it in etching or oils. Yet he would be a steady- going wagon maker today but for the chance that made him an artist, He still has one of the precious bits of pencil which he sketched with in Millen. “We hada club in Libby which I have not heard much of since Lcame out, but it had a good big member I have my ‘sheep skin,’ ” and from a big leather pocket book took s piece of time-soiled and dirt-stained paper about six inches long and four wide. In ‘ne corner was written in round script: ave Hall, Llinois,” follows averse of doggerel: And when we arrive in the land of the free, They will smite and welcome us dortuliys And when we think of the rebel band We'll repeat our motto: “Bite and be d—.” “The motto referred to was drawn with a nin thecorner of each certificate of mo: rahip and tod. two rows of backasP> anid" Woteran ao doisbed bis THEY SANG IN PRISON. Songs That Lightened the Burdens of Captivity. PARODIES ON OLD VERSES. How Chaplain McCabe Seng Julia Ward Howe's Battle Hymn at Libby—Confederate Songs Under Protest—Singing to Keep Away the Pangs of Hunger. LL THE HORRORS of southern prisons could not keep the “boys” from singing. They might freeze to desth or starve to death, be shot for in- fringement of rules or even dio because they were tired of living, still they sang. Just as long as life was left in their bodies they : we taunted the keepers of Belle Isle and Danville and Anderscnville and Libby and the other “pens” with the most loyal songs in their repertoire. They even composed songs; that is, after they had fairly worn out the favorites they made parodies and medleys on allof them. One of the parodies which has been sung in every campaign since the war fan something after this fashion: “Mary had a little lamb, its flooce was white as ‘jet, Shouting the battle ery of freedom; And everywhere that Mary went that sheep was sure to get, Shouting the battlo cry of freedom,” and so on ad infinitum. “John Brown” was one of their standbys. The fellows who didn't know “b flat” from a base ball could sing “John Brown” with perfect safety—if the guards were ont of hearing. ‘Tho words didn't much matter, for a new set was presented on almost every occasion and two ects on gala ‘days, Nobody seems to know ‘for sure” where the thing originated. A man by the name of Stiffe, a native of South Carolina, says that ho is the author of tho tune, which came ont about 1855,and is probably sung by more people than any other tane in the world, The ‘“Jobn Brown” words don't seem to have had any origin, but, like Topsy, ‘just growed,” @ line added hore to make verso and another there. Edna Dean Proctor wrote some very pretty words to the old tune in 1861, but they havo never been widely sung. Three of tho verses are as follows: “John Brown died on the scaffold for the slave, Dark was tho hour when wo dug bis hallowed grave, Now God avenges the lite he gladly gare, Freedom reigns today. John Brown sowed, and the harvesters are we. Honor to him who has made the bondmen free, Loved evermore stall our noble ruler be, Freedom reigns today. Jobn Brown dwelis where the battle strife 18 o'er, ° Hate cannot harm him nor sorrow stir him more, Earth will remomber the martyrdom he bore, Freedom reigns today.” Another parody which was made on the an- cient song, “Way Down in Old Virginia,” was much sung in °62, after McClellan was driven back from Richmond: ‘Way down in old Virginia not many months ago McClellan made a movement, and made it mighty slow; The rebels they soon found it out and got into his rear, But they caught the very devil, for they found Phil Kearney there, In the old Virginia lowlands, low.” After the battle of Chancellorville, in 186: when Lee cleaned Hooker out and took 5,000 unwounded prisoners, this verse was sung, follows: * “Way down in old Virginia not many months ago Joe Hooker made a movement, and Be didn't make it slow; The rebels they soon found it out and flanked him on the right, And that’s the reason why, my boys, we're bumming here tonight In the old Virginia lowlands, low.” ‘TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP. ‘When southern prisons began to fill with the flower of the north songmakers and verse writers were attacked with a frenzy of energy od the market was glutted with songs descrip- tive and songs recitative, marches, anthems and sentimental effusions. Of the whole lot only one is remembered today. Like most of the others, its poctic merit is small, but the theme was tonching and the simple melody sang itself into favor atonce. “Tramp, Tramp, ‘Tramp, the Boys Aro Marching” was written by Dr. Root in 1861 and its popularity during the war period was almost as great as “John Brown:” “In the prison cell I sit, Thinking, mother dear, of you And the bright and happy home So far away; And the tears they fll my eyes Spite of all that F can do AsI try to cheer my comrades .d be gay. So within the prison cell We are waiting for the day ‘That will come to open wide the iron door, And the hollow eyes grow bright ‘And the poor heart almost gay ‘As we think of seeing home ‘And friends once more,” ‘Tho answer, written in 1865, when the boys began to march home, was a’ pretty song, but never bad the popularity of the “prisoll so- ioquy.™ SUNG BY THE HUTCHINSONS. A song which was made familiar all over the country by the “Hutchinson” family was sung by tho boys in prison to taunt their rebel keepers: “What gives the wheat fields blades of steol? What points the rebel cannon? ‘What sota the roaring rabble's heel led pennon? Of tho men of the south? ‘What whets the knife For the Union's life? the situation. Twoef their number had just | before, Mr. Byers had been « prisoner at Oe been taken out to be shot in retaliation for the killing of some rebels somewhere. They knew that the confederate forces were march- ing north and that a terrible battle had been foaght They knew also that Grant ing for Vicksburg, the key to the Mississip They could hear nothing more, but feared the Worst. About noon of the 6th » Richmond pa- per smuggied inside by a faithful negro friend confirmed their worst fears, In startling head- lines they read—“"Meade De! at Gettye- burg,” “The Northern Army Flecing to the Mountains,” ~Grant Repulsed at Vicksburg,” “The Campaign Closed in Disaster,” The depression caused by this was awful. F emaciated fellows broke down and lost all hope and one of strength enough to curse Ged and die, le in this condition a lator edition of the same | Paper was brought in by the same negro. Chaplain McCabe got the paper and having o stronger voice than the others was delegated to read them the later returns, He began at the beadiines: “Grant Has Captured Vicksburg and Taken 30,000 Prisoners.” cade Defeated Leo at Gettysburg, Taking 14,000 Prisoners.” The same shadow on the dial marked the time of the defeat of the robela at Gettysburg and the surrender of Vicksburg. The revulsion of fecling was almost too great to endure, ‘The boys went crazy wit ‘They saw the beginning of the end. Chaplain MeCabe sprang up on « box and strack up— “Mine eyce have scen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling ‘ont the vintage where the Grapes of wrath are stored, He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His ter- rible swift sword; His trath is marching on, Thave seen Him in the watch fires of a bundred circling camps, They have builded Him an altar in the ever- ing’s dows and damps, Thave read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. Thave read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel, As ye deal with my contemners, so with you grace shall deal, Let the hero born of wonan erush the serpent with his hoel, Since God is marching on, He has sounded forth the trampet that shall never call retreat, He is eifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; © be swit, my soul, to answer him; be jubi- jant, my feet! ‘Our God 1s marching on. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a giory in His bosom that transfigures you me, ied td make men holy, let us die to make men irce, While God is marching on.” The way in which the 500 men joined in on the chorus of “Glory, glory, glory, hullelujan!" Rave evidence that ihero was lots of life leftin them yet. ‘That day and that song made Julia Ward Howe famous, If her name had never been known before and if she had never done anything worthy of note since that one great pocm, the expression of the fervor and zeal and patriotism of all the ages since the mora- ing stars sang together, burned in letters of living fire upon the hearts of those prison- Worn slugers, will stand as a monument to Ler memory until the records aud recollections of the great rebellion bave crumbled to dust, SINGING CONFEDERATE SONGS. An cx-prisoner said not long ago that the boys sang in prison “vo they couldn't hear their stomachs cry for grub.” It was probably a case of being saddest whem they sang. Tie earned the privilege of singing in rather unique way. Their loyal songs were like on raw sores to their captors, but these wit concluded that while the “Yanks” were sing: ing they wore not plotting mischiof, and granted them the right to sing if they would make every other tune a “rebel cong.” ‘This the boys readily promised to do, 80 “We are a band of brothers, and natives to the ly soil, . Fighting for the property wo gained by honest ‘toil; And wien our rights were threatened the ery rose near and lar, Hurrah for the bounio blue flag that bears the single star. Then here's to our confederacy, strong we are nd brave; : triots of old we'll fight, our heritage to eave; And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer, To cheer for tue bonnio blue flug that bears the sing). vied with the stirring strains ofits answer: “We're in the right and will prevail, ‘The stars and stripes must fly; vi ; must be hauled down tor die, Freedom and peace enjoyed by all as ne'er was known before, ner wave on high with stars just thirty-four.” Or they shouted with equal fervor, “{ hear the distant thunder bum, Maryland! my Maryiand! The old line’s bugle, fife and dram, Maryland! my Marsland! Sbe is not dead, nor deaf nor dumb, Huzza, she spurns the northern scum! She bresthes—she burns! she'll come, she'll come, Maryland! my Maryland!" and its blistering parody “Thou wilt not yield the rebel toll, Maryland! my Maryland! Thou wilt not bend to his control, Maryland! my Maryland! Better the fire upon the roll, Better the blade the shot bowl, ‘Than degradation of the soul, Maryland! my Maryland!” ‘These song parodies were not confined to war ditties by any means, Nothing was safe when the boys got into the mood to attack, and everything from “Dog Tray” to the doxology suffered transformation. the songs have served their purpose and been laid on the shelf, so have the parcdica, Some of them were very clever, an@ no history of the prison life of the war of the great rebellion would be complete without them. HOME SOxGs, Not all the songs sung in the south were of a martial character; in fact, the “home songs” always hsd the call, Tho songs of the home circle, and of their little societies, sentimental ballads and love songs were ever tavorites in camp, on the march, in the hospital or in prison, “Old Kentucky Home” was sung with much fervor, and “ ” Tt bas six verses, low down the sky, Lorena, snow is on the mad ‘grass agoin, Tho years creep slowly by, Lorena, ‘The frost gleams where the flowers have been. But the heart throbs on as warmly now As when those summer days were nigh, Oh, the sancan never dip so low ‘Kdown affection’ cloudless sky.” Each verse increases in dolefuiness until the Jast, which is pessimistio in the extreme, ‘Tt matters little now, Lorena, ‘Tho past is in tho eternal ‘Our beads wili soon lie low, Life's tide is ebbing outso fast. ‘There Is a future, O, thank 8 reach | lumbia, S.C, The gaining of any news sete | Sherman's army marching through the south | was most difficnlt, The prisoners were not permitted to read pe which was an Unnecessary rule. as at that period news) | were as scarce down there as the credit of the soutbern confederacy, and just about as | relsabie. prisoners discovered, how. jever, that Sherman was cutting aswath to | the sea and they wore wild to know the success with which be was meeting. The were excited, uneasy and unusually abo this in itself was enongh to show that « things” wore afoot, A eno allowed entrance to the finally persuaded to secrete a loaf of bread, which he was each day to Mr. Byers’ © granted tomall. Hungry as Lewspaper was more welcome It was carcfully read and then news was electrifying. Atlanta contederates fying botore ible i iN Ls ? f j i f i | | &) | That night as Mr, Byers down ‘his prison pen to keep stirring incidents read in running in bis head, and into rhyme. A fellow music and the glee clab was much to the delight of all but guards, They, however, ag along with rebel songs, rd an lowa officer, Lieut, Tower wa who wore «clumsy wooden of the onc shot off, was exchanged. hollowed a place in the wooden leg the depository of many miasives from to frieuda in the north, otbers the words of Mr. Byers’ song. It was set to music in the north, and when be last liberated it was one of the first greet him on his return, but the tune is not as pretty aa the Prison, Fi ¢ i ii i 3 i =o? H wars ! i se 5 Ls Hi fe wow IT WAS SUNG. Petersburg had fallen! Richmond taken! Lee had surrendered! The had been fired and every prison south had been thrown wide open, One day in Mag thore was a gathering of men tm Wilmington, N. C. They were ragged, um kempt, diseased, half starved and altogether @ disreputable-looking jot But they were happy. They were free! and above their heads floated the old star spangled penmom, They were whet was left of the inmates of the Prison pens of the south. While the tre tf 5 f shaking each other's hands mighty endeavor to ‘fill up” on the “grub® sent a fine- own by the sanitary commission locking fell like a Mute, jcar, sprang upon be looked down ‘on the joy-crazy comrades about him he sang Adjutant Byers’ song. “Qur camp fires shone bright on the mountaia, ‘That frowned on the river below, While we stood by our guns in the morning And eagerly watched for the foe, When a rider came out from the darkness That hung over mountain and tree, And shouted, ‘Boys, up and be ready, For Sberman will nmrch to the sea’ Then cheer upon cheer for bold Shermam Went up from each valley and glen, And the bugles re-echoed the music That came from the lips of the men. For we kuew that the stars in our banner More bright in their «plendor would be And that blessings from uorthiand would greet ms Wheu Sherman marched down to the sea, Then forward, boys, forward to battle We marched on our wearisome way, And we stormed the wild hills of Resacs— God bless those who fell on that day, Then Kenesaw, dark in ite glory, Frowucd down on the flag of the But tue east and the west bore And Sherman marched down to the sea, Still onward we pressed till our banners Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls | And the blood of the me my a lhe soll where the traitor Yet we paused not to weep for the fallem, Who aiept by each river and But wo twined them a wreath of the laurel As Sherman marched down to the sea, ees was our army that morn’ flat stood where the pine darkly towers, When Sherman said. “Boys, you are weary This doy fair Savannah is ours” Then sang we a song for our chieftain ‘That echoed o'er river apd lea And the stars in our bann sbone brighter When Storman marched down to the sex << IN THE MEDICAL MUSEUM. Where Visitors Will Find Some naan ewe Did you leave a leg at Antictam? Would you like to see that arm thet you dropped at Gottysburg? Did you have any limbs at all taken off by the surgeon's knife during the war? If you did, and if you have any morbid ou riosity to see your erstwhile useful appendage, if you would like to shake hands with some grisly fingers or lock again upon the bone of « toe which perhaps once bore acorn thetcaused yous deal of trouble in your army brogans, you may have an opportunity to do 60. There isa placo here in Washington called the Army Medical Museum. They have a fine collection there of war relics im the shape of amputated legs and arms—choice specimens culled from the surgeon's table after many e sanguinary battle, They are all labeled and per- bape you can find yours among them. It would be like meeting « long-lost friend, wouldn't it? Kind of funny, eh, to see again thirty years ago? Doubtless you, would not recognize in this bleached and shattered bone your once shapely limb, which in your ‘days was a source of pride. But you could still feel asense of proprictorship in it, as of some old garment that had done you good service in days of yore. ‘There are several hundred skulls there, too, in ghasiy rows on the shelves, gripuing at you behind the glass casea, You are not likely to t H f: Floyd, the Secretary of War, angrily telo- gious memorials, but they were only shreds and oud ‘Intel has reached here this @id not materially affect ity size oF condition. | morning that you have abandoned Fort Moul- © being lowered at Sumter the flag was Sle, aplhed year quan berah Oo and ted ow the Haltic, which steamer trans- to Fort Sumter It is red Audterson and his command to the torth, there is no order for such movement THE ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON. Tt was late in the evening when they arrived displayed at the great demonstration ia | Explain the wae display meaning of on Square soon im New York.” correct. I certain that if