Evening Star Newspaper, September 22, 1892, Page 14

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C.. THURSDAY. a ’ > § SEPTEMBER 22, 1892—PART TWO. snk Shes THE SINKI (REPRODUCED FRoM THE CEN BOW THE KEARSAKGE ‘The Great Sea Fight Which Ended the Career of the Alabama. won. WHICH 18 REPRESENTED Now BY THE MODEL TH ORAND ALMY PLACE—noW UNCLE Sam's SAILoRs STOOD COOLLY BY THEIR GUNS. On Sunday morning, June 19. 1564, the United States sloop-of-war Kearsarze lay off and on the mouth of the harbor of Cherbourg, France. Under » slow bell and light canvas she kept just enough headway to remain ‘withim range of the entrance. It was a beau- tifal summer day. the atmosphere a little hazy and with just enough of a westerly breeze Blowing to curl into white caps the crests of the waves. By the time four bells struck the shad Been holystoned, the brass work polished and the ship looked as neat a* a pin, while the row stood around in their Sunday « All hands were awaiting the cali to divine service and s peaceful air pervaded the ship. A man leaning over the rail noticed « { steamer smoke in the direction of Ch ef it to the officer of th took a look through « < the approaching ever to tho starboard rai veseol more hurriediy he bastenc way and called oat, * Tbe cry passed ship and men aad officers ¢ from below.tining the starb. faces. There was no doffbt a! the famous confederate crui a curl be ‘osaly (REPRODUCED BY PERMISSIc Upon them with the stars and bars fluttering | fm the wind. Capt. Winslow ordered the ship | put about with her nose pointed sea Then the drum beat to general quarters and the ship was cleared for action. Every man sprang to his station with a will, andwhen the executive officer made his report to the cap- tain the ship was as quict and orderly as if a Quaker prayer meeting were going on instead @f proparations for a bloody battle. The Ala- Dama was escorted by the French frigate Cour- une tos distance of three marine miles from CAPT. WINSLOW. @e shore, when the foreigner turned back, see- fing that the battle was to be fought outside of | French jurisdiction. The race out to see con- | tunued, it being Capt. Winslow's intontiou to Grow his adversary as far away from neutral territory as possibic. BEARING DOWN UFOX Rarm oTHER When about seven miles off sbore, and al 20 o'clock, Captain Winslow put his helm dows, the ship came about and was headed direct for | the « ‘The two vessels seemed as if they Were trying to run each other down, but when | they had approached within a mile of each ether they suddenly sheered aside. ‘Then the trouble began. A puff of white smoke ran slong the Ala- Dame's side; then the boom of great guns, and | tars w roy BAMA. ¥ BY PERMISSION OF THE CENTURY COMPA! OX THE DECKS OF THE REARSARGE. They warmed up to action and jackets and shirts were peeled off whi with the regularity of | early part of the fight «sixty-pounder shell el on the quarter deck of the Kearsarge ex and wounded thre men at CAPT. SEXES. were quick! immediat earri wround A fe’ id th work ARGE. OF THE CE comPa’ tin, ich the two sl Her commander ¢ for he put abo g into neutral as secn that only two guus of | her port battery were working. Her side was shot away. The Kearsarge poured another At this last broadside a dying and wounded men. dered all mast drown, tance away from the wrec! plunged out of sight, sink 295 feet of water. An been watching the bath the request of Capt. rescue the Alabama’s ero around on spars and bits Pi twelv diately sailed for English and Surgeon Lewellyn we Tew w were woun killed outr: which every quarter shipping v sweeping State the glob: ed a the me ut T Ithat the Alabam of Cherbourg. fe im: that port, where hé f Alabama bad put in aud when Commander sarge he sent her a challe | accepted with the result Ch the crew of the Kearsarge listened to the hurt- Ung of solid shot through the air. The aim was THE (REPRODUCED bY PERME Mot good and the missiles whistied harmiesaly | through the rigging. dro fo windward or fulljag short of ther mark, Winslow increased his spec, bear the enemy silently at the pace of a gace horse. but without fring agun. The Ala- Bema dred two more broadsides with no better Beet than the tirstone. The crew of the Kear- or stood grimly by their guns, knowing that time was coming soon. When the two ships were loss than a thousand ge the Kearsarge sheered a bit and let enemy have her starboard | Ite ing mito the sea far % f as the solid shot plowed wna's frame. ry. tly seen. The crash of timbers | Ex; in nize and armament, rier of deal bo: an armored ed cruiser, e that shell stern Th England for the use of th ment, sitive wed to be launche took off the ceeded to the i & crow for the new cruiser, ed the great %inch pivot gun with = q disorder on the Kear- WE ASSAULT OF THE Goop orp sure | 4 Will. There was no Mere | sarge notwithstanding the enthusiasm, and each man kept his station, fulfilling his duty the sbip on fire, but"the fire was soon ex- Was seen that the Alabama was settling by the stern. deadly volley into the already disabled ship. A WHITE FLAG. over the stern of the Alabama and a small boat was dispatched tothe Kearsarge with an officer, ‘The Alabama was sink- ing fast and her decks were encumbered with shot away and unless help was promptly ren- While the Kearsarge yet remained some dis- nglish yacht which had le steamed up and at Winslow commenced to w, who were floating of wreckage. ‘This was the end of the famous Alabama, vr two rears had scoured the seas in 000.000 and virtually | > while the anchor off Flushing, Capt. Winslow was | The two ships were almost evenly matched | but the Kearsarge pos- | Sesscd one Vital advantage which proved her | Her sides wero sheathed hain cable, forming an nnpenetrabie on. but which was coucealed bye d he would not have foucht the Keat the shell which did not explode. Alabama was built by the Lairds of Her mission was suspected, but as no root could be Lrought she was al- a. When she was ready ged trial tri party of ladies and gentlemen safely in the channel she was met Azores, where she met hama, which had brought her arma: gether with Capt. Ser mes. the ile the hairy-chested clock work. In the t the after pivot gun. 1 below and only em~Knew that 2 w min! after thi fire alarm, but this | aboard ship caused | tthe guns A crew n emergency ra. A shel NY.) imes around the hips were fighting it evidently realized her ut with the intention wat When she white flag was shown who declared the surrender of the Alabama and begged for assistance. Her small boats were k the shattered hulk ‘ing stern foremost in She waters, Nin re drowned. e ‘ight and twenty-one . destroying federai | flag of the United | the fight we 4 was in the harbor | nediately set suil for | d the Alabama, The erbourg for repairs, | mcs saw the Kear- | nge to fight. It was # shown. ‘ith Virtually. the man-of-war fightin; Capt. Semmes The only shot which t could have done any which todged in her " confederate govern- vk rd. When a tug who : A UNCLE JERRY’S STAR. How the Fighting Colonel Won it at the Saukahatchie River, HE LED A DARING CHARGE. War Stories From the Career of Secretary Rusk—The Tribute of His Men to Their Gallant Commander—How Ne Took a Squad of Crippled Veterans to = Grand Army Reunion, ———__—_ HERE IS NOTHING small in the war record of Secrotary Jeremiah McLain Rusk of the Department of Agricul- ture. in that same business-like but in- formal way in which departmental matters are now handled Gen. Rusk achieved reputa- tion as @ soldier and rendered the troubled nation services which can never be paid for. The majority of those who entered the Union army were young men, but Gen. Rusk was one of thoso who entered the service possessed of that mental and phys- ical force which belongs especially to the mature man, He was just thirty-two years of ‘age when he went into the ficld, His interest in the strife antedated his active participation. For more than a year prior to his donning the blus he labored incessantly and successfully inthe encouragement of recruiting. In re- sponse to his efforts the twenty-fifth Wisconsin regiment came into military existence. It was mustered in in July, 1862, and Rusk might have been its first colonel. He declined tho proffered commission, though, and contented himself with a major’s rank. Ho did this be- cause, as he has since said: “I did not think I was competent to take command of a regi- ment, or that I had the experience neces- sary in military matters to fit me for any rank higher than that of major, which, at that time, I regarded as more ornamental than other- wise.” For once the keen-witted man was mis- taken. and in coming to the conclusion quoted did himself an injustice; to be simply orna- mental was not possible with him. From the egiuning he plunged heartily into the duties of his position andas a matter of fact was really commanding oflicer of the regiment. In buta little while he was promoted, and from that time until the rebellion ended there was no question as to who was at the head of the twenty-ficth Wisconsin. A FIGHTING COLONEL. He was a fighting coionel. On the 22d day of July, when McPherson died, Col. Itusk lost nearly one-third of his command, and the command came dangerously near to losing its | colonel. With characteristic bravery he rode | beyond the skirmish line in search of informa- | tion and suddenly found himself surrounded byarebel detachment, He was ordered to | surrender, but as he was in the Union army he did not feel called upon to obey. Bullets} zipped all around him, his horse was killed, his sword was lost. but the colonel reached his | comrades, A wound {hn one leg testified to the | warmth of the corner from which he escaped; | atleast ono dead rebel was silent testimony to the colonel’s skill with a revolver. IT MADE MOK A DRIGAD Of all the many exciting experiences in Gen. eer none are more worthy of note than his famous crossing of the Sauka- hatehie river, in February, 1885. The daring deeds of that day show the ian in his true colors, Gen. Mower’s division moving | northward from Lenufort, and as Col. Rusk’s regiment was in Gea. Mower’s division, why, of course, it was moving northward also. ‘There was great rivalry among the divisions as to which should firet reach the river, and in the race Mower was victorious, In the lead was the brigade to which Col. Rusk belonged, | SECRETARY KUSK. but because the brigade commander happened to be temporarily absent Gen. Mower ordered another brigade to the front. Col. Rusk was extremely indignant when he heard of the order and made perronal and warm protest against any discrimination beeauso of the brigade commander's absence. He did not want, said he, to be cheated out of the lead. The protest was for awhile unavailing. An- other brigade went to the front. By and by it ‘Was apparent toGen. Mower that the crossing was not under his controi;so he sent an aid to look up that colonel who was so anxious to get to the front. Col. Rusk was in the general's presence almost instantly, and as soon as he knew what was required of him procecded in- stantly to do most dangerous and daring duty. Down the narrow and shot-swept causeway charged the regiment, Rusk at itshead. Down dropped the brave men by scores. A scrap of shell disabled the colonel’s horse, but that did not prevent the colonel from leading the charge on foot. So terrific was the cannonade that Gen, Mower and his staff—who had tried to cross iu rear of the column—were compelled to dicmount and retreat until Rusk and his boys had possession of the crossing. It was the captare of this crossing that made the colonel a brigadier general. GEN. MoWeR'S COMMENT. Scarcely hud Col. {tusk returned to camp after performing the most meritorious work in even his war record. when he received ordera to report at once to Gen. Mower. “I was in doubt as to the kind of a reception I was going to get.” said Gen. Rusk. when teiling the story of that interview. “Mower used to get a little full sometimes, “There was no lick of warmth in the reception accorded the colonel. Said Gen. Mower: “I sent for you because youare the only man in this army or in any other army that I ever saw who could ride further into hell than Mower. Iwant you to take a drmk with me. The offer was declined, because Gen, Rusk never drank intoxicating liquor in his life. but the two warriors ate xupper tozother and w fom ifrlends from that day until Gen. Mower’s THE TRIBUTR oF 1s xEy. When Gen. Rusk's regiment was mustered out at Madison at the close of the war the of- ficers and men united in the preparation of a letter in which their commander was spoken of in the highest terms as one “than whom thero is none more gallant and daring,” who “Asked nothing and received little,” and who was at once “a gentleman, a soldier and a hero.” Gen. Sprague, under whom Gen, Rusk served during the greater portion of his army li also commended the Wisconsin soldier for hie efféctive gallnu try. a pe lashed together i Eh} i Veterans have p 4 fc When he was gow ‘wr of Wisconsin he was ited to attoné } Grands my eam skill when he presented the general's name in nomination to the republican national conven tion of 1883, He said: “When the fearful cloud which had been so long gathering in our polit- ical sky burst upon the country with the fury of a tempest; when the flag was no longer sacred from the assaults of treason; when the Union, the source of all our strength and pros- Perity and hope, was to struggle for its life, he answered the call of Lincoln, ot leaving those who were dearer than aughtelso on earth buthis country, he sought siraightway the front, and there he rode again and again, calm and in- trepid, on bioody fields where the missiles of the enemy ‘were weaving tho air with lines of death and dangsr’ sbove hic and bout him; and he turned homeward his face only when the angel of peace gave the glad command ‘Right about,’ and he saw the under whose folds ho had’marched and fought’ with Sher- man to the sea, the emblem of a Union re- deemed and regenerated by patriot valor and blood, ‘with a star for every state and a state for overy star,’ aud under God's blessing the only flag ever again to float upon the breeze as the ensign of our people. Loved by thoso whom he had led, Lonored and trusted by those under whom he had served. he marched back, with the star of a general upon his shoulde well earned in the hell of battle, to give aga’ into the keeping of his state, stained and tat- tered, but glorified by battle names never to be forgotten, the standard whioh he had bore with him to the front,” A KANSAS VETERAN, ‘The Representative of the State in the Coun- cil of Administration. Capt. J. D. Barker, the representative from Kansas in the national council, was born near Marietta, Ohio, February 16, 1832. Like many 4 thousands of the veterans of the Union army he spent bis boyhood days upon a farm. At the age of eighteen he went to Marietta and engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he was eugaged when the war broke out. On September 18, 1861, he enlisted in the first Ohio volunteer cavalry. October 5, 1861, he received a commission as first heutenant, com- pany L. On March 31, 1863, he was commis- sioned captain of company L. At Murfrecs- boro’, .. he tendered his’ resignation on a In January, 1862, Capt. Barker was detaiied and ordered to report to aj. Gen. George H. Thomas, near Louisville, Ky., where he was assigned ‘to duty as com= ander of escort and acting aid-de-camip. When Gen. Thomas was assigned to the com- mand of the Army of the Cumberland Com- rade Barker was relieved from duty on tho fourteenth army corps and assigned to duty a aid-de-camp and acting assistant inspector general, Army of the Cumberland, which posi- tio id “until mustered out, 1864. after leaving the army he returned to Marietta aud again engaged in business, In 1869 he removed to Barton’ county, Mo., and from there to Girard, Kan., mn 1874. Here he began as a hard- Ware merchant, and in 1882 engaged in the kirg business. Ho assisted in orgunizing the First National Bank of Girard, Kan., in 1884, and was elected a director and president, Capt, Barker was elected by the Kansas Depart- ment, G. A. R., a delegate to Portland, Me., in 1855, San Francisco in’ 1556, St. Louis’ in 1887, and at the latter city was the national council of ad lected a member of ninistration, OF THE WAR, Some Comparixons That Show the Vastness . of the Military Operations. Figures and their combinations tell some strange stories when applied to certain epochs in civil and religions governments. ‘They adorn graphic tales and point stupendous mor- ufortunately the statistican whose meat and drink, whose whole idea of life and only conception of pleasure is embraced by appall- ing rows of figures, fixes them up in such amaz- ingly complicated tabies that the ordinary brain cannot comprehend them, He spends all the best years of his life reducing to a sc ence this fantastic arrangement of the world’ history in figures on a postsl card, like the en. graver who puts the Constitution on a gold dollar, forgetting alike that the average mind iy not, scientific and the average “constitu- tional” reader does not carry a mag- nifying glass with him, hence the costly tables and sacrifice of eyesight is in vain; as well set before the primer class a table of Chinese hierogiyphics. Yet if you translate the Chinese into “United States” the primer class can comprehend it. Just so it is with these all-embracing tables. "If you say that the war for Union cost the United ‘States govern. ment three and one-half billion of dollars the man who never earned above a dollar a day in bis life can take in the magnitude of the sum. But if you set before that mana long table of figures showing im neat parallel columns the suis set apart for subsistence in the civil war aud that spent in the revolutionary war, with othcr columuscomparing expenditares tor ammunition, clothing, bountics, salarie: if you were ‘to show the loans negotiat Vonded indebtedness, the enormous principal and tho princely interest, he would stagger tke one with tie sunstroke and declare that war was a failure because it cost too many li and too much money, But if you were to say to him that in the prison pens of Raleigh, Salis bury and Andersonville more men died of ps lence and starvation then the British had troops in the allied army at the commencement of the battle of Wuterioo he would catch on immedi- ately, History has told him that the effective strength of the British army at Waterloo was 25,389 men, and he knows that nearly 30,000 brave men died by inches In those three south- ern prisons, ‘Lhere are some wonderful tables sent out by the War Departinent in the Hecords of the Kebellion, but nobody ever takes time to read them. Afew plain figures taken from thove records, however, will be of interest to the veterans now in the city, When the southern states seceded from the Union over, one-cighth of the population of the country consisted of slaves. Of these 175,000 entered the United States service before the close of the war and fought nobly for their own freedom, Tie first troops were volunteers, and there was no drafting or conscripting until 1863. In the army aud uavy forces there were nearly three millions of men engaged in the detense of the flag. Of this number something like | sixty-seven thousand were regulars, or belonged to the “standing army” of the United States, All the prominent officcrs and many of tho minor oues Were men whom the government educated at West Point, Of the troops in the Union army two-thirds were American born and of the one-third for- eign born most of them were naturalized cit zeus. They eulisted at first for “three month: and were called “‘ninety-diy” men; then tho enlistments were m&de for a year, and toward the end for “three vears or the war.” ‘The northern army was divided into twenty- fivearmy corps, consecutively numbered, and ‘one cavalry corps, It is estimated that of every thousand men in the Union army seventy-three men on the sick list and 23 absent for various re:.sons was the general average, leaving 693 reporting for duty. The number of men who deserted reached 199.045; those dismissed from the service, 2,423; those dishonorabiy discharged, 2.693; cashiered, 274; executed by sentence, 7, taking @ total of 204,442 who disgraced the army blue. The number of men killed in battle and died on the field was 61,362. There were 94,773 died of wounds, 183.287 died of disease, 806 were accidentally killed, 6,749 were missing in action and never accounted for, 174.577 wero honorably discharged, 224,396 wero discharged for disability aud 22,261 resigned. Summing up all the losses trom disease, bat- tle and casualty, it is estimated that half a million men lost their lives in the war of the orthy uate fn Slptory,aretagttgs Soo toa, w @ name in Y, av wo tes a day for cach day of the war. In 150 of these battles the 500 Who will now dare say that thirteen isan unlucky number? THE ORIGIN OF THE sTRIres. It has been suggested that the stripes on our flag as a symbol of union wore derived from the flag of the Netherlands, which consisted of three horizontal stripes, symbolic of the rise of THE STARRY BANNER. How Men Have Fought for the Grand Old Flag. THE SYMBOL OF UNION. The Story of the American Fing—Sor.\e In- teresting Incidents in Its History—A ¥a- mous Battle Flag—Brave Color Bearers of the War. ap aS | HE FOS OF ACOLOR guard ‘a the field dur- ing the “late unpleas- antness" was one of dan- ger as woll as honor. Attached to the right center company im the line, the guard con- sisted of a sergeant and seven corporals, se- lected from true and tried soldiers — the bravest of the brave, The colors were borne in the van of the fight and usually in the thick- estof thefray. They were moat frequently the point of attack, for to capture them was glory, to lose them disgrace. Death has been con- sidered preferable to life with their losa In- stances are numerous of their being torn from the staff aca last resort and wrapped aroand the body of one of their defenders, and, sup- ported by hix comrades in the forlorn hope, or unaided, the colors were thus snatched from the enemy's grasp. Thoy were borne at tho head of the charge and desperate were the efforts made to plant them on the enemy's works, In a repulse they wore the rallying Point of those who came out of the fiery ordeal of the charge with their lives, In victory they were the salient point of the enemy's attack in their attempts to dislodge the victors, regain their lost ground and capture the colors, THE RATTLYSNAKE FLAG. | the Dutch republic from the union at Utrecht, | Another suggestion attributes its origin to | the fact that the continental army of 1775 was without uniform and tho officers of the differ- | ent grades were distinguished by means of a | stripe of ribbon, The daily view of these, the THE EUTAW FLAG. only distinguishing marks of rank, would naturally suggest the same device for repre- senting the United Colonies, It is also sug- gested thet it is possible the stripes upon our flag were selected by Washington because of the stripes on bis own escutcheon. They were also one of the devices on the flag of the troop Of light horse which accompanied Washington from Philadelphia to New York when proceed- ing to assume command of the army at Cam- bridge. Mr. Chas. Ebert of the clothing and equip- ment bureau of the War Department, who has given considerable thought and study to this Subject. has a theory of his own in re the origin of the stripes on the Americ and which has never becn published, Mr. Ebert to the writer: “When Washington's army was encamped at Cambridge our country was very poor and the ports were blockade by the British, Washington needed a distine- tive flag for his army. Material with which to make flags was very difficult if not impossible to obtain, Not having the material to make FLAG OF THE SECOND WISCONSIN. Tattered and torn, smoke-begrimed and faded, the colors of the second Wisconsin regi- ment of infantry of the famous “Iron Brigade of the West” bears no distinctive device except the legend “The Second Wisconsin.” It is simply the dear old stars and stripes, and the bullet holes, more eloquent than words, tell the story of its glory and the hard fighting the regiment did. ‘This regiment belonged to the first corps, of which Col. William F. Fox, a recognized authority, says: “At Gettysburg in the battle of the first day this corps (the first) did somo of the best fighting of the war with no other protection than the flannel blouses which covored their stout hearts.” ‘The second Wisconsin, according to Fox's “Regimental Losses in the Civil War,” sus- tained the greatest percentage of loss of any in the entire Union—19.7 per cent—and the brigade to which it belonged, in proportion to ita numbers, the heaviest of any in the war, the regimental loss —238—being the greatest in the brigade and in all the armies of the Union, and the brigade loss—1,131— being the heaviest sustained by any brigade in any of the armies of the United States during the civil war, Mr. Fox says: “Tho loss in the second Wis- consin indicates the extrome limit of danger to which human life 1s exposed in a war of similar duration and activity to the American civil war. “But the figures of the second Wisconsin and of the other regiments as well fail to show the full percentage of loss. The actual percentage was much larger. The figures given are based upon the total enrollment of the regiment and necessarily include. the non-combatants, the musicians, teamsters, company cooks, officers’ servants, surgeons’ assistants and quartermas- ters’ men; also the sick, the dotailed men and absentces of all kinds, If the percentage were based upon the number of men who were accustomed to follow the colors into action the figures would bo still more startling. But there is no place to draw the dividing ine, so the total enrollment must be taken. As all regi- ments are pretty much alike in respect to the non-combutants, it shows fairly their relative positions int point of loss, hese figures, let it be remembered, include only the killed and mortally wounded. To un- derstand their full significance one must bear in mind the additional loss of wounded men who survived their injuries, many of them surviving only to drag out their marred and crippled lite along a tower plane of existence. In the second Wisconsin nearly 900 men were killed and wounded, leaving but few unharmed of thoso who carried arms THE PALMETTO FLAG. new flags what more natural than that he should take the old British flag, with the united St. Andrew's and St. George's crosses in the: union and the red field. and stitch white stripes longitudinally across tive field, thus producing the flag which floated over his camp at Cam- bridge.” ~ WE THE FIRST FLAG OF REVOLUTION. Saturday, June 14. 1777. nearly a year after the Declaration of Independence. the Ame Congress resolved “That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the uuion be thirteen star white in'a blue field. representing a new con- stellation, record of the discussion which must have preceded the adoption of the stars | and stripes has been preserved and wo do uot | know to whom we are indebted for them. It has been said that both the stars aud: stripes have been suggested by the coat-of-arms of Washington, which, by a singular coincidence, contained both. It is claimed that a Mrs, John Rosa, an up- holsterer. who resided on Arch street, Phila- delphia, Pa., was the maker of the first flag combining the stars and stripes. Her des- cendants assert that a committee of Congress, accompanied by Gen. Washington, who was im Philadelphia in June, 17 ed upon Mra, Ross and engaged her to m 0 flag frox rough drawing, which, at ner suggestion, was redrawn by Gen. Washington with pene! her back parlor, and the dag thus designed was Although the resolution establishing the flag Was not officially promulgated by the secretary of Congress uutil Se well authenticated ¢ ripes were carried nt the battle of the Brandywins, September 11, 1777. and thenccforward during all the battles of the revolution. Soon after its adoption the new flag was hoisted on the naval vessels of the United States, The ship Ranger, bearing the stars and stripes and communded by Capt. Paul Jones, arrived at a French port about December 1, 1777, and her flag received, on February 14, 1778, the first salute ever paid to the American flag by foreign naval vesrels. On March 4, 1791, Ver:nout was admitted to sisterhood of the Union. and on June 1, 1792, Kentuc also admitted, Act was passed, in consequence of this incr of states. increasing the stars and stripes on our flag from thirteen to filteen, This act was not to take effect until May, 1795. The accession of new states subsequently made some changes in the flag desirable. on the admission of Indiana, in 1816, Mr. | Peter Wendover of New York offered a resolu. tion that a committee be appointed to inquire THE FINE THEE FLAG, The stars and stripes so cobly defended by tho second Wisconsin, and the other regiments of the Union armies whose glorious achieve- ments ere matters of history, seems to have | come down to ns by a sort of process of avo! | tion, “It was born of liberty and revolution and permanentty established by rebellion.” Year by year it has added bright stars to ite nal thirteen, until now the dazzling con- steliation on ity'biue union consists of forty- four, an inercase of thirty-one, ** long may it » O'er the land of the free Aud the home of the brave.” The fings first used by the colonies were naturally those of Great in, the “mother country.” ‘These were followed. when the liberty began to sweep over the land, jous devices, The ad not come into exixténce when, tho batt of Bunker Hill and Lexingtou were fought by | custom has, it is believed, been | containe alternate red and white; that the union have | twenty stars, white in a bi eld; that on admission of every new »! into the Un.ioa one star be added to the union of the flag and that such addition shail take effect. on the one ot July next succeeding such admis sion.” Inthe war with Mexico the national fag | twenty-nine stars in its union. ‘The Upion flag of the civil war was a fing of thirty-four sters, Although a star was added in 1863 by the admission of West V Another in 1864 by the admission of Nevada, tue regiments gencrally rotained the battic- scarred flag of thirty-four stars which they had carried into the conilict at its beginning. In none of the acts of Congress relating to the flag bas the manner of arransing the stare been prescribed, and in consequence there has beea alack of uniformity in the matter, and flags in use of the public in general may be seen with the stars arranged in various ways, The early custom was to insert the stars in arallel rows across the biue field, and this pserved in the navy, at least since SIA, at which tim Prosident ordered the stars to be arra such manner on the national flag used navy. in the army, too, marry across the biue field, but rows; the effect, however, he naval flag. Hercafter there will be no it is believed the stars t always in vertical | cing about the same | ditt ce in tho | the army and navy, as an agreemen' rived at between the War and Naty Departments on | the subject. The national flags hoisted at camps or forts are made of bunting of American manufacture, They are of the following three sizes: The storm and recruiting flag. measuring exght fect in length by four feet two 4 the post flag, meaeuring twenty {ec by ten feet in width; the ¢: uring thirty feet in | s in width (th ag is hoi ply on he and great occastons), is one-t of the length of the fag and extends to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from t top. dhe nationa! colors carried b infantry and a: gineers. on p: or in batt silk and are six fect six inches lon wide, and mounted on stails. ‘The fiel colors is thirty-one inches in lengt! tends to the lower edge of the fourth re from the top. ta of regime nd the batta of the d ex- stripe FIFTEEN STARS AND FIFTEEN STRIPES. The sizes of flags used in the army and navy are not fixed by but are prescribed by army and navy regulations. The American of the present day has forty-four stars in six rows, the upper and lower rows having cizht stars, and the second, third, fourth and fifth rows seven stars each, in a blue field, arranged as follows: There was considerable reluctance on tho art of many of the people of the sonth to re- guish the stars and stripes. which was a part | oft he history of their section of the country as wellas of that of the north. When they finally did adopt a flag they made it as much like the old flag as possible, in recognition of this seatiment; so much 40, indeed, that they made him acquainted with the facts amd he lost no time in putting to sea, On April 12, IM, the bombardment of Sumter commenced "An Interesting seconnt of the fag episode in connection with this bombarducnt is given elsewhere im these columns. The next fag episode of and the fret bloot- din the war of the rebollion (if te except utal explosion at Sumter) wae at Donal capital, was ottacked trecta of that 4 several Mm: jag carried by the presented to that eloquent addross by Gor Andrews Mossachusette, The standard bearer was Timothy Crowley, a chowrr of ate ad other missiles and the firing of firearms he moved #t ‘on at the head of his rogiment Paving stones flew fast aud regiment in an THE PLO oF IIR thick, some Just graz: t ng the standard bearer's ing the standard steelf, 1g aloft aud never fimehed. rge stone struck hitn just between ders a terrible blow. and then rested psack. remaining there until one of th ant upand knocked it off. When the raw rs who thus early re- fponded to their rv's call were of such stall was it a: that as veterans they saved the Unt On Then follow the Ellsworth New York), recruited from of New York, occhpied the fireme aria, V: ‘ federate flag fi and ascended to the roo Securing it, leaving Private Francis E. Brow- neil at the foot of the gurret stair, On des scending thove stairs with the flag im bis hands he was shot through the heart by James T, Jackson, the k the second bar | The latter shall Howe, the purpose of was lying dea confederate fag, was wrapped abs sident Lincoln was aeeply affected. by Mis eath. Lilsworth having endeared himeelf to him while escorting him to the capita, The Temains lay in state in the east room of the White House for several bi it to the stars Orleans in J was run up r of Admiral re guard was placed over the flag but the howite Zers in the maintop of the Hartford it, The gun crews wer persons e seen to interfere with itto fire Upon them and the au were informed of these instructions. They were also in that so long as the be understood that th (it being Impossibi make a to be taken the city had resumed b fodlowed by bombardm e flag was torn down by a mob, led one Wm. . Mumford, 4 gambier. and the flag was torn in strips and 4 emong the rabbi of whom, f xample of Mumford, wore a button- holes. While Farra cere attending divine services on board « guns in the muintop bearing on discharged, without effect, how locks of some of tiem pulled, Lut the ordnance officer, fearing rain, hed before be went below gone around the battery and removed irom the vente ali the wafcrs by were forced to adopta distinct battle flag, the southern cross, as the stars and bars were which the guns were fired. to keep them dry, and nota gun auswered fire, Thus the cil frequently mistaken for the stars and stripes, and vice versa, on the battlefield. About the time the south was agitating the was saved from bombardment Farragut ecnt his bont ashore to see why the flag had been taken down and was informed that it was dove question of a distinctive device for their flag a by some persons whoily unauthorized. Mun novel proposition was made by the anti-cocr- cionists.led by Prof. 8.F. B. Morse,the inventor, who was the originator of ‘the idea. It was to divide the old flag. giving half each to the north and south. ‘The blue union was to be diagoually divided, according to this scheme, and the thirteen stripes longitudinally, so as to make six and a half stripes in the upper and a like number in the lower portion, “Referring tothisason a map,” said the advocates of a divided flag, “the upper portion being north aud the lower portion being south, we have the upper diagonal division of the blue ficld and the upper six and a half stripes for the | northern flag and the lower diagonal division of the blue field and the six and a half lower stripes for the southern flag, the portion of the blue field to contain the stars to the number of states embraced in exch confederacy. ‘The reasons for such a d.vision are obvious. It reroute all dispate on a claim for the old flag WW either confederacy, Itis distinctive, for the two cannot be mistaken for cach other, either ateea or at a distance on land. Each flag being # moiety of the old fing will retain som thing at least of the sacred memories of the past for the sober reflection of each confeder and if a war with séme foreign nation combination of nations should unbappily occur (all wars being Unhappy) under our treaty of offense and defense the two sepx 7 natural aftinity, would clasp fi ly together, and the glorious old flag of the Union, in its entirety, would again Le hoisted, once more embracing ail the sister states.” But the “boys in bine” knew a trick worth two of that, and they march along today as the folds of the “glorious old flag of the Union, in its entirety wbraclug all the sister states,” and a few more added, and have the satisfaction of knowing that it is through their efforts that this . ‘hey then resolved that it should not be divided. and it was not, and, thank God, it never shall be, Dix penned his famous dispatch ¥ 29, 1861, concluding with the words, oue attempts to haul down the Ameri. stripes, Although Geu, Dix afterward rendered valuable service to his couutry other than t exhibition of patriotism, love for old dag and Union backbone he is mo: remembered as the author of that dispa than for anything else beever did. It was sent in answer to a telegram from W. Hemphill Jones, whom ke had sex: soath for the purpose of saving to the United States governmen: the revenue cutters at New Oricans and Mobile and who telegraphed from New Oriceus that Capt. Breshwood of the reveuue cutter Me- Clelland retused to obey orders and was about to fly the flag of Louisiana, The sentient it «1 1ound echo in the hearts of the great of the people of the loyal states, ¢ first shot tired at Sumter during the bombardment in April, 1861, is asually referred to as the “first gan of ‘the coufederacy.” and it seems to be the popular impression that this t« so, but the stars and stripes had been fired Upon prior to that event Ly the secessionists, Ou ‘the morning of Junuery ¥, 1861, the steamer Star of tue West, with 200 men, under command of Lieut, Chax R Woods, Ul 8. A, audasupply of arms and stamunition and threc months’ rations on board for the relict of the garrison of Fort Sumter, steamed up Charleston harbor to within three quarters of & mile of the fort, when she was opened on by @ masked battery. Lieut, Woods in his report said: “We went into the harbor with the American ensign hoisted on the : andassoon as the first shot was fired a full: size garrison flag was displayed at our fore, but the one was no more respected than the other. We kept on still under the fire of the battery, most of the balls passing over Us, one just miseing the machin ery and another etrikiug but a few feet from the rudder, while a ricochet shot struck us may . t iH bls Hl ite rand Army of the Republic, under the | re | teh | b tord was afterward captured, tried by mili trial, found guilty and hus execution ord by Gen. Bou}. F. Butler. He was cxocuted at the scene of his crime, under the shadow of the stars and stripes. Por this act and other alleged nets Butler was prociaimed an outiai by Jo Davis, and Richard Yeadon offered a reward of $10,000 for his capture, dead or alive, To Lieut. J. L. de Peyster and Capt. Lang- dou belong the honor of raising the first American flag over the capitol at Richmond after the capture of that place by the Union forces April 3, 1365. The flag formerly beionged | to the twelfth Maine voluutecrs, Two | guidons had, by y over the building twoof Gen, Weitzel’s etal hese were replaced by the fag that and Langdon raised. This flag liad seen active service in New Orleans when Gen. formerly colonel of the twelfth Maine, was ‘the miliary governor of that city, and some time before the movem on Richmond the general made a wager that it would wave ottr the capitol of the c y, and he intrusted to Lieut, de Poyst emt, by the governor of ti for gallant and mer he firet pas wer- flag over | coloucl of United States volunteers for the same ervi Itissaid that Color Sergeant Jefferson Foster of the ’ derly Serge: York art ereeant, take this star it ¢ Jast of thirty-four from our old ting. The retaainder ure shot away in eleven battles— 7, Br Rappahannock Station and Mine Ran, and it I am not permitted to take it to the ladics who the duty for me and teil tieu Wilderness = four wounds ted it on O48 color bearer who bad received ied his a | of the enemy | its deadty moath bad rise | fellow, after standing ou the cac waving his alle r0u8 ay press: the cnemy gave | Victory crowned the Union arms A newspaper account of the battle of Bel- | mont, November 8, 1861, xays that after the | bettie a wounded man with Loth legs shot off as found im the woods xinging "Th r Spangied Banner.” But tor these circumstances | the surgeous said they would not have discov- | erea him. it may be well to mention here what might | be 1 the apochrsplial flag episodes of tho | war. It hus been said that Luther C, Ladd, soldier of the sixth Massachusetts ay and ssing through the stroets of Baltimore, re- ing a bull saluted the flag and exclaiming, “All hail the s.ars and siripes,” fell iitelons. iia ‘The Wood of Chancetiorsviie. DELIA K. GERMAN. ‘The ripe red berries of the wintergreen Lure me to pause aw! In Ubls deep, tangied wood. Tetop and lean Down where these wild flowers smlle, And Test me in this shade; for many & mile Ferree lane and deny street, ve walked with weary, w And wow I tarry mild this wowand scene, "Mong ferns and mosses sweet.