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Return of a Confederate flag to its original owner.

The Washington Post December 20, 1891 published the correspondence which is here subjoined. In an editorial headed ‘Literature for Patriots,’ in its issue of the following day, a sentiment is sounded which should find universal echo. After an expression that the correspondence ‘makes instructive and encouraging reading,’ the Post continues:

General Colby, now a prominent and distinguished assistant to the Attorney-General, was among the most gallant officers of the Union army during the war between the States. On scores of desperate and bloody fields he made good his title to the respect and admiration of his countrymen. That he is as magnanimous in peace as he was intrepid in war the tone of his letter to General [264] Maury makes abundantly evident. On the other hand, General Maury has an excellent record from the day he left West Point until the present time. In 1859 he compiled the tactics for mounted riflemen, which for many years afterward were followed by the United States cavalry. A Virginian and a devoted Southerner, he took his place with his own people in a war that he had no hand in provoking. After the surrender and the restoration of the imperiled Union he returned at once to peaceful pursuits, and, among other occupations, organized and conducted the Southern Historical Society. Ten years later he gave to the national war records' office the vast and valuable collection of historical material which the society had accumulated. In 1879 General Maury set on foot the movement for the development and coherent organization of the militia of the country, and has ever since been one of the most active members of the executive committee of the National Guard Association of America.

In a word, General Maury is as devoted and patriotic a citizen and as genuine a representative of a class, to-day, as is his distinguished correspondent, General Colby. He compressed into a single sentence the feeling of all the brave and honorable men, who, like him, fought in defence of their profound convictions when he wrote to General Colby and said: ‘When next we fight, General, it will be side by side.’

It is pleasant and reassuring to read such letters as were interchanged between these two gallant survivors of the war of thirty years ago. The return to General Maury of the tattered Confederate flag that floated over his headquarters constitutes only the vehicle for an utterance of sentiments that do honor to American manhood. Such restorations have been frequent during the past twenty years, and in every instance they have been productive of the happiest results. They have brought out the fact that gallant men are very much alike in every quality that goes to make good citizens, and they show that the glory and perpetuity of the Union stand in no peril at the hands of those who took up arms for the Confederacy in 1861.

Sir: I present you herewith the Confederate flag, which was taken April 12, 1865, at Mobile, Ala., on the surrender of that city to the [265] Federal troops. You will remember that Spanish Fort was captured April 2d, Fort Blakely taken by charge April 9th, and Mobile occupied by the Union forces April 12th, and that this old, tattered, bullet-pierced and torn banner floated over your headquarters during all those days, weeks, and months at the close of the great rebellion, and that it really waved over the last great battle-field of the Southern Confederacy.

I was informed that this flag was made and presented to you as the Confederate general in command of the Department of Alabama by the patriotic ladies of Mobile, to take the place of a former larger one that had been totally destroyed by a shell; certainly the scantiness of material, as well as its home-made appearance, would indicate that such was the case, which, I presume, will be verified by your recollection.

Accept this conquered flag, and with it the friendly hand of one who wore the blue, and let it be a token of that amity which should possess the hearts of all good citizens, and bind the North and South together in a strong and lasting union, under the loved banner of our common country.

I was on the other side and served with the Union forces at the places mentioned, taking part in the closing victories and entering the city at its surrender. I have kept the flag all these years, and now turn it over to you with feelings of peace and good will and with such thronging memories as come only to those who participated in the terrible struggle of those ‘days of darkness and glory.’

Believe me, very respectfully, your obedient servant,


Washington city, December 19, 1891.
dear General Colby:
I have received with very great pleasure my old flag, the Confederate flag, which as you say, floated over the last great battlefield of the war between the States.

Your kindly letter which accompanied it has given me more pleasure, if possible, than your restoration of the flag.

Your generous act and manly words give strong evidence of the high character of the men who fought for the Union, and may be an example to those who, having no heart for manly warfare, can only revile and hate us who fought for our Confederate homes. [266]

I shall, with your approval, transfer this old flag to the Governor of Alabama, who, like yourself, was a gallant soldier in the great war which has placed on record the fiercest battles ever fought.

When we fight again, General, it will be side by side.

May you have many happy returns of this season of peace and good will you have so happily illustrated.

With high respect and warmest wishes for your happiness and prosperity, I am

Sincerely yours,

Dabney H. Maury. To General L. W. Colby, Department of Justice.

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