Confederate Flag Returned - Putnam

Sixty years ago, a Confederate flag was found flying from a 90’ staff on the Memphis bluff by a detachment of Indiana troops entering the city.  It was cut down and sent back to Indiana.  A few months ago Mayor Paine got it and turned it over to the Memphis Historical Society. For a time, the flag was not identified. Finally Judge JP Young discovered that it was a garrison flag. The judge has written a short sketch of the incident which the Commercial Appel prints below, together with the letters acknowledging receipt of the flag. One of the most interesting episodes of Memphis history in regard to her passing from under the sovereignty of the Confederate States, June 6, 1862, was brought to light by the magnificent action of a group of aged Civil War soldiers at Greencastle, Indiana recently. This was in the return to the city of Memphis of the official garrison flag of the Confederate military post of Memphis, captured as the result of the gunboat battle in front of this city on that date.  At the close of the engagement two flags of truce were sent into the city by the Union commanders of the respective gunboat fleets, Commander Charles Ellett, Jr of the former and Flag Officer CH Davis of the latter. The Mayor, John Park, replied in effect that there were no Confederate forces here and that the civil authorities of the city had no means of defense and the city was in their hands meaning of the Union forces. An officer had been sent ashore to take charge of the custom house and post office building, now the Woman’s building at the northeast corner of Third & Jefferson Street but the beautiful silk garrison flag remained flying defiantly on its lofty pole, planted where Confederate Park now lies between North and South Court streets on Front Street.  In a moment of enthusiasm the Confederates had nailed their national banner to the top of a pole, 90’ high, removing all cords from the pole.  A detachment of the 43rd Indiana Infantry was sent ashore to lower this flag, but finding it nailed to the pole obtained axes and cut the pole down. When it fell the members of the detachment pulled the colors loose and sent them home. With the fall of that flagpole the city of Memphis passed forever from the jurisdiction of the Confederate States back under that of the United States.

Now, after the lapse of 61 years the galland survivors realizing that the former warring sections are one nation and one people under one flag resolved to return the silken banner, symbol of a nation that lived battled and was lost in the dim past to the city from which then had carried it in triumph during the great conflict.  It was sent to Mayor Rowlett Paine of our municipality and by him turned over for safe keeping to the Memphis Historical Society which will provide suitably for its repose. The flag still bright in its coloring, is of pongee silk and of the original type of Confederate national banner a blue field with 11 stars and three stripes, red, white and red.  The surviving donors, all of Company B, 43rd Indiana are: Robert W. Allen, President; James A. Jackson, Secretary; John T. Magill; Thomas Thompson; Jerry H. Stele; Lyman Thompson; Milton Carrington; BF Collins and Edward Ramsey and these aged and chivalrous veterans live in and about Greencastle, Ind. They made no mistake in the motive which donated the gift nor in the character of the people who received it back into their custody after so many years. The Memphis Historical Society contains on its rolls veterans of both armies and they are united loyal to our great nation with its constitutional government. And the Memphis Historical Society for itself and our people accepts gratefully this trust reposed in it by this little group of aged Union veterans and will transmit to them its greeting of friendship.  The following letter from the captors throws an interesting light on the incident: Greencastle, Ind June 16, 1923 – Hon. JP Young, President of the Memphis Historical Society, Memphis, Tenn –

Dear Sir: We are pleased to acknowledge the receipt of your courteous inquiry in reference to the old Confederate flag which by his request was sent to the mayor of the city of Memphis on Nov 18 1922 with a history of the flag. (Your letter of recent date is the only information that we have had that the flag was ever received).  A brief history of the flag: On June 6, 1862 on the river opposite the city of Memphis occurred one of the most terrible gunboat battles of the Civil War. The result was a federal victory, the smoke of battle had not cleared away until the 43rd Indiana Regiment commanded by Col. WL Farrow was landed and took possession of the city. Capt. MH Darnall of Company B 43 Indiana was ordered to take his company surround the flagpole, cut it down which he did, secured the flag and sent it north to his home. The flag remained in possession of Capt. Darnall’s family until about 30 years ago the survivors of Company B 43rd Indiana met and formed a memorial society, elected Comrade RW Allen permanent president. The flag was then turned over to the Company B Society. At our last annual meeting and reunion held last September 1922 and as our ranks had been cut down by death to only 8 or 9 members, it was decided to discontinue our annual reunions and return the flag to the city where it was captured over 60 years ago. Trusting that the act will be fully appreciated, especially by the old Confederate veterans of 1861 to 1865 who so bravely defended the flag and cause they believed to be right. With fraternal greetings and best wishes to all concerned, we beg to remain: Sincerely yours, James A. Jackson, Secretary – Robert W. Allen, President.  The survivors who participated in the capture of the flag are John T. Magill; Thomas Thompson; Jerry H. Steele; Lyman Thomas; Milton Carrington; BF Collins and Edward Ramsey.  The society’s letter of acknowledgement follows:

Memphis, Tenn July 3, 1923 – Survivors of Company B, 43rd Indiana – Robert W. Allen, President; James A. Thompson; Jerry H. Steele; JA Jackson, secretary; John T. Magill; Thomas Thompson; Jerry H. Steele; Lyman Thomas; Milton Carrington; BF Collins; Edward Ramsey.

Gentlemen: Asked by Judge JP Young, president of our historical society to send resolutions regarding your chivalrous action in placing in keeping a banner dear to all southern hearth, I pause, feeling that no formal resolutions would be adequate.  Instead I am moved as American to American, each proud of our nation, each solicitous of her experiences of joy or sorrow to offer some thing quite different. To proffer comradeship, warm understanding, appreciation and such thanks as your general hearts will fully comprehend. Sending these may we not claps hands across the miles that intervene and hope that if not here we may meet on “the great camping ground under the white banner of the Prince of Peace… with all fraternal cordiality – Annah Robinson Watson – VP, Memphis Historical Society, 132 N. Montgomery Street.