THE TERRY RANGERS’ FLAG.
One most remarkable incident I must not fail to add: As stated
heretofore, the Terry Rangers of which I was a member, lost a beautiful
flag sent us by a couple of young ladies of Nashville, made of their
dresses, which after the first engagement wherein it was displayed, near
Rome, Georgia, we lost in a stampede and it was found by a scout of the
enemy the next day. This flag had worked in beautiful silk letters, the
name of Terry’s Texas Rangers, beside some Latin, which I do not
remember. After the war, on a number of public occasions, such as the
several National Expositions in Chicago and Philadelphia, the Grand
Army, who had charge of such matters, exhibited this flag, with a tag in
bold letters, “Captured from Terry’s Texas Rangers in an engagement near
Rome, Georgia, by the Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry.”
Such a public exhibition of our misfortune was galling to the members of
the regiment and when Governor Hendricks, the first Democratic Governor
of Indiana, was installed, we made a request through our Governor
Hubbard for the return of the flag. Governor Hendricks very properly
referred the request to the State Librarian of Indiana, who happened to
be a vindictive, howling Republican and in answer wrote Governor Hubbard
a very insulting letter, refusing to return the flag. The matter then
was dropped.
About thirty-four years after the close of the war, a business friend,
Mr. William Burr of Dallas, who was an ex-Federal soldier, came to my
office one day, and asked me if I ever drank any cider? I told him I did
when I could get good cider. He told me he had a friend in an old shack
near the Windsor Hotel, who was making cider, and invited me to go
around and have a glass of cider with him. To this I consented. He there
introduced me to a Major Weiler, and in conversation with him, I found
that he belonged to Wilder’s Brigade, who were with Sherman’s army in
Georgia. While we were sipping cider Burr remarked, “Well, this is
pretty good; two Yanks and one Johnny sipping cider together.” Major
Weiler then asked what command I belonged to? I told him I belonged to
the Eighth Texas Cavalry. He said, “Terry’s Texas Rangers?” I told him,
“Yes,” when he said, “I am mighty glad to meet you; I have been trying
to find somebody belonging to your command ever since I’ve been in
Dallas. I am the man that found your flag.” Of course, I was much
gratified at meeting him and told him about our efforts to have the flag
returned and the result at the hands of the State Librarian. “Now,
Major, this flag is yours; you found it and as you state you want to
return it, you make a demand on Governor Mount of Indiana, claiming the
flag as yours and return it to our regiment.” He said that it had been
the ambition of his life to do this and in accordance therewith indited
a letter to Governor Mount, requesting the return of the flag to him,
for the purpose, he stated, to return it to the Rangers.
He furthermore stated that he was well acquainted with Governor Mount,
as the Governor was a private in his command, of which he was a major.
Verily, strange are the vicissitudes of life! Governor Mount’s major was
now making cider at five cents a glass.
In due time Major Weiler received an answer to his request from the
Governor’s Private Secretary, stating that the Governor had no authority
to return the flag, which could only be done through a joint resolution
of the Legislature of Indiana. We then both concluded that we might as
well give it up; we hardly thought that a unanimous vote could be had on
such a proposition by a lot of politicians.
I then requested the major to furnish me a written statement, setting
forth the circumstances under which he came into possession of the flag
and especially that the flag was not captured in battle, but was picked
up in the road the next day after our engagement, encased in a rubber
pocket, and he did not examine it until he returned from a scout and
rejoined his main command, being much surprised that the package found
contained the Terry Texas Rangers’ flag, which was forwarded to the
State authorities at Indianapolis, Indiana.
In about a month the Terry Rangers had their annual reunion at Austin,
Texas, where I had read the statement of Major Weiler, which, of course,
was a matter of surprise and deep interest. A resolution by a comrade
was offered to appoint a committee, with myself as chairman, to
memorialize the Indiana Legislature, requesting the return of the flag,
I being the only member of the committee present, the balance not being
in attendance at the reunion. On my return home I wrote to each member
of the committee, requesting them to draw up a memorial and forward to
me, to which I received no response. I then drew up the memorial myself
and attached a letter I received from a Colonel Wylie in Dallas, who was
a gallant soldier and commanded an Iowa regiment during the war.
I next forwarded this memorial to the Richmond City Mill Works of
Richmond, Indiana, a concern I was doing business with, requesting that
they turn it over to their Representative in the Legislature, which they
promptly did and in due time I received a letter from Senator Binkley,
stating that he would take pleasure in introducing it and that I would
hear from him in due time.
To my great surprise, in about thirty days I received a printed copy of
a joint resolution of the Legislature of the State of Indiana, carried
unanimously, instructing Governor Mount to return the flag to the
Terry’s Texas Rangers in person and appropriating two hundred and fifty
dollars to pay the expense of his trip to Texas. The complete resolution
follows:
=House Concurrent Resolution No. 6=
=Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 9=
Preamble and Concurrent Resolution in relation to the return to
the association of the survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers of
their battle flag, captured from them during the late war of
rebellion by the 17th Regiment of Indiana Infantry (mounted)
Volunteers, appointing a commission to discharge said duty, and
ordering an appropriation to pay the expenses thereof.
Whereas, On October 13, 1864, during the War of the Rebellion,
the flag of the Texas Rangers at a battle near Coosaville,
Alabama, was captured by the 17th Regiment of Indiana Infantry
(mounted) Volunteers, in command of Major J. J. Weiler, and then
belonging to General J. T. Wilder’s Brigade, which brigade at
the time was in command of General A. O. Miller, and
subsequently, by the proper authorities, was deposited in the
archives of the State of Indiana, and now reposes in the custody
of the State Geologist, and to which is attached the following
inscription:
“Battle flag of the Texas Rangers, captured from the 8th
Texas Cavalry near Galesville, Alabama, October 13,
1864, by two companies of the 17th Indiana Infantry,
commanded by Major J. J. Weiler, of Company E, Wilder’s
Brigade.”
And, Whereas, H. W. Graber, George W. Littlefield, S. P.
Christian, W. D. Cleveland and R. Y. King, all of the State of
Texas, as a committee duly appointed by and representing the
Association of Survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers, by their
petition hereunto attached, have asked the Legislature of the
State of Indiana to kindly return to that association said
battle flag, that it may be kept and treasured by them, and in
said memorial the said Major J. J. Weiler, now a Past Commander
of the Grand Army of the Republic for the district of Texas, has
united, and which memorial is as follows:
“To the Honorable President of the Senate and Speaker of
the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the
State of Indiana:
“The undersigned, your memorialists, most respectfully
show that they were selected by the Association of
Survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers, a committee to
memorialize your honorable bodies for the return to said
association of the colors of that command, lost during
the Civil War near Coosaville, Alabama.
“Your memorialists would show that in a cavalry
engagement on the 13th day of October, 1864, the flag of
the Texas Rangers was lost near the field and found by
one of your memorialists, Mr. J. J. Weiler, then the
Major of the 17th Indiana Infantry, and was subsequently
deposited in the archives of your State.
“In view of the fact that the American people have
forever put behind them the animosities and
heartburnings which were incident to our unfortunate
Civil War, and are one united, patriotic people,
marching shoulder to shoulder under the folds of the
Star Spangled Banner, and keeping the step to ‘Hail
Columbia’ in the onward sweep to that high destiny,
which, through the providence of God, awaits our grand
Republic.
“Your memorialists would most respectfully request that
such action be taken by your honorable bodies as will
result in the return of the flag to the Association of
the Survivors of Terry’s Rangers.
“As beautifully and appropriately expressed by Col. W.
D. Wylie, in his letter hereto attached, ‘We now drink
out of the same canteen, sheltered and protected by one
common flag,’ a sentiment so universal that it is
without hesitation we appeal to our countrymen, the
brave and gallant and patriotic citizens of Indiana, in
even a matter of sentiment so delicate as that involved
in our request. And as gracious as the favor will be
accounted by the association, we are sure that the still
greater pleasure will be with the people of Indiana in
bestowing it.
“Most respectfully submitted,
“H. H. GRABER, “W. D. CLEVELAND,
“G. W. LITTLEFIELD, “R. Y. KING,
“S. P. CHRISTIAN, “J. J. WEILER.”
And, Whereas, There is attached to said memorial a letter from
W. D. Wylie, also a Past Commander, G. A. R., of the Department
of Texas, as follows:
“Dallas, Texas, September 30, 1898.
“Col. H. W. Graber, Quartermaster-General
Trans-Mississippi Department, U. C. V.:
“My Dear Sir: Referring to the conversation we had in
reference to the colors of your old command, which had
been lost during the late Civil War, on October 13,
1864, in a battle near Coosaville, Ala., by my comrade
and our mutual friend, Maj. J. J. Weiler, of the 17th
Indiana, who had, under instructions, turned the flag
over to the State of Indiana, where it now reposes in
the State library at Indianapolis, and which you are now
endeavoring to have returned to the remnant of your old
command—as an old soldier, Colonel, I can readily
understand the beautiful sentiment which is so
characteristic of the American soldier in the desire of
yourself and comrades to secure the colors under which
you passed through so many dangers, which are now passed
and gone, leaving only the memories of a struggle which
has resulted, with all its sufferings and animosities,
in bringing us closer together, and we now drink out of
the same canteen, sheltered and protected by one common
flag, and in this connection, at your request, it is
with pleasure I give the episode relating to the return
of the flag of the 57th Indiana Infantry by Texas, in
1885. While commanding the Department of Texas, Grand
Army of the Republic, in 1885, Parsons’ Confederate
Brigade held their annual reunion at Cleburne, Texas.
Myself and others who wore the blue were the honored
guests of the brigade. During the proceedings, Major
Heath and Capt. W. G. Veal called my attention to the
fact that a brave soldier (a corporal) of the 13th
Tennessee, now a resident and citizen of Texas, had in
his possession and on the grounds the regimental flag
and colors of the 57th Indiana, which he had captured at
the Battle of Franklin, Tenn., in December, 1864, and
had taken careful care of for twenty years, hoping that
he would find some representative of that regiment to
whom he could return this priceless and precious relic.
I received the valued colors from the brave soldier and
immediately conferred with Department Commander of the
State of Indiana, and was informed that the 57th would
hold their annual reunion during the month of September
of the current year, and they earnestly requested that
Texas be present in person at that time for the return
of their long-lost colors. We arranged that Capt. W. G.
Veal and Maj. E. M. Heath, of the Confederate Veterans,
and Corporal W. M. Crooks, the brave soldier who had
captured the colors, should accompany myself and staff
to the reunion at Kokomo, taking with us the flag.
“It is needless to give you the incidents of the trip
further than that Indiana threw her doors open to give
the old Texans who had met them on the field, a royal
reception, and Corporal Crooks was received with open
arms by the boys in blue, whom he had last met at the
point of the bayonet on the field of battle; and the
return of that precious relic that had spread its silken
folds over the brave Hoosier boys in many a hard-fought
battle, wiped out the animosities engendered by the war,
especially between Indiana and Texas, and Corporal
Crooks occupies an enviable niche in the war history of
the Hoosier State, and the boys in blue and the boys in
gray are now marching elbow to elbow, side by side, for
the honor and integrity of our common country, and I can
assure you, Colonel, that when you make the application
for the return of your colors it will be as much of a
heartfelt pleasure for Indiana to return the flag as for
Texas to receive it.
“Sincerely yours,
“W. D. WYLIE,
“Past Commander Dept. of Texas, G. A. R.”
And, Whereas, As shown by the correspondence of Governor Mount
with Gen. J. T. Wilder and Gen. A. O. Miller, that they
severally approve such return, which correspondence is as
follows:
“Lebanon, Indiana, January 30, 1899.
“Gov. J. A. Mount:
“Dear Governor: In answer to your letter of the 28th
inst., some twelve years ago a representation of Terry’s
Texas Rangers asked the Legislature to return the flag
referred to in your letter, which was not done. I was
willing then they might have the flag and know of no
reason why it should not be given to the representation
of the regiment now.
“The brigade captured two pieces of artillery at the
same time. As the guns were captured from our forces at
Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1862, and have long since been
made into G. A. R. badges, they are disposed of, and the
returning the flag will settle that matter to good
advantage.
“Your friend and comrade,
“A. O. MILLER.”
* * * * *
“Knoxville, Tenn., February 1, 1899.
“Hon. Jas. A. Mount, Indianapolis, Ind.:
“Dear Governor: I have your favor of the 28th of
January, relating to the return of the battle flag of
Terry’s Texas Rangers, which was captured by the 17th
Indiana, near Coosaville, Ga., in October, 1864. In so
far as I am concerned, I quite agree with you as to the
propriety of returning this flag, but I think that Gen.
A. O. Miller is the proper man to consult, as he was in
command of the brigade at the time the flag was
captured. I would suggest that if the flag is returned
to Texas, that you take a clear receipt for it, to be
preserved in the State archives. * * * Believe me,
“Your comrade and faithful friend,
“J. T. WILDER.”
“Dear Senator: After your call at my office, I
immediately wrote to my old brigade commanders, Generals
Wilder and Miller. I was in the engagement when the
battle flag of the Texas Rangers was captured. I am sure
there is but one sentiment at this time, and that is,
return the battle flag. Texans and Indianians rally
under the one flag now. Generous acts will tend to
obliterate the asperities of war.
“I herewith enclose letters of Generals Wilder and
Miller.
Yours truly,
“JAS. A. MOUNT.
“February 2, 1899.”
* * * * *
Therefore be it Resolved by the House of Representatives of the
State of Indiana, the Senate Concurring, That the said battle
flag be returned by said State of Indiana to said Association of
the Survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers; that the duty of the
return thereof be delegated to the Governor of the State and the
present Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for the
Department of Indiana, with such other Union soldiers whom the
Governor may appoint, and that the Geologist of the State of
Indiana, now in charge of said battle flag, do deliver the same
to said commission, taking their receipt therefor, to be
deposited in place of said battle flag; and that said
commission, at such time as may be most convenient, in person
return said battle flag to said association; that the actual
expense of said commission, not to exceed the sum of two hundred
and fifty (250) dollars, be paid by said State of Indiana, and
that the same be placed, by the proper committees, in the
general appropriation bill to be enacted at this session of the
Legislature.
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Military Affairs, to which was
referred House Concurrent Resolution No. 6, which resolution
provides for the return of certain flags to the Association of
the Survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers, has had the same under
consideration, and begs leave to report the same back to the
House with the recommendation that said resolution be amended by
inserting the words “the Governor of the State and” between the
words “to” and “the,” in line 4, page 7. (2) Substitute the word
“such” for the word “two,” in line 5, page 7. (3) Strike out the
words “when the’ between the words “soldiers” and “may,” in line
5, page 7, and insert therefor the words “as the Governor.” And
that, as so amended, the said resolution be adopted.
SOMERS,
Chairman.
* * * * *
As soon as it became known to the Grand Army organization of Indiana, a
certain post, numbering about four hundred members, passed a resolution
denouncing the action of the Indiana Legislature and demanding of
Governor Mount not to return the flag. The reporter of a paper, who
attended this meeting, on his way home met General Ryan, the Commander
of the Grand Army organization of the State and submitted to him the
resolution passed by this post, when he unqualifiedly endorsed it and
stated that he was going to write to Governor Mount not to return the
flag.
Governor Mount then wrote to General Wilder, who commanded the brigade
to which Major Weiler belonged, and asked his opinion and received
General Weiler’s answer, saying the flag ought to be returned. Governor
Mount also wrote to General Henry, who commanded the division and had
his answer, saying the flag ought to be returned, which Governor Mount
determined to do at any cost.
Immediately on my receipt of the resolutions I forwarded it to Senator
Wooten in Austin and suggested to him that this was no longer an affair
of our regiment, but it was the action of the State of Indiana extending
the olive branch to the State of Texas and should have suitable
acknowledgment. I requested Senator Wooten to introduce a resolution
inviting the whole Legislature of the State of Indiana to come to Texas
as the guests of our Legislature and appropriating ten thousand dollars
to defray the expense thereof. (This appropriation was unconstitutional
and could not have carried, but as it turned out, it was not needed, as
the Indiana Legislature, on receipt of same, had already adjourned.)
=THE TERRY’S RANGERS’ FLAG=
=CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PASSED INVITING=
=GOV. MOUNT AND PARTY TO=
=VISIT AUSTIN.=
=INDIANIANS TO BE GUESTS OF STATE.=
=Resolutions Transmitted by Wire to Governor of Indiana and Mailed to
Legislative Officers.=
Austin, Tex., March 4.—(Special.)—The correspondence and
concurrent resolution relating to the return of a battle flag to
the Texas Rangers are of interest. Senator Brinkley, one of the
members of the Senate of Indiana, wrote to Mr. H. W. Graber of
Dallas. The letter from Hon. C. C. Brinkley and the resolutions
adopted by the Indiana Legislature were printed in The News of
Thursday, March 2, while the memorial and other letters referred
to in the following have previously appeared in The News:
Mr. Graber of Dallas has written to Mr. Wooten as follows:
Dallas, Tex., Feb. 27.—Hon. Dudley G. Wooten, Austin,
Tex.: Dear Sir—Inclosed find copies of memorial, letter
and resolution of the Legislature of the State of
Indiana, in reference to the return of the battle flag
to the Association of Survivors of Terry’s Texas
Rangers.
You will observe that the resolution contemplates the
return of the flag by his excellency, the Governor of
Indiana, in person, and an appropriation is made to
defray the expenses of the Governor and party.
It occurs to me that this liberal, generous and
patriotic action upon the part of the Legislature and
Governor of Indiana should be met by appropriate
official recognition by the Legislature of the State of
Texas.
It has been suggested, and it seems to me rightful, that
the Governor of Indiana and his party, while in the
State, should be the guests of the State of Texas, and
that a small appropriation should be made and placed at
the disposal of Gov. Sayers, to enable him in the name
and on behalf of the people of the State, to extend to
Gov. Mount and party a royal welcome to Texas. Such
amenities are invaluable, and would tend to wipe out the
lingering bitterness of the past, more closely connect
the American people in common brotherhood, and place
Texas in the true light before the world as among the
most patriotic and liberal States in the Union.
I would suggest that you confer with Governor Sayers and
Major Littlefield (who resides at Austin, one of the
officers of the Association of Terry’s Texas Rangers) as
to the action to be taken.
I assume that the time will be designated for a meeting
of the association to be held at Austin for the purpose
of meeting Gov. Mount and party. I am sure it is not
necessary to say that Texas should not permit Indiana to
outstrip her in the good work of joyous reconciliation.
Please return to me the copies inclosed when you have no
further need for them, as I wish to present them with my
report to the Association.
Yours truly,
H. W. GRABER.
The following is the concurrent resolution introduced by Judge
Kittrell and passed:
Concurrent Resolution:
Whereas, the Legislature of Texas has just heard with
emotions of sincerest pleasure that the Legislature of
the State of Indiana has adopted a resolution providing
for the return of the battle flag of Terry’s Texas
Rangers, which was captured by an Indiana regiment
during the late war between the States, and has
appointed a committee, including Gov. Mount and his
staff to visit Texas and return said flag to the
Association of the Survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers.
Therefore, be it
Resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate
concurring, That the action of the Legislature of
Indiana is recognized as most generous, chivalric and
patriotic and is hailed as a most gratifying evidence of
the restoration of that unselfish and unsectional spirit
upon the existence and continuance of which so largely
depends the prosperity and happiness of our common
country, and that the thanks of the Legislature of Texas
be and are hereby tendered the Legislature of our sister
State of Indiana for its patriotic action. And be it
further
Resolved, That the committee appointed by the
Legislature of Indiana to return said flag be and it is
hereby invited to visit the city of Austin at the
earliest possible day to the end that appropriate
ceremonies may mark the occasion of the return of said
flag, for which ceremonies the use of the hall of the
House of Representatives is hereby tendered. Be it
further
Resolved, That an invitation to attend said ceremonies
be and is hereby extended to the Governor and other
State officers and the Legislature of Indiana and to the
Governor and other State officers of Texas, to the
Association of the Survivors of Terry’s Texas Rangers,
John B. Hood Camp, Austin Camp of the Grand Army of the
Republic and the inmates of the Confederate Home. Be it
further
Resolved, That these resolutions be at once transmitted
by wire to the Governor of Indiana with the request that
he lay them at once before the Senate and House of
Representatives of that State and a duly engrossed copy
thereof, signed by the Speaker of the House and the
President of the Senate and duly attested by the Clerk
of the House and Secretary of the Senate be likewise
transmitted by mail to both the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and President of the Senate of the State
of Indiana.
Governor Mount was taken sick very soon after and was unable to
come to Texas immediately, but in a further correspondence with
him, asked to have the time of his visit deferred until fall,
which suited our purpose exactly. Colonel Wylie, in the
meantime, received a newspaper clipping, containing the action
of the army post, endorsed by General Ryan, demanding that the
flag be not returned, when we both agreed we would keep the
matter secret, which we did. There is no doubt it would have
marred the pleasure of the Governor’s visit had any mention been
made to him of the matter.
After my comrades of the committee learned I had been successful
in having the flag returned, Mr. W. D. Cleveland of Houston
insisted that the meeting on the return of the flag should be
had in his city. Mr. Littlefield claimed it ought to be at
Austin and so on, but I finally decided that it ought to be at
Dallas during our State Fair, when we had low railroad rates and
greater crowds than they could gather at any point in Texas. I
then submitted the matter to Governor Mount and had his letter,
expressing himself highly pleased, as he would thus be enabled
to see more of Texas than he would at any other time, having
heard a great deal about the extent of our State Fair. He
furthermore stated in this letter that when he came to Texas he
would come in state, as the representative of the State of
Indiana.
During the first week of the fair we had the pleasure of the
arrival of the Governor and his magnificent staff, which latter
were in brilliant uniform and proved to be one of the most
magnificent bodies of men we ever had to visit Dallas. They also
brought their horse equipment, such as saddles, bridles, etc.,
and were accompanied by quite a number of ladies; if I remember
correctly, there were fifty-two in the party, on a special
train, and with the party was our friend, General Ryan, to whom
the Governor had turned over the two hundred and fifty dollars
appropriated for him to pay his expenses.
I regret to have to record that I was unable to secure the
attendance of a large part of our Ranger organization, who
seemed to have taken offense because we had the meeting at
Dallas, really prompted by petty jealousies of the cities where
they resided and, as a consequence, we had only twenty-four
Rangers present.
The meeting of the Governors and the ceremonies attending the
occasion, was had in the Machinery Hall at the Fair Grounds,
which had a seating capacity, outside of the stage, of only
about one thousand to twelve hundred. At the hour of the opening
of the ceremonies the Indiana Governor, with his staff and
ladies, were seated on one side of the stage with twenty-four
vacant chairs in two rows, in front, on the opposite side of the
stage and the rear portion of the stage, occupied by the city
officials and prominent citizens of the town, the two Governors
sitting together in the front part of the aisle.
When everything was ready I marched in the twenty-four Rangers
present in column, by twos, headed by myself with Miss Ruth
Phelps, carrying a Texas flag. Miss Ruth Phelps was the daughter
of one of our Rangers and the only member of the Phelps family
living and was lost in the Galveston storm the next year.
After forming the Rangers in two lines in front of their chairs,
I introduced Governor Mount to everyone and he, in turn,
introduced General Ryan and when General Ryan had reached and
shaken hands with the last member on the second row, he came
around in front, singing, “There is a land that is fairer than
day,” in which the whole audience joined, standing, and I
believe proved one of the most affecting scenes ever witnessed
in this city. We then had several speeches before the Governor
spoke, one by General Ryan, which evidenced considerable change
in his attitude on the return of the flag and which, of course,
was unknown to any one present, except Colonel Wylie and myself.
In the course of Senator Brinkley’s remarks he referred to the
captured flag, when one of our Rangers jumped up, asking pardon
for interrupting him, and saying he wanted the audience to
understand that the flag was not captured, but it was found,
when another one of our Rangers remarked: “Bill, you know they
run us out of it; what’s the difference?” which, of course,
created considerable merriment. Governor Mount happened to be
sitting near me and remarked, “Graber, I thought you Rangers
never run,” when I said to him, “Governor, if they hadn’t run a
thousand times, there would not have been one left here to tell
the tale. We always knew when to quit and didn’t require a bugle
call to bring us out.”
Governor Mount next made one of the most patriotic speeches,
characteristic of the man, ever listened to, which was responded
to by Governor Sayers, who also, it is needless to say, did full
justice to the occasion, as he, too, had been a gallant
Confederate soldier.
After the closing of the speeches Governor Mount had the flag
brought forward on the stage and, with a few appropriate
remarks, handed it over to Governor Sayers, who also accepted it
with appropriate remarks. Thus ended one of the grandest
occasions ever had since the Civil War and its salutary effect
on sectional feeling cannot be overestimated.
The Governor and staff remained with us three days. We had the
best rooms at the Oriental Hotel assigned them and their hotel
bills were paid by Camp Sterling Price, the Grand Army Post of
Dallas and the Fair Association, and taking their expression on
their visit, they left impressed with the grandeur of the Lone
Star State and its people. Governor Mount and several members of
his staff, among whom was Major Durban, who succeeded Governor
Mount in the office of Governor, made me promise if I ever came
anywhere near Indianapolis I must be sure to stop, as they
wanted an opportunity to entertain me and I regret to have to
report that I, on a business trip in that section, made a
special visit to Indianapolis to meet them once more, when I
found Governor Mount’s body prepared for burial. This changed my
trip from that of pleasure to one of sadness and regret, and
with this feeling, I did not stop, but passed through without
making myself known.