In the relics room at the Friends of Cedar Mountain meeting house, there hangs a laminated newspaper. It is an original edition of the Culpeper Enterprise, dated August 15, 1902. The dedication of the 28th New York Monument in the Culpeper National Cemetery is the subject of the entire issue. Thinking it might be of interest to our visitors, I transcribed the paper and post it here.
A few notes on the transcription: Some obvious typos have been corrected. In one or two places the newspaper was torn, but if I was able to discern a name in the torn section, specifically N.E.G. Wadhams, I added it to this transcription. Also, regarding Horatio King’s poem, read at the ceremony, I found a printed version of the poem on line at the web archive, and added the lines that were illegible in the newspaper due to folds in the newsprint. And, I included a few extraneous things from the banner, and the advertisement at the very bottom of the newspaper page, just for kicks. –Bradley M. Forbush.
THE CULPEPER ENTERPRISE CULPEPER, VA,
FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 1902
Published by The Enterprise Publishing House
The Enterprise has the Largest Circulation of any paper in this location ––with possibly one exception–– (The Warrenton Virginian.)
Devoted to the Interest of Culpeper and Adjacent Counties.
Price 75 Cents Cash; TRADE —-$1.00 per year.
Survivors of the 28th Reg’t. New York Volunteers
Held Their Annual Reunion in Culpeper, Virginia.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8th.
At which Meeting they Dedicated a Handsome Monument to the Memory of those of their Comrades who fell in the Battle of Cedar Mountain. The monument constructed of great blocks of Granite, weights 40 tons, stands 25 feet high, and cost $2,500. A perpetual testimonial to the valor of those in whose honor it was erected.
Business Meeting of the Association.
28th New York, at Culpeper, Va.
At the annual business meeting of the Association, held at the National Cemetery on Friday the 8th, the following reports were made.
COMRADES PRESENT
Col. E. F. Brown, New York city; S.S. Marvin, Phila., Pa; F. B. Seeley, Lockport, NY; C. W. Boyce, Buffalo,, J.W. Little, Lockport, N.Y.; B. B. Brown, Cooperstown; N. Dakota; E.H. Ewell, St. Louis, Mich; Jas. Taylor, Vassar, Mich.; Jas. Phillips, Buffalo, NY; N H. White, Chesaning, Mich; G. B. Swick, Ramsonville, NY; Thos. Granville, Lockport; L. A. Brace, Eau Claire, Wis; Ziba Roberts, East Shelby, NY; E.B. Whitmore, Rochester; D. L. Raynolds, Rushville, NY; S. H. Beach, Jersey City; C. H. Liscom, NY city; G. H. Boker,[?] Brooklyn; E. A. Newbury, Westen, Wash; F. W. Morse, Garwood, NJ; N.E.G. Wadhams, Niagara Falls; T. Fitz?? (torn) Washington, DC; Capt. J. Waller, Monticello, NY: W. McIntyre, Mangalup Valley, NY M. Warfield; Hampton, Va.
SECRETARY’S REPORT.
Number of comrades supposed to be surviving at last reunion, 280. Six names added this year, of comrades whose addresses were not previously known, vise: Edwin A. Newberry, Sgt-Major, Weston, Mass.; Edward S. Newman, Co. B. N.S. Home, Milwaukee, Wis; Patrick Lavelle, Co. E, Columbus, Mont; Leonard B. Taylor, Co F, Athens, Maine; Ed. St. John, Co. G, Noroton Heights Conn; Edward J. Watts, Co. F, Wellington, Ohio. 286.
We have lost by death 8 members –– see obituary report.
We have been compelled to drop the names of the following comrades, whose correct address couldn’t obtained; Frank F. Church, Lawrence Metzger, Homer H. Fields, and Henry Dykeman. Leaving names now on Roster, 224.
The Secretary has received personal responses from 204 of these, leaving 20 whose address, as recorded to his book must be incorrect, as no response has been received from them. But letters addressed to these comrades have not been returned, showing that either they, or their friends, had received them; or that their mail had been forwarded to some other address and had not been received. If received, no attention had been given it. The names and lost addresses of these 20 comrades, are as follows:
Henry Reparsz, Lockport, NY.
Wm. Winthrop, Lockport, NY.
Alvin A. Eaton, Portis, Kansas.
Lucius Stickney, Alabama NY.
Wright Rodger, Lockport NY.
E.S. Newman, NS home Milwaukee
Samuel Davis, Edgerton, Mich.
John Kempter, E Saginaw, Mich.
John Kugler, Lockport, NY.
Eugene Shepard, N Ridgeway, NY
ML Parkhurst, Canandaigua, NY
Wm H. Brown, Hillsdale, Mich.
Geo. W. Thayer, Pembroke, NY.
Owen McAlister, Clarendon, NY.
Wm A. Lovett, Newark, Ohio.
James Coddington, Wurtsboro, NY.
George Young, Elleville, NY.
John J. Sullivan, Niagara Falls, NY.
William H. Frank, St Paul, Minn,
Byron C Anderson, Wissington, So. Dakota.
The Secretary has also received the following names of comrades who are reported to be surviving, but letters to them at the addresses given have met with no response:
W A Thomas, leader of band, Athens, Maine.
Henry Burk, Co B, N S Home, Dayton, Ohio.
James Gay, Co E, N S Home, Milwaukee, Wis.
James Fox, Co F, 510 Fowler street, Milwaukee, Wis.
The new Roster, thus revised, has been sent to each comrade with the invitation to the reunion. It has been prepared with great care and may be relied upon as being very nearly correct. If the comrades would co-operate with the secretary in correcting changes in the addresses where necessary, the Roster would be more reliable. All of which is respectfully submitted. C.W. BOYCE, Secretary.
The report of the Treasurer shows the association to be in good financial condition. The voluntary subscriptions of the comrades being sufficient, with the State appropriation, to dedicate the monument free of debt, and leave a balance in the treasury to pay all obligations fo the Reunion for the present year.
OBITUARY REPORT.
Reports of the death of the following comrades have been received at the Secretary’s office since our last reunion :
John Quinton, Band, died in 1898.
John H Smith, Co K, died in Aurora, Ill. April 26, 1898.
Leander Hamilton, Co F, died Fairport, NY, 1900.
Erastus R Peek, Co F, died Brockport, NY, June 10, 1901.
Joseph H Camp, Co I, died in Nyack, NY, November 13, 1901.
W H Withey, Band, died in Sioux Falls, SD, December 19, 1901.
Alexander Simpson, Co I, died in Lewistown, NY, October 14, 1901.
John D Woods, Co I, died in Lockport, NY, May 4, 1902.
It is with sorrow we are compelled to drop these names from our list of surveying comrades; and no longer call their names at our yearly roll call.
They were our associates on the weary march, in the camp and on the battle-field; and were endeared to us by the strong ties of comradeship. We cherish their memories and pay this last tribute of respect to them our heartfelt sympathies to their relatives and friends. Singed
C.W. Boyce, F. B. Seeley. E.B. Whitmore. Obituary Committee.
The following Officers were elected : George Irish, President; N E G Wadhams, Vice-President, and C W Boyce, Secretary and Treasurer.
The place selected for the next reunion is “Olcott Beach, New York.” The date : May 22d 1903.
The Dedicatory services were presided over by the colonel of the 28th, Col. E. F. Brown, who lost an arm on Cedar Mountain.
The Colonel made an address of welcome and informed his comrades and the visiting hosts that they had assembled for the purpose of dedicating that imposing block of stone, erected to the memory of their fallen comrades. A silent sentinel, yet its presence will forever perpetuate the memory of those to whom and over whose ashes it stands; a fitting tribute to the bravery of man.
Rev. W. T. Williams made a very touching prayer. An oration by Judge Oren Britt Brown, of Dayton, Ohio, son of Col. E. F. Brown, who proved himself a worthy son of his much-loved sire. His remarks were interesting and appropriate. “We are here,” he said, “to dedicate this beautiful monument, expressive of the gratitude, affection and appreciation of the citizens of the great Empire State, by unanimous vote of its representatives in the General Assembly, to the memory of the volunteers of the 28th New York, as an enduring mark to the bravery and loyalty of its officers and men, both living and dead.” He spoke of the terrors of war and declared that of all battles of the war, Cedar Mountain stands forth as one of the bloodiest, and that the 28th New York, his father’s regiment, suffered most severely on that bloody field. This regiment marched upon the slope of Cedar Mountain on the morning of the ninth of August, 1862, 357 strong, and ere the setting of the sun 57 were killed, 61 wounded and 92 were prisoners; total loss, 210. Every officer was either killed, wounded or taken prisoner, and “your colors captured.” Yours it was to do and to die. We are in the midst of the scenes where that dreadful conflict between brothers occurred. The conscientiousness of the men who participated in that war is not now questioned. The men who took part in the civil war, ever since the surrender at Appomattox have accepted the decree of that day as an expression of the final settlement of the principles and issues involved.
“Since the late war with Spain many have proclaimed that the conflict served to reunite the nation; that the bitter feeling engendered by the civil war had given place to the fraternal love engendered by the companionship of a Nation’s Common Cause. This may have strengthened the ties of friendship between the two sections and may have made still firmer the foundations of our nation as they existed at the termination of the civil war in 1865; but in-so-far as the soldiers of either side were concerned, this had been accomplished at Appomattox.”
Then followed this beautiful poem read by the author, Gen. Horatio C. King of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Come here my boy, and sit down upon my knee,
How old are you? you say you’r twelve and three?
Why bless my heart, how fast the time does fly !
It seems less years than that since crippled I
A gawky stripling lad, no taller than you be
Shouldered my trusty gun and fought for liberty.
Just see me now with my old wrinkled head,
Near bald as that round ragged ball of lead
The surgeon dug from this poor limping leg,
( Though stiffened, better than a wooden peg ),
In old Virginia, on that August day,
When Stonewall Jackson brought our boys to bay
At Cedar Run –– Ah me, who could forget
That bloody fight, its memories haunt me yet.
I guess you’ve heard –– No? Well I declare
And you’re fifteen” Say tell me when and where
You’ve been to school, and who my boy’s your teacher
I can’t believe there lives a single creature
Who hasn’t heard of Slaughter’s famous Mountain;
Perhaps he doesn’t drink straight from the fountain
Of real history –– not the pre-diluvian kind
Of Rome and Greece; why boy he must be blind
To skip what’s done and doing here at home
And waste his time on ancient Greece and Rome.
I’ve seen of more than forty years that fight
Since first though Shenandoah’s valley bright
We marched in old Virginia, noble State
But then embittered with unreasoning hate.
And just because we loved our brethren so
We wouldn’t let them from the Union go.
And so we boys put on our uniforms of blue,
And tramped that sacred soil just through and through
“Twas mighty rough, but then you ought to know
That war is hell: Pap Sherman told us so.
And yet I hear some foolish people say
That war’s not war; and that the proper way
To fight those devils in the Philippines
Is just to feed them bibles, junk and greens,
To send them flags of truce and tracts galore,
And while they fight to send them more and more––
And if those friends go in for nameless slaughter
To shoot them down with squirts and violet water
What bally rot! If I could only see
Those valiant jays in Congress and without,
I’d give them facts to jog their thoughts about,
And you can bet I’m not afraid to speak and tell
The President to give those fellows hell.
Excuse my swearing, but you see when I
Just hear our boys abused, I’d rather die
Than shut my mouth. Why bless your heart
My boy is there a fighting for the flag,
He’ll do his duty while his tongue can wag,
And when I hear men call him what he is not,
I don’t deny it makes me piping hot!
When I was just a little older than you be,
I joined the 28th New York in Lockport: see?
As fine a lot of boys as ever fired a gun,
And quite as fond of fighting as they were of fun.
The ladies, bless their hearts! of Lockport town
Lent willing hands and did us royal brown,
Presenting us with colors just as fine
As ever fanned the air. No golden mine
Could buy that flag when we left home and all,
And marched away to heed our county’s call.
We had our ups and downs like other boys,
And many troubles, though a share of joys;
Thro’ dust and mud, in rain and sleet snow,
We went, no kicking, where we had to go,
Until in August eighteen sixty-two
We pitched our camp, a likely sight to view
Among Culpeper’s green and shady hills.
and filled our canteens from its sparkling rills,
the tents they shone like silver in the sun,
the stacks of muskets and each frowning gun
Stood ready, for a mile or two away
Was Stonewall Jackson, waiting for the fray.
Our flag, ah me! it never looked so bright
As on that summer morning in the growing light|
When we fell in, and felt it in our bones
That bloody work was coming and the stones
On Cedar Mountain would be red with gore
And hundreds sleep the sleep of never more,
We asked not questions; all we soldiers knew,
Was, Banks was there to tell us what to do:
And wherefore wasn’t ours to think or ask
But just to buckle to the awful task
Of fighting twice our number (that’s no lie)
’Twas ours, in face of all to do and die.
’Twas a’most noon. We heard our Colonel shout
“Charge old 28th; drive the Johnnies out!”
A ringing cheer swelled all along the line,
And with a rush that stiffened every fellow’s spine
We sent the Johnnies flying like the wind
And left their dead and wounded far behind.
Our Gallant Colonel, Dudley Donnelly fell,
And bleeding died there in that mouth of hell;
And Lewis too, who bore our flag that day
Fell on the field and while he wounded lay,
Brave hands to rescue, held the banner high
Till each and all were stricken down to die;
Our Lieutenant Colonel Brown, God bless him! he
There lost his arm –– a fighting for the free.
He’s here, but Sprout our Adjutant was shot,
And breathed his last upon that fearful spot.
The rank and file went in three hundred strong,
And more –– I guess you’ve heard that famous song
Of Balaklava, and old England’s braves
Whom blundering orders sent to heroes graves.
Well ! Balaklava was like children’s play
And wasn’t in it with the desperate way
The 28th went down like soldier toys,
And lost two hundred of its noble boys
The fight was worse than useless. Who’s to blame?
Don’t ask; no good ! We won a glorious name,
But not the field; we lost and worst of all
Our cherished flag; the Johnnies had the call.
Like sheep they packed us in the cattle cars,
’Til Libby found us penned behind its bars,
With one small piece of our shot-riddled flag,
A precious, frayed out little bit of rag,
But full of cheer day after weary day,
While pain and hunger wore our lives away.
But wars like all things else must have an end,
Though still for three years more twas fight and spend.
But blood and money flowed in storms away,
Until upon that fateful April day,
At Appomattox, Southern flags were furled
And peace our peace was hailed throughout the world.
We boys had had enough of fights and [and repeated] gore
And glad were we to see our happy homes once more
We’d saved the Union; not a silvery star
Was blotted from the flag, no single scar
Defaced the stripes of lovely red and white;
But stars and stripes reflected freedom’s light.
Our angry foe became our loyal friend,
Til in another war we both contend
To see who’ll fight the hardest for the land
Whose life was threatened once by brother’s hand.
Well twenty years went by and not a sign
Of our old flag except that six by nine,
That little strip held fast by Colonel Brown
When we were captives in old Richmond town,
Till eighty-two, perhaps ’twas eighty-one
He spent a happy day in Washington,
When searching in the pile with eager air
Of captured flags, he found it lying there.
He dragged it from its dusty hiding place’
Our flag once lost, but lost not in disgrace,
He matched the missing fragment to a T,
And you may well believe when told to me
I cried for joy, I threw my cap on high
And cheered until I thought I’d surely die!
But that’s not all; we’ll not forget the day
When these brave men who took that flag away ––
The 5th Virginia, traveled North to give
it back; I‘ll not forget it while I live.
We’ve got [have] it yet; and when my time shall come
To shuffle off this coil and go up home,
I hope my comrade who may linger there
Will lay that tattered flag upon my bier,
And when the preacher’s had his final say
I want some comrade who was there that day
At Cedar Mountain just to read this song
I’ve writ below: And let him read it strong!
Then bugle sound “lights out”; perhaps I may
Just hear; for heaven can’t be far away.
TO THE AMERICAN FLAG.
All hail our starry banner
The emblem of the free,
Whose stars and stripes forever
Shall stand for liberty.
The world beholds thy glory,
‘Bright banner of the stars,
And nations held in bondage
Shall break their prison bars.
In thee the blue of heaven
Proclaims thy purity,
And peoples plunged in sorrow
Shall fondly turn to thee:
To lead the world in honor,
The weak to cheer and save,
These are thy tasks forever,
Dear banner of the brave,
To thee our holy pledges
We solemnly renew,
Until our hearts are silent,
To thee will we be true.
The centuries shall claim
Till time here? shall end,
And all the world proclaims thee
Protector, savior, friend.
THE MONUMENT PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT
Private S. S. Marvin in a few well chosen remarks presented to the government for its “care and keeping, the beautiful granite shaft that adorns the sacred spot we now occupy.
Gen. T. E. True of the Quartermaster General’s Department of the Army, received the monument for and in the name of the United States.
At this juncture the vast throng was thrilled by the voice of Mrs. Arthur Stilson as she sang “Annie Laurie” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”
And last, but not least, was the address of Gen. M. N. Curtis, ex-Congressman, from New York, who said in part: “In many ways I claim fellowship with you, my brave Virginians. In all the glory given the 28th today you are silent participants of honor.
“Happy, indeed, are the American people that on both sides they met as they did this conflict which was necessary. It had to come; the question whether the Union or State was sovereign was not one for courts or legislatures. And we are glad it was fought to the end, leaving nothing to our children but to love and honor the Union which remains.”
The benediction by Rev. W. T. Williams, closed the annual reunion of the 28th N.Y. A memorable meeting it was –– one that will be long and pleasantly remembered by every one present.
A vast throng had gathered from our little city and surrounding country to join in hearty sympathy and co-operation with those from the North, who had journeyed here to do honor to the memory of their dead.
The sun shone beautifully bright. The little birds chanted solemn requiems o’er the sleeping heroes. No cloud in the sky. No word, or act, to mar the unsullied pleasure of the solemn occasion.
THE CAMP FIRE.
At night–– Friday, Aug. 8th,–– there was a “Camp-fire” in Rixey’s Opera House, around which were assembled veterans of both the Blue and the Gray.
Major Grimsley presided, and many stories and incidents of camp-life were related. General King’s jokes carried the audience by storm.
Judge Grimsley has done all in his power to make this a memorable occasion and we feel confident that the cordial reception we have extended to our visitors is duly appreciated by them.
REUNION
OF THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
On a hot Saturday, August 8, 1862, [August 9th is correct – B.F.] Cedar Mountain was the scene of one of the many bloody combats that drenched the soil of old Virginia with the blood of contending armies.
Last Saturday, the 8th, just 40 years thereafter, there met upon that fatal spot, survivors of those who participated in that fearful drama.
Last Saturday they met not as enemies, but as friends and brothers. Together they tramped over the ground and talked the stirring scenes that they witnessed on Cedar Mountain 40 years ago.
The positions the several commands occupied to various times during the engagement, have been marked with huge blocks of granite which bears the same of each command. The credit of this work is due to our honored townsman, Judge D. A. Grimsley.
Having erected a monument to the memory of their dead, the survivors of the 28th New York determined to hold their annual reunion in Culpeper for the double purpose of dedicating the monument and to again visit the Cedar Mountain battlefield to satisfy themselves that the granite markers had been properly placed, and invited the Confederate veterans, especially the members of the 5th Virginia, to join them; but Colonel (Judge) Grimsley determined to capture his old adversaries, and to this end called upon the good people of the town and county of Culpeper (holding the old vets in reserve) to constitute themselves a committee to entertain the members of the 28th New York and their comrades and friends. Nobly did they respond to Judge Grimsely’s request. It reminded the writer of an old-time Virginia picnic.
Our people came for many miles around and most of them brought bountiful supplies of eatables. A veritable feast, such as one only gets at an old Dominion picnic Fully six thousand people were on the grounds.
The beautiful grove in which is situated Cedar Run Church, was thronged with those who came in honor of the occasion whose presence demonstrates the good fellowship that warms the hearts of true Virginians.
It was an ideal day. A day that will remain green in our memory; a day where our beautiful girls (of which Culpeper is justly proud) vied with each other in their efforts to entertain their new made friends.
The presiding officer, Judge Grimsley, selected some of Culpeper’s fairest daughters and assigned to them the pleasant task of pinning a badge on the lapel of each veteran’s coat. It was a beautiful sight to see those gray haired warriors, standing in two long columns, while these pretty young maidens bestowed upon them a badge of honor.
Forward, march! was the next order of the day. And the veterans marched either side of the long tables that fairly groaned ‘neath the weight of viands. This sumptuous feast was served by the dainty hands of our sweet girls, which added no little to the enjoyment of the repast. After the old soldiers had been served, a general invitation was extended to all. Everyone present was bountifully provided for, and so generous was the supply that there was enough left to have fed as many more. Surely the hospitality of Culpeper (of which we are proud) was fully sustained last Saturday.
Our business men, many of whom could not spend the day with the visitors, yet wished to contribute to their pleasure, so they procured Staley’s Band from Washington, which proved a very pleasing feature of the day.
Dinner over, Judge Grimsley introduced Capt. C. M. Blackford of Lynchburg, of the 2d Va. Cavalry, who was temporarily attached to Gen. Jackson’s staff at the time of the battle. Capt. B told of one incident of the battle: The Confederate troups faultered; old Jack seeing his columns wavering rushed into the breach, drew his sword and waved it for the first and last time during the war. Capt. Blackford’s able and instructive address was greatly enjoyed; at the close of which he introduced Gen. M. N. Curtis, saying Virginia owed much to the General; that he had proven her friend. General Curtis is a pleasant speaker and his friendly remarks were highly appreciated.
The others who spoke were: Col. E. F. Brown, 28th N.Y.; Capt. W. P. Pendleton, Col. J. W. Williams of the 5th Va. Infantry; Brig.-Gen. J. T. Taylor of Penn., who was a Captain in the battle of Cedar Mountain and led a cavalry charge, and Col. Wm. Penn Loyd, Adjt-Gen’l of Gen’l Taylor’s brigade. The writer was very pleased with Col. Loud’s remarks, And also Mr. John Bresnahan.
The crowning feature of the day was a song by Mrs. Arthur Stilson of Detroit, Mich., daughter of Adjutant Sprout of the 28th New York, who was killed in the battle of Cedar Mountain. Standing within view of the spot where her father sacrificed his life for the flag, his daughter in her unusually sweet voice sang the song of the South, “Dixie.” It was indeed a most touching incident; one that should convince the most skeptical of the changes 40 years have wrought.
A number of patriotic songs was rendered by a chorus composed of the different choirs of the town, with band accompanyment, which added to the enjoyment of the occasion.
With one accord all agree that the Veterans Reunion Picnic was a success. Too much credit cannot be given Judge Grimsley, for to his untiring energy and unceasing efforts, all are indebted for such an enjoyable time.
Before leaving the field the members of the 28th unanimously passed the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the hearty thanks of every comrade of the 28th New York Regiment, and of every Northern citizen visiting the city of Culpeper at this time, be, and the same hereby is, extended to Judge D. A. Grimsley and his citizen and Confederate associates, who have so ably arranged all the details for our pleasure and comfort at this reunion ; and to the ladies of Culpeper, who have so kindly opened their houses for our entertainment; also to the ladies and citizens who have provided the very generous lunch on the battlefield; and to all, who have in so many ways, aided in making our stay among you so very delightful.
We are deeply moved by the fraternal spirit that prompted you to decorate the stores and many of your homes, an unexpected evidence of our welcome to your beautiful city, and the hospitality of your lovely homes, will ever remain with us, a most pleasant memory. The hearty welcome we have received have made a deep impression upon us, a most pleasant memory. The hearty welcome we have received has made a deep impression upon us. We shall take our departure from your city with regret, feeling assured that our visit has been more than simply a day’s pleasure. To us, at least, has come “The new dispensation of Peace,” which is blinding the North and the South together, in one common brotherhood.
Our dead comrades, lying so peacefully in your beautiful cemetery, are ties that will ever bind our hearts to Virginia. Your kind hospitality for which Virginians have always been so justly famed –– assures us that the same feelings of kindness and brotherhood which you have shown us, will prompt you to remember the graves of our comrades, when, on each decoration day, you cover with flowers those of your own heroic dead.
And when you give your
“Love and tears for the Gray,”
You will also have
Kind thoughts and flowers for the Blue.
I Know One Sure Remedy
for an obstinate cold. Its name is Pyny-Balsam.
*NOTE: The flag of the 28th NY was captured at the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862.
A wounded member of the color guard, knowing he would be captured, tore the flag from its staff and tried to hide it in his jacket. But it was discovered by a soldier of the 5th VA Inf., of the Stonewall Brigade. In the evening, while waiting to be marched away, a member of the 28th NY secretly cut out a small piece of the flag as a keepsake. Months later, when he returned from captivity, he gave it to Colonel Brown, who kept it for 20 years.
In 1882, Col. Brown found the regiment’s lost flag in Washington, D.C., among a collection of recaptured Union Colors retrieved from Richmond after the war. The scrap piece of flag he carried on his person, fit perfectly into the missing piece of the discovered flag. He immediately contacted the Secretary of War to reclaim the flag on behalf of the 28th NY Vols. The request was granted, and the flag was returned to Col. Brown. The veterans of the 28th NY, then invited veterans of the 5th VA to their annual re-union in upstate New York. The Virginians accepted, and in a ceremony conducted May 21, 1883, at Niagara Falls, an officer of the 5th VA returned the flag to Col. Brown. The crowd cheered. It was the first re-union attended by veterans of both sides.
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