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The Governor's Island Museum

The Governor's Island Museum image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
December
Year
1880
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The tirst object that altracts the vi-itor upon entering is the Centennial tro phv, Which was won by the Ametrican team in 187, 1877, and 1878. The i naracs of the contestanta are iviiticn upon a card al iis base, together with their scores, thefirat beinii 3,126, néxt 8,324, and the last, which was a "jralk-over," 8,286. Xo the Ie ft. there is suspended an oíd, and tattered flag - blue Geld, witli a white square - upou tho corners of whieh are clover leaves. In the centre of the gquare is a red fis? ure "2." "This was the headquarter flag of Gen. Hancook," said Mr. MaeCormack, the Etttendant, "and with ita present taff, was carried al the head of the Seoond army corps. Army of the Fotomac, the Wilderness, May, ñ, G, and 7; the' hattl:; oi the 'Po,' May TO, and Bpottsylvania, also. Tn its present tattered coödition it was borne ia batüe ior the last time during the assauli on the enemy's works at Spottsylvania, ':,, 12. A tér days afterward a ura flag was procured, and this one was then presented by Gen. Hancock to Gen. Mitehell, who was wüli him in all those batl! Uppon the oppoeite wall is another flag witli blue Beid, white clover leaf in the eentre, in which is a red fignrebead. "ïhis," said Mr. MaoCormack, "was the battle-flag of the Second army corjjs. It wiis in use f rom May 10, 1864 until iNov. 26, 1S64, and saw service at Cold Harbor, in front of Petersburg, at Reams' Station, and at Hateher'a run. It was presented by Gen. Hancock to Col. Isaac li. Parker. on: of hft aids." Near this is a guidon of battery D, of ihe lst artillery. It. ia inade of a strip of red and white silk joiaed, upon which aro the letters "U. 8." with a D underneath. It was c&rried in the principal actions of the Army of the Potomac in 1863 and 1864, and is the property of Capt. Thomas Ward, commander of ü battery, quartered at tlie post. Directlv opposite is the standard of the 103d Pennsylvania volunteers. lts field is blue, bearing the arms of Pennsyjvania. This flag was taken In Gn. Vv'ise's brigade at New Market, in : but was recovered In Col. Loomis L. Langdon at the fall f EUohmond in 1865, when it was found in the capital. As the writcr stood and looked at these silent witnesses of somo of the fiercest battles ever fought, they brought back vividly the scènes ■ iii which they plaved such a conspicuous part. The headquarters1 flag va always a welcome sight to soldiers, for it gave assnranee tüat the commander was present; and when the Seeond oorps flag was in the fleld there was a feeling of saíety among the troops, for they had faith in Hancoek's ability to lead. As the writer looked af the stand upon whieh lus band restad he obsex"ved ;i qusiut old table, witli carved, crooked legs. The top was square, except that the sides ware eut in for severa] mches, forming a neat curve, so as to permit tour men sitting around it to dogo witli great comfort, lt was covered wilh red cloth. Each corner, however, was bare, to resi cards upon, for il was evio ..tv .. ....j fn i,! fMMii ..■ „„k pTayi s there was an oval-shaped hollow or bowl, for holding coins. This table had evidently been usedforpoker-playing, and tlie attendant was asked whose table it was. "lt was the property of Gen. Washington." he said, "and was presented hv liira to Judge Beman, of Rocky Jiill, i. J., where the general often aseé !t, we are informed, while on visita duijng 1780 to 1783." üpoi lliis table appeaied the name of Wasuington, eaeli letter representing a neal scène trom the lile of the first president. 1'pon the "W" appeared the homo of Washington at Mount Vernot: alikeness ofLafáyette, Ln a standing attiue, was on the letter "A:" "S" reureaited Washington' a headquarters at Nevburg: "H" the meeting of Waslijm'tou andLafiiyctte; "I.v ira?ü1 i); "'i','' tne be; "O," a batlomb at Mount t.'d witli a ilake, wiio was he Mexican war, lu -eis C'fvy of tlie original order posted on trees, fences, and other places in Georgia, at theclose of the war, vhich ruadas follows: HEU1QU-1HTHI1S, MAOUM, iA., .M:iy9, 1805. Ín i[iitíu;iice oL un onier i'rutH !. 'e sici oL:iry ni' War, :i rtward of $j5,uoj Ís iiei-eb offered fot the arreit ni' Extra Bim.y Smitii, B' cotn , i.iuii oí i ,ii. Gen. Wilsnn, E. B. Bkaumont, Mnj. ana A. A. general. There is also an elabórate punchbowl ia the museum which was presented to the officers of the 2d cavalry by the citizens of St. Louis, lt was captnred and taken south. When the war ended it was recovered, and when Gen. Fitz-Hugh Lee recently visíted the ishvnd lie reeognized it at once, and smilingly said: "Yes, 1 have drank of its contenta." lieside these curiosities are many relies f rom Jerugalem and from the battleiields of Waterloo, Mexico, and the western plains. 'l'ivo land grants. one b.earing the signature of Edwin Randolph, 1787, and the other that of P, llenry, 178(5, are contameu in a giass case ainong other things. Ou the top of the case is a miniatura bust of Gen, Grant. Among the portrai ts and piotures which adora the walls is an oil painting of Gen. Hancock, executed just after the battle of Gettyiburg. He appears in full Major Gcnei-aTs atüform, and (he portrait representa him with a mustache and chin whiskers, which were not unbecoming to him. There is also a porti-aii of Gen. W. J. Worth, one of Gen. Atklnson, auotlier of Gen. . Farol) Brown, who commanded at Plattsburg in 1812, and an imflníshed picture oí lien. Seott. Tivo original paintings, one representdíig the battle of Cberubusco and the other the ñght at Molino del Rey, Mexico, both by one A. Tracv, are himg upan the west end of the room. Leaving the museum and walking a short di.stance to the soulh end of Èhe ollice of the ordinance department, the visitor is ghownGen. Sheridaa's famoua war-lioi'se, Winchester. Slieridan hiinself subscribes to the following: "Winchester was of Black Ifawk blood, and was foaled at or near (rand Rapids, Mich., late in the i'all of I according to the best of my infonnation. He was brought int o the service by in ofíioer of tlie 2d Micliigan cavalry, to which regiment I was appoinfced colonel on the 25th dayof May, 1862. Shoi'tly afterward, and while the regiment was .stationed at the little town "i Rienzi, in the state of Mississippi, he was presented to me by Capt Campbell, in the name of the offleera of the regiment, and from that date antil the clos; of the war, be was ridden by me in nearly evuiy engagement in whicli 1 took part. At the time he was gires to me he was rising 8 years oíd, so th;t he must have boen in Lis twentieth year ' when he died, on Oct. 2, 1878. was :m anima] of greal intelligence, and ot immense strength and Ho :iK;!ys held iiis head high, and by the quickness of bis movements gave many persons the idea that ho was exoeedingly imp'etuous. This was nol so, for ! could ;it any linio control him by a lii'in hand and a fow words, and he was as cool umi quiet ander fire as one of niv old soldiers. I doubt if his superior as a borse for Beid service was ever ridden bj any one.1 The horse is tiii'ii and a half-hands lik'li. The coat is quite dark, but now iwhat faded, with wliite fetlocks. He wu wounded twica, once on the left side oi the neck by a bullet, and again by a fragment of shcll nei ■ left Bank, whicn be reoeired at Missioü Ridge. The bullel i s received :it üpequa Gen. Sheridan at the ialand recently, and look a look at his old One could see that there was mucb affection there. He ■ ■! the animal on thé neck as be enl ly did when i be I alive I ii m ai !.: preas'.■::. l could always depend upon you iu a piacli."

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Argus