Return of captured Confederate flags 1887 and 1905

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In 1887, during the first Cleveland Administration, the U.S. Government proposed to return to Southern states Confederate flags captured by Union units in the ACW. Governor Foraker of Ohio flatly refused and filed for a writ of mandamus to prevent the Secretary of War from doing so. The storm of protest was led by Grand Army of the Republic leader General Fairchild. Fairchild, "called down palsy on the hand, brain, and tongue responsible for the order returning the flags." (New York Times, April 25, 1905, p. 2). At a GAR ceremonial dinner in New Haven Connecticut, Fairchild stated

They tell us nowadays that all men are loyal. I thank God that it is so. But the Grand Army men have a lyalty that is spelled with capital letters; a loyalty without any "ifs" or "buts;" a loyalty which they will teach to their children and children's children; a loyalty teaching that the allegiance of every American citizen is due to the American flag under all circumstances, and if demanded they shal turn their backs upon their State flags and follow the Stars and Stripes. The Grand Army men have always been the friends of the South from 1861 to 1887. They were the best friends of the Southern people when they saved them from themselves. When afflicted with yellow fever, when they wanted to build soldiers' homes, when Charleston was wrecked by earthquakes, the Grand Army men were the first to tender assistance. We have no feeling of hate or malice toward the South, but we feel that they have no right to take back into their possession the relics of the rebels' flags. I believe, thank God, that the right to associate a State in the Union with a State which it was supposed was in existence during the war. What would Missouri or Maryland or Kentucky do with the rebel flags if they were restored to them[?] Destroy them I should hope. To return them would be a lesson in treason. (NYT, June 17, 1887, p. 1)
Fairchild pleaded with the Governor of Connecticut to not return the flags. The governor rose and assured the GAR man that the flags would not be returned.

Another guest at the dinner was William T. Sherman did not reply to Fairchild's remarks saying that he only came to witness the GAR event.

President Cleveland rescinded the order saying that returning the flags was not justified by law or executive act. (The Evening Star (Washington, DC), June 17, 1887, p. 1)

In 1905, flags were discovered in the basement of the War Department and President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the flags returned to hometowns. Some flags could not be identified as to unit and were given to state historical societies.

Someone said a war is not over until the last veteran is dead.
 
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