[From Thompson & West's History of Nevada 1881, With Illustrations And Biographical Sketches Of Its Prominent Men And Pioneers, pp. 264-272]

264      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The Battle-born State—Secession Conspiracy —Call for Arms—Organizing the Democratic Party—Hoisting the Confederate Flag—Enlistments of Volunteers—Connor Assumes Command—Secession Rampant et Couchant—Nevada Volunteers—The Sanitary Commission—The Sanitary Sack of Flour -- Assassination of President Lincoln—Mexican War Veterans —History of the American Flag.

            NEARLY all the incidents with which the military have been connected have been related in the chapters on the Indians and their wars, but there are more, and could all the secret history be known a startling tale could be told. Nevada is the

BATTLE-BORN STATE.

            The great war of the Rebellion, arising while the first efforts were making to establish a Territorial Government, and raging with unparalleled fury and energy, with the future of the nation in doubt, when she was admitted as one of the loving sisterhood of the Union. But the battle raged afar off, giving only the faint sounds of its thunder and the colorless picture of the sanguinary field brought by the slender of electric wire. Yet these aroused to enthusiasm and generous deeds the patriots who made up her spare population. The discovery of silver, the creation of the Territory and the organization of the Territorial

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND INCIDENTS.    265

Government, preceded the secession of the Southern States and the outbreak of the war, and when this last occurred, the respective strength of the union and disunion elements were quite unknown, and the fate of the Pacific Coast, in which was included the young Territory; was in doubt. The population was composed of natives of the North and South, with a Northern and foreign element sympathizing with the South, and whose expressions emboldened secessionists to demonstrations of violence threatening civil war. The Military Department was under the command of General Albert Sydney Johnston, a Southern man, and believed ready to co-operate with the Confederate, or Rebel, Government. By a secret and strategic movement, General Edwin Vose Sumner unexpectedly arrived in San Francisco and took command. From that date secession had but little hope on the Pacific Coast.

SECESSION CONSPIRACY.

            There existed, however, then and subsequently, a secret organization, the details of which are still kept a profound secret by those who were leaders, and to whom it was intrusted, having for its object the establishing of State and Territorial Governments, under Confederate authority. Commissions of Governors and military officers, signed by Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, were sent to the leaders of the organization. Nevada, it was understood, was to be given to David S. Terry, who visited the Territory with others of the conspirators, having in his pocket the commission of Governor. Meetings were held in secret, and some slight demonstrations were made as if feeling the temper of the people, but there was no outbreak of hostilities nor assumption of authority. The intentions of the conspirators were suspected and their movements were closely watched, and precautions were taken by the Unionists and Federal authorities.

CALL FOR ARMS.

            The headquarters of the conspirators was in San Francisco, but their operations and plans included the entire Pacific Coast, or at least such States and Territories as they could induce to join or had hopes of conquering. Gen. W. C. Kibbe was then Adjutant General of California, and he applied to the United States military authorities for 10,000 stand of arms, writing to General H. W. Halleck as follows:—

            It is represented and generally believed that there is a secret organization in this State (California) numbering from 20,000 to 30,000 men, who are leagued together for the overthrow of our National Government, and whose purpose it is, if an opportunity should ever favor the scheme, to carry the State out of the Union. This class of men openly boast that their sympathies are with the traitors of the South, and they lose no opportunity to defame the Government from which they receive protection of life and property, and whose great benefits they enjoy. They continually preach their traitorous doctrines among loyal men and do much to discourage enlistments. The loyal citizen has at this time no protection from their insults, and even United States soldiers have been shot down in our streets for protesting against the public use of disloyal sentiments, and the probabilities are that the assassins will go unwhipped of justice.

            The strength of the Government should be manifested and the Union feeling of the masses protected. If this is not done and our armies should meet continued reverses, trouble might be inaugurated upon the Pacific Coast. The loyal citizens of this coast have borne this state of things long enough. Will the Federal Government help us to manifest the strength we possess? If so we will raise 20,000 men used to arms.

ORGANIZING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

            Whether or not the organizers of the Democratic party in Nevada, in 1863, had any connection with the conspirators who were planning to make David S. Terry Governor of the Territory, under the Commission of Jeff. Davis, is best known to the parties in the movement. Many of the Democrats of the time expressed strong Union sentiments, and others openly avowed their disloyalty, for which they were arrested by the military authorities and imprisoned at Fort Churchill, receiving punishment by being required to carry sacks of sand under the guard of. a Federal soldier. At that date the fate of the Union was in the balance, and he who was not for it was regarded as its enemy. One prominent Democrat, Hon. John R. McConnell, had declared, "As Kentucky"—his native State—"goes, so I go." Kentucky declared against secession, but McConnell did not abate his denunciation of the Administration and the war for the Union. The secession of the Southern States, the outbreak of war following the attack on Fort Sumter, and the united uprising of the North, had appalled and stranded the Democracy of the Pacific Coast; and having no part in the organization of the Territory of Nevada, they were but Democrats without a party. Naturally they desired concert of action, and on the fourteenth of February, 1863, a meeting was held in Virginia City to organize the Democratic party in Nevada, and the following names were appended to the call:--

            S. A. McMeans, of Storey County, Chairman.           J. P. Hickey, Secretary.

            John R. McConnell,                                                    W. F. O'Neal,

            R. W. Billett,                                                               J. G. Cooper,

            J. C. Clark,                                                                  John J. Wilson,

            R B. Moyes,                                                                 Charles C. Thomas,

            Chas. W. Fox,                                                              J. W. Titus,

            Patrick O'Connor,                                                      O. S. Allen,

            R. C. Hardy,                                                                John C. Langton,

            L. Rawlings,                                                                 George A. Gray,

            John Webber,                                                              George E. Thomas,

            C. J. Lansing,                                                               John M. Neal,

            Francis L. Aude,                                                          J. W. Wilson,

            N. O. Arrington,                                                         J. Sutter,

            P. H. Clayton,                                                              Thomas Seale,

            R. H. Hall,                                                                   S. V. Berry,

266      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

            C. E. Williams,                                                            J. S. Pitzer,

            Archie McDonald,                                                      E. L. Cardoza,

            H. P. Haynes,                                                               J. W. Kerr,

            R. P. Keating,                                                              C. S. Fairfax,

            J. G. Howard,                                                              George E. Cobb,

            R. Shelton,                                                                  Fred. A. Sawyer,

            S. L. Curtis,                                                                 E. Janin,

            J. A. Paxton,                                                                John Doble,

            G. H. Shaw,                                                                 A. Casamayou.

            John Wobey,                                                               John Gaines,

            Wm. T. Barbour,                                                        J. C. Hurley,

            V. Frank Valle,                                                            J. W. Gashwiller,

            James McGrade,                                                          N. K. Lamson,

            Jacob Flebberg,                                                            A. B. Carrington,

            S. G. Post,                                                                    L. Videl,

            H. B. Cossett,                                                              J. B. Chin,

            Thos. Marsh,                                                               J. H. Hardy,

                                                            William Cadien.

HOISTING OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.

            The rebellious spirit manifested itself in a defiant manner on many occasions in the first and second years of the war, and issue seemed doubtful, but it was met by the determined manner of the loyal element which repressed any attempt of an uprising. On one occasion only was the Confederate flag flaunted in the public gaze. In the fall of 1861, a man named John L. Newman hoisted a Confederate flag over a building of which he was proprietor, on the corner of Sutton Avenue, and A streets, in Virginia City, and stood by with a number of sympathizers to protect it. Immediately thereafter Mr. R. M. Waterhouse, the partner in business with Newman, hoisted the Union flag on the other end of the building, and with pistol in hand declared he would kill any one who would attempt to take it down. The people were aroused, and great excitement prevailed. For a few hours there seemed danger of the breaking out of civil war, but discretion prevailed, and the obnoxious emblem of rebellion was taken down never again to reappear in Nevada. The secession element was notified that any one repeating the offense would be summarily dealt with. Soon thereafter they organized the Order of the "Golden Circle," and their operations were carried on more secretly. The necessity to counteract the machinations of this party was seen by the loyalists, and the "Union League" was organized. Both Orders originated in the East, and these organizations in Nevada were but branches.

ENLISTMENTS OF VOLUNTEERS.

            In the fall of 1861, California commenced the organization of four regiments of volunteer infantry, and to obtain recruits for these Lieutenant Soaper, in the spring of 1862 opened an office in Virginia City, being the first recruiting office in Nevada. After the usual manner of such officers, he obtained two drummer boys, and J. H. Matthewson, afterwards a Lieutenant, to carry a flag, and started to march through the principal streets. They had not marched a hundred yards when a rebellious individual sprang from a crowd of his friends on the sidewalk and destroyed one of the drums, and was proceeding to demolish the other when he was knocked down by Lieutenant Matthewson. Several Unionists came to the assistance of the recruiting party, among whom were Jack Williams, Thomas Peasley, J. V. B. Perry and George Birdsall, Williams acting as drummer, and the march proceeded in triumph, growing to a grand procession, which marched to the City Hall where an enthusiastic Union meeting was held and a patriotic address was delivered by Hon. Charles Bryan, ex-Justice of the Supreme Court of California. Recruiting was continued, and, while no violent measures were taken by the secessionists, there were many expressions of disapprobation which required firmness and courage to overcome. Seventy-five volunteers were thus obtained for the California regiments before any permission was given Nevada to raise any companies of her own.

            In the summer of 1862, the Third Regiment of California Volunteers, under command of Col. P. Edward Connor, arrived and took possession of the United States posts in Nevada, and on August 6th, issued the following order:—

CONNOR ASSUMES COMMAND.

[ORDER NO. 1.]

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF UTAH,

FORT CHURCHILL, August 6, 1862.

            The undersigned pursuant to orders from department headquarters hereby assumes command of the Military District of Utah, comprising the Territories of Nevada and Utah.

            In assuming command of the district I especially enjoin on all disbursing officers the necessity of being particularly attentive, careful and economical in. their disbursements of the public funds ; and that they in no instance purchase from persons who have at any time, by word or act, manifested disloyalty to the Federal Government. Being credibly informed that there are in this district persons who, while claiming and receiving protection to life and property, are endeavoring to destroy and defame the principles and institutions of our Government under whose benign influence they have been so long protected; it is therefore most rigidly enjoined upon all commanders of posts, camps and detachments, to cause to be promptly arrested and closely confined until they have taken the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States, all persons who from this date, shall be guilty of uttering sentiments against the Government, and upon the repetition of the offense, to be again arrested and confined until the fact shall be communicated to these headquarters. Traitors shall not utter treasonable sentiments in this district with impunity, but must seek some more congenial soil, or receive the punishment they so richly merit.

By order of      P. EDWARD CONNOR,

Colonel Third Infantry C. V. Com. District of Utah.

JAMES W. STILLMAN, A. A. A. General.

SECESSION RAMPANT ET COUCHANT.

The following, as a sample of the times, is related in the Esmeralda Star of August 23, 1862, then ed-

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND INCIDENTS.    267

ited by Major Edwin A. Sherman, a veteran of the Mexican War and a Unionist of the most positive character:—

            On Saturday night last, about eleven o'clock, a band of rebels made a complete pandemonium of our town, and continued their hideous orgies until late on Sunday morning, cheering for Jeff. Davis, Stonewall Jackson and the Southern Confederacy.

            This demonstration was no doubt designed as a test, to see whether the orders lately issued from the War Department, directing all military officers to promptly arrest all such offenders and make them take the oath of allegiance or suffer imprisonment, would be put in force or not.

            Our officers, whose duty it is to preserve the peace, did not make themselves known, and consequently no arrests were made by them ; they were truly peace officers.

            Lieutenant H. Noble, who is noble by nature as well as by name, and who has been an invalid for some time past, and stopping in our town to recruit his health, was repeatedly insulted by hoots and cheers for Jeff. Davis in his presence, when those cowardly villains knew he was feeble and thought they could take this mean, cowardly, contemptible advantage of the absence of his company (Captain E. A. Rowe's), which is stationed at Adobe Meadows, and they sought this opportunity to insult him, defy the Government, and treat its flag with contempt.

            Lieutenant Noble, though weak from a long illness, was determined to let them know that our Government and its authorities was not to be trampled upon with impunity. He told us that he was sorry that his Company was not here, and if he only had the men he would arrest them. We told him that he could have as many men as he wanted, and informed him of our position as Major on the staff of General Dobbie, of the Third Brigade of the State Troops (it was then thought Aurora was in California). He then applied for a sufficient number of men to make the arrest. We ordered Captain H. J. Teel, of the Esmeralda Rifles, to detail a Sergeant with ten men, to report forthwith to Lieutenant Noble, which order was obeyed, and Sergeant H. A. Rhoades, with his men reported to Lieutenant Noble as directed. The guard proceeded to the house to which the most rabid had retired, and though he offered resistance and clung to the house like a tick, he had to come along, though not without a good deal of trouble, and kicking private Michael Stewart very severely on the shin, which Mike responded to by a forcible presentation of his toe in the rebel's rear, after which he made no further resistance, and was marched to the county jail and placed under charge of Lieutenant D. H. Pine.

            Sheriff Bailey would not allow the prisoner to remain, without being delivered up to him by a written order; he was then removed to a log building lately used by Colonel Wingate as a powder magazine, where he was confined under guard of the Esmeralda Rifles.

            In the meantime the secessionists about the town began to get their arms; were buying ammunition and moulding bullets; they also threatened to rescue the prisoner, and take possession of the armory.

            It was deemed prudent to distribute all of the Minié muskets to the members of the Rifles, and the surplus to Union men who knew how to use them. The guard over the prisoner was doubled, and all the Union men were ready at the least alarm to rally to the aid of those on guard.

            Fortunately, however, for the "secesh," they made no attempt to carry out the threats, and the town was quiet during the night.

            On Monday morning the whole company of the Rifles were under arms, and at 10 o'clock the prisoner was brought out and placed in the center of the hollow square, and was marched by the company, who had their colors flying at their head, to the flagstaff, where the oath was administered by Lieutenant Noble to the prisoner, A. Quinton; after which Lieutenant Noble addressed the people, telling them that he considered the man but a tool in the hands of others who had incited him to cheer for traitors, for the purpose of making a test, and to see if he would dare to carry out the orders from General Wright and Colonel Connor. He informed them that the next one would not get off so easily. After thanking the Rifles for so willingly obeying the orders given them, they gave him three hearty cheers. Then three rousing cheers were given for the Stars and Stripes, and the company dismissed, each taking his arms home with him.

            We trust that this will prove a salutary lesson to those who would insult our flag or defy the authority of the Government; and they may rest assured that so long as we have any right or authority to command, the Government shall be respected and its flag shall be honored.

            There are traitors in our midst who helped to fit out Showalter and his party; they have also helped to fit out others and given the rebels aid and comfort; but their game is now up, and they are closely watched. Traitors have come in here from other quarters, but they will find this to be too hot a Union community for any of their kind, and the sooner they got out of it the better it will be for them, and if they remain we expect to enjoy the explicit pleasure in a few days of administering to them the oath of allegiance.

NEVADA VOLUNTEERS.

            Early in 1863, the order was received for Nevada to raise a battalion of cavalry, and at once the gallant Matthewson opened a recruiting office at Gold Hill, he being the first officer mustered into the service, taking rank as First Lieutenant of Company B, Nevada Territory Cavalry Volunteers, N. Baldwin, Captain. About the same time a company was recruited at Silver City, which became Company A, and was commanded by Capt. E. B. Zabriskie. These companies were soon filled; mustered into service, and in 1864 marched to Salt Lake. Baldwin was promoted to Major of the battalion, and was placed in command of Fort Bridger. Zabriskie, who was senior Captain, declined the promotion, preferring to remain with his company, which he had made very efficient.

            Four more companies were subsequently added to this battalion. Company C was recruited by different persons and at various places, the organization being completed in December, 1863, and H. Dalton made Captain. Company D was recruited at Gold Hill, in the fall and winter of 1863, and mustered in with Milo George as Captain. Company E was recruited in Genoa, Carson, and Silver City in the spring of 1864, by Captain Robert Lyon. Company F was recruited at Aurora, in the winter and spring of 1864, by Capt. J. W. Calder. In addition to these

268      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

there were six infantry companies enlisted in the Territory, altogether numbering about 1,000 men.

            In April, 1864, the following report was given of the force of Nevada Territory Volunteers:-

            Cavalry—Company A, Capt. E. B. Zabriskie, eighty men; Company B, Capt. N. Baldwin, ninety-four men; Company C, Capt. H. Dalton, eighty-three men; Company D, Capt. A. B. Wells, seventy-three men; Company E, Capt. Robert C. Payne, eighty-two men; Company F, Capt. J. W. Calder, eighty-eight men.

            Infantry—Company A, Capt. A. J. Close, eleven men; Company C, Capt. M. R. Hasset, fifty-one men; Company E, Capt. G. A. Thurston, fifty-three men; Company F, -Lieut. W. G. Seamonds, forty men; Company G, Capt. Wallace, seventeen men; Company H, Capt. A. B. Kelly, twenty-one men.

            These volunteers were stationed at various places throughout the Territory and Utah, and performed very efficient service in repressing any rebellious uprising, and in the Indian outbreak that occurred during the period, the account of which is published under the chapter of  "Indians and their wars in Nevada." In the fall of 1865 all were mustered out of service.

THE SANITARY COMMISSION.

            The grim story of war, with its hecatombs of slain, the mourning friends at home, and wide-spread desolation, is often relieved by the tales of individual heroism, by generous deeds of friends and foes, by the grand uprising of communities in acts of love, charity and patriotism, showing humanity in bright relief against the dark background of hate and strife and death. While war was raging with unparalleled energy in the east, during the years of Nevada's organization, the people of the Pacific Coast were in comparative quiet, enjoying a remarkable degree of prosperity; but praying, with exceeding deep sympathy, for the success of their friends and relatives in the fierce contest. Many of the North and South went to the field to render the assistance of their strength and life, and others sent of their stores and fortunes—that for the South in secret, necessarily so as rendering aid and comfort to the public enemy. The popular cry was assistance to the North. The Government had never prepared itself for caring for the vast number of sick and disabled men resulting from fatiguing campaigns and merciless battles. To provide for this came the most pleasant and redeeming feature of the war, the Sanitary Commission, which procured and expended from 1862 to 1865, $4,800,000. For this fund all could subscribe, however distant they might be from the scenes of strife and suffering. The secretary of the committee which collected money on the Pacific Coast, in his report, said:

            Men of every political party gave, whether Democrats, Republicans, or even secessionists; and there was no sect or religion that was not represented in this noble army of givers. The Christians gave with loyal self-denial; the Jews, as earnest sympathizers with the suffering; heretics, as citizens of a Republic to be saved, and men of no religion with an ardor worthy of the humblest religious devotee. The representatives of every nation living in our midst, English, German, French, Irish, Chinese, Italian, Hungarian, Russian, Spanish, gave with the fervor of native citizens.

            Of the $4,800,000 in currency raised by the Commission, over one-fourth of the sum came from the Pacific Coast. Almarin B. Paul, who was President of the Nevada Branch of the Sanitary Commission, in his final report, dated September 7, 1865, rendered the following statement of the contributions to the fund in this State, reckoned in currency: Douglas County, $2,975; Esmeralda, $10,080; Lander, $10,650; Lyon, $13,830; Ormsby, $13,600; Storey, $109,760.07; Washoe, $2,686; making a total of $163,581.07. Churchill, Humboldt and Nye, the remaining counties of the State at that time, were then prosperous and patriotic, and contributed their quota to the fund, but do not appear in Mr. Paul's report.

THE SANITARY SACK OF FLOUR.

            Numerous devices were employed to attract attention, to excite an interest and offer opportunities for the people to contribute to the Sanitary Fund. Among the most pleasant of these, singular in its origin, and remarkable in its results, was the "Sanitary Sack of Flour," the tale of which has become historic and of frequent reference. At Austin, Lander County, was to be an election for city officers, to be held on the nineteenth of April, 1864. The candidates for Mayor were Mr. Charles Holbrook, a Republican, then a hardware merchant, and now the same in San Francisco, and Col. David E. Buel, a Democrat, a native of Delaware County, New York, and one of the proprietors of the town site of Austin. The political and war excitement ran high, and great interest was taken in the campaign. Among the citizens were Dr. H. S. Herrick, Republican, a native of New York, then holding a Federal position in connection with the Internal Revenue Department, and subsequently Superintendent of Schools, and R. C. Gridley, Democrat, of the grocery firm of Gridley, Hobart & Jacobs, a native of Missouri, and a pronounced secessionist. Challenges to wager frequently followed animated discussion, and Gridley challenged Herrick to bet on the result of the election between Holbrook and Buel. The challenge was accepted upon these terms: The stake was to be a sack of flour of fifty pounds, which, if Buel were elected Mayor, Doctor Herrick should purchase and carry from Clifton, the western portion of Austin, and deliver to Gridley at his store in Upper Austin, being the extreme eastern portion of the city, the two points being about one mile apart.

            The reverse was, should Holbrook be elected Mayor, then Gridley in the same manner should carry a sack of flour from his store and deliver it to

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND INCIDENTS.    269

Herrick in Clifton. Subsequently the Doctor suggested that the winner should give the flour to the Sanitary Fund, and that the loser should carry it over the route, marching, if the Republican carried it, to the tune of "Dixie," and if the Democrat carried it, to the tune of "John Brown's Body Lies Mouldering, etc." The Republican Mayor was elected, and on the day following the election, April 20th, Dr. Herrick appeared with a band of music before the store of Mr. Gridley, and demanded the fulfillment of the agreement. This was bitter to the rabid secessionist, and many of his sympathizers looked upon it as another of the acts of enforced humiliation by the Federal authorities. But the Doctor was of a humorous disposition, and without an enemy in the world, so it was concluded to carry out the wager in a kindly and jocular spirit. The sack was produced, which the Doctor decorated with a number of small flags of " Stars and Stripes "—another act of humiliation—and Gridley, giving his coat to Herrick to carry, shouldered the sack and the procession formed with the Austin Brass Band in front, then the newly-elected city officers on horseback, then Dr. Herrick carrying the coat and cane of Mr. Gridley, then Gridley bearing the sack of flour decorated with flags and red, white and blue ribbons, and by his side his son, aged ten years, bearing a flag, then followed a man carrying a broom (the insignia of Democracy) draped in mourning, and with him walked a man with a sponge on a long pole, and a large number of citizens following made up a very mixed and very jolly procession. In this form, with the band playing, flags flying, steam engines whistling, and the people cheering, the procession marched through the main street about one mile to the Bank Exchange Saloon, where was performed the ceremony of delivering the sack, throwing up the sponge in token of surrender, and putting away the broom as a pledge of submission. After appropriate speeches by all the leading actors in the affair, much cheering and general hilarity, the party returned to the central part of the city, and Dr. Herrick donated the flour to the Sanitary Commission, with the proposition that it be sold at auction and the proceeds given to the Sanitary Fund.

            A stand was erected in front of Holbrook & Merrill's hardware store, and Mr. Thomas B. Wade, formerly Mayor of Placerville, California, took position as auctioneer. After some music by the band, and some patriotic speeches, the bidding began, Mr. Gridley starting it at $200. Great excitement and good feeling prevailed. The auctioneer was eloquent in his representation of the good purpose of the fund, and patriotic songs by the crowd often interrupted his remarks. Many bidders followed the first, there being a strife between the Republicans and Democrats as to which party should have the honor of the largest contribution to the fund. Buel, the defeated candidate, not having cash at his command, offered a certificate of indebtedness of $1,115 from the Indian Department—he having been Indian Agent in California—but gold was wanted, and the bid was declined. Others offered mining stocks, town lots, and other evidences of property, but all were rejected. At last it was "knocked down" for the sum of $350, to an enthusiastic Unionist, who asked time to the following day to go to his home for the money. Cash down was demanded. Gridley offered the money, but M. J. Noyes, one of the newly-elected Aldermen, claimed that he also had bid the amount, handed the auctioneer a bag of gold containing the $350, and immediately presented the sack of flour to be sold again for the same purpose. Then the band played in its highest notes, the crowd drowned the music with its cheers, and the fun was fast and furious. The play was now fully inaugurated, and every bid was made a sale, each purchaser returning the sack to be sold again. Individuals, Democrats and Republicans, would make the purchase, and then join with clubs to make a larger purse, and buy again. The merchants united and bid $300; Gridley, Hobart & Jacobs bid $200; the Oregon Mill and Mining Company bid $120; the Lander Lodge, F. & A. M., bid $113.50; Austin Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., bid $100; the attaches of the Reese River Reveille bid $100; several other bids of $100 were made; others of $60, $50, $25, $20, and $10, until it seemed as if the town would be drained of all its ready coin in the wild enthusiasm and noble emulation to swell the sum for the dearest purpose in the hearts of the populace, the giving in aid of the sick and wounded soldiers who were suffering in the cause of their country. Men who disapproved of the war could not restrain their sympathies for their unfortunate countrymen. The cause was charity, and not politics. For the day's sale the sum of $4,549 in gold coin was realized; equaling more than $6,000 in currency. The same evening was published in the Reese River Reveille a vivid account of the events of the day, which added to the enthusiasm of the people. This account was republished widely, and the "Gridley-Herrick" sack of flour became famous. Photographs were taken of Gridley and the sack, and sold for the benefit of the Sanitary Fund, while a representation of the sack was adopted as the seal and coat of arms of the new city.

            Mr. Gridley then conceived the idea of traveling with the sack of flour, and repeating the sales elsewhere, declaring he would pay his own expenses, and devote all the proceeds to the benevolent purpose of the Sanitary Fund. Arranging the affairs of his business as best he could, early in May he started on his noble mission.

            On Sunday, the fifteenth of May, he appeared in Virginia City, and at an impromptu gathering realized $580 from sales. The subsequent sales in that region are thus referred to in a local paper:—

            May 16, 1864—At eleven A. M. the Austin flour sack was placed in an open barouche, and accompanied by a line of carriages that were preceded by a

270      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

band of music, started for Gold Hill from Virginia City. It was placed at auction in front of Maynard & Flood's Bank, where it sold for $5,822.50, to which add $240 paid for it by Gold Hill people in Virginia, yesterday, makes a total of $6,062.50 paid by Gold Hill. Mark Twain accompanied the expedition, and Tom. Fitch made a speech. The news had just arrived of the great victory by Grant. From Gold Hill the procession moved to silver City, where an aggregate of $895 was bid. Thence to Dayton, where $1,200 was added to the amount. Then returning through Gold Hill where about $1,200 more was bid. In the evening the auction proceeded in Virginia, and the bidding continued until $12,025 flowed into the fund in addition to the $580 of the previous Sunday. Subsequent subscriptions resulted in the following totals:

                        Virginia City                                                    $13,990

                        Gold Hill                                                        7,052

                        Silver City                                                       2,000

                        Dayton                                                            2,000

                        Total                                                                $25,042

A sum equal to $40,000 in United States currency.

            Gridley continued his triumphal march through the principal cities of California, realizing about $175,000 for the benefit of the Sanitary Fund; afterwards visiting the cities of the East, where much more was added. The hero of this adventure profited no more from his great success than the fame acquired and a change of heart, becoming from a positive secessionist an ardent Unionist, meriting the reward of an honest man, a worthy citizen and a genial gentleman. About a year was spent in his pilgrimage. Returning to Austin in poor health, he found his business much depressed and himself overwhelmed in debt. His tour and excitement resulting in ill-health had unfitted him for business, and he soon left the State to make his home in Stockton, California, where, in 1871, he died and was buried, the Stockton Evening Mail of March 10, 1881, saying: "He now rests in the Rural Cemetery in this city, without even a stick or stone to mark the resting place of a hero."

            The emulation of individuals of different parties in the cause of generous impulses attending the selling of the sack of flour resulted in much good aside from the direct benefits which were the prime objects of the sale. Previously the people of Nevada had manifested a spirit of bitter partisanship, at times threatening open hostilities, and with such spirit opened the day at Austin on the eventful twentieth of April, 1864, but the day closed on a fraternizing community, when sectional and partisan rancor was forever obliterated. The call for charity had touched a chord to which all responded, and in the unity of good deeds made friends of those who had thought themselves enemies. The popularity and enthusiasm of the movement closed the voice of the weaker party, while their open-hearted and open-handed generosity softened the feelings of the stronger. From that date war news and political matters were discussed in a different tone than had hitherto prevailed, and there followed a more kindly sentiment of love for all sections of the Union.

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

            The great battles of the war had culminated in the spring of 1865 with the capture of Petersburg, Virginia, the surrender of Lee at Appomatox, and the occupation of Richmond, the capital of the Confederate States. The Rebellion had collapsed and the war was ended. This news had been received with great rejoicing in the North, and in every town in Nevada the occupation of Richmond was celebrated by processions, the firing of guns, and orations. President Lincoln had visited Richmond and had astonished the people of the Republic, North and South, white and black, by the unprecedented act of lifting his hat in return to the salutation of an aged negro, whom he met on entering the city. This was a recognition of the new element he had advanced from slavery to equal citizenship—this element which Chief Justice Taney had but a short time previously said, "after 200 years of servitude had come to be regarded as possessing no rights which white men were bound to respect." With peace assured Lincoln had used his utmost energies, prompted by the great kindness of his nature, to ameliorate the condition of the conquered rebels and to restore them to their rights in the Union. For this, and many acts of like character, he had endeared himself in the hearts of the people with a confiding and all-absorbing love. In the midst of these triumphs of physical and moral power, on the morning of the fifteenth of April, 1865, the news was telegraphed to Nevada that on the preceding evening this great and good man had been assassinated while attending a theater in Washington. The feeling of sadness and indignation was deep in the extreme. For the first time the cities of Nevada put on mourning. As soon as the news was received every town, hamlet, and residence of respectability in the State, was draped in the sombre habiliments of woe. The universality of this expression of respect and grief were nowhere better or more appropriately displayed than in this young State in the wilderness, so far removed from the centers of civilization and the scenes of the late strife.

            The exciting events following the death of Lincoln, the killing of the assassin, the lying-in-state, the honors to the remains of the great martyr as his remains were borne westward to his final resting-place in Springfield, Illinois, belong to the nation's history. On the nineteenth of April, the final obsequies took place. Simultaneous with the ceremony in the East, the principal towns in Nevada observed like ceremonies in an appropriate and feeling manner. At Austin, Virginia, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Washoe and Unionville, minute guns were fired, flags were at half-mast and heavily draped, long processions marched through the streets, sermons, poems and orations were delivered, and all citizens, with few exceptions, wore badges of mourn-

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND INCIDENTS.    271

ing. " At Gold Hill," says the News, " 2,000 people assembled at Fort Homestead, on the heights overlooking the town, to celebrate the obsequies of Abraham Lincoln. At half-hour intervals the solemn gun pealed forth its note of sorrow from the rising to the going down of the sun, and the bells in the Episcopal and Catholic churches tolled from ten o'clock until four. All places of business were closed during the day." At Virginia, 2,700 people joined in a procession of nearly a mile in length, while the streets were thronged with citizens wearing badges of mourning. At Austin the procession was large and very impressive, and attended by all classes of citizens, burying with the dead President all the partisan animosities remaining from the strife which had overthrown the mightiest rebellion known in the history of the world, and cemented in blood the eternal union of the Republic.

            A few disgraceful incidents followed the assassination. At Gold Hill, a fellow called Posey Coxey, upon hearing of the death of the President, remarked: "I'm glad of it. It's a pity he wasn't killed years ago." He was immediately arrested by the indignant populace, and given a speedy trial without the forms of law, and sentenced to receive thirty lashes on the bare back. Ten of the lashes were inflicted, when a motion prevailed that the sentence be commuted to carrying a Union flag from Gold Hill to Virginia City, bearing on his back a card, with the inscription, "A TRAITOR TO HIS COUNTRY." While on the march he was taken by the Provost Guard and placed in prison.

            In other localities similar expressions were heard, and the culprit, in some instances, was severely beaten, in some arrested, and in all held up to the scorn and contempt of the people. The heartlessness and want of manhood that would permit such expressions were rare among the bold and hardy people who were the pioneers of the "Silver State."

MEXICAN WAR VETERANS.

            Nevada, though having but a small population contains her share of the men who responded to the call of the United States Government for volunteers to quell the little unpleasantness which occurred with the Mexican Government in 1846. These men becoming accustomed to the hardships incident to a life in that country, were well fitted for pioneers on the Pacific Coast, and many of them arrived in California in early days, among whom we find many prominent and influential citizens. The same is true of the "Battle-born State," where the Mexican Veteran Association of the State of Nevada met and organized on the twelfth day of January, 1877, at Carson City. The following gentlemen were elected as its first officers: W. F. Stewart, President; A. D. Treadway, Vice-President; W. Garrard, Corresponding Secretary; E. B. Zabriskie, Recording Secretary. The names of the members are as follows:

                        Green B. Abel,                                                          G. G. Berry,

                        R. W. Bollen,                                                             George Bradley,  

                        Charles Billings,                                                          O. M. Beckstead,

                        Spencer Benson,                                                         E. Pearson,

                        William Cradlebaugh,                                                 J. D. Patterson,

                        F. Burning,                                                                  A. J. Powers,

                        R. Fielding,                                                                  D. H. Pine,

                        Thomas J. Gray,                                                          I. P. Richardson,

                        William Garrard,                                                        George Rouse,

                        James Hunt,                                                                J. E. Rooker,

                        James Hamilton,                                                         Thomas Rockhill,

                        William Heddington,                                                  Captain Rhoads,

                        T. C. Hayden,                                                              William F. Stewart,

                        S. F. Hoole,                                                                 G. H. Shepherd,

                        John W. Hall,                                                              William M. Smith,

                        Henry Junckins,                                                           David Swann,

                        James Jones,                                                                D. H. Thompson,

                        John M. Kirgan,                                                          A. D. Treadway,

                        Jerry Lehigh,                                                               J. S. Tipton,

                        D. W. Levan,                                                               A. G. Turner,

                        John M. Massey,                                                          Sam Turner,

                        John Maloy,                                                                 J. B. Van Hagan,

                        J. B. Moore,                                                                 David Wilkins,

                        W. W. McCoy,                                                            John W. Wingate,

                        James P. Pettigrew,                                                      C. B. Zabriskie,

                        William Patterson,                                                      E. B. Zabriskie.

HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG.

[Statistician, (San Francisco) 1877.]

            Previous to the adoption of a Union flag, different devices had been used on different occasions, and the various Colonies had chosen their standards, so that the bodies of troops that joined the army, in the early days of the Revolution, had flags of distinctive designs.

            In March, 1775, a flag with a red field was hoisted at New York, bearing the inscription, "George Rex, and the Liberties of America," and upon the reverse, "No Popery."

            It is not known with certainty that the American troops had a flag at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775 ; but it is supposed that they carried a red flag, on which was the device of a pine tree on a white field in the corner. On July 18, 1775, General Putnam displayed on Prospect Hill, a red flag bearing the motto Qui transtulit, sustinet, (He who transplanted still sustains,) and on the reverse, " An Appeal to Heaven."

            Col. William Moultrie designed the first flag in South Carolina, which was blue with a white crescent in the upper corner next to the staff, and was hoisted on the fortifications of Charleston in September, 1775.

            In Connecticut each regiment had its own peculiar standard, on which was represented the arms of the Colony, and the motto, Qui transtulit, sustinet.

            The Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Lynch a committee to take into consideration designs for a Union flag. They went to the American army, then assembled at Cambridge, and after consideration adopted a flag composed of thirteen alternate red and white stripes, with the red and white crosses of St.

272      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

George and St. Andrew conjoined on a blue field in the corner, and named it " The Grand Union Flag." The stripes were a symbol of the number and union of the Colonies, the colors being a combination of the red flag formerly used by the army and the white by the navy. The crosses were retained to show the willingness of the Colonies to return to their allegiance to the British Crown if their rights were secured. This flag was first unfurled by Washington, at Cambridge, January 1, 1776.

            In 1776 Col. Gadsden presented a flag to Congress, to be used in the navy. It was yellow, and bore the device of a rattlesnake with thirteen rattles, represented in the attitude of striking, and the motto, "Don't tread on me." This was used in the navy and was called " The Continental Flag." The device of a rattlesnake had previously been used on flags.

            The troops which were raised by Patrick Henry, and called the " Culpepper Minute Men," had a banner with the device of a rattlesnake, and the mottos, Don't tread on me," and "Liberty or Death," and the name of the company. The celebrated riflemen called the " Morgan Rifles," had a flag on which was inscribed " XI. Virginia Regiment," and " Morgan's Rifle Corps," also the date, 1776, surrounded by a wreath of laurel. The flag of Washington's Life Guard was made of white silk, with various devices and the motto, " Conquer or Die."

            The first legally established national flag was adopted by Congress June 14, 1777, by the following: "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate white and red; that the union be thirteen stars, white, in a blue field, representing a new constellation." A constellation could not well be represented on a flag, so the stars were arranged in a circle, representing harmony and union. As symbols the colors represent: Red, courage; white, integrity of purpose; and blue, constancy, love and faith. By some it is asserted that this flag was first unfurled by Paul Jones on the Ranger, and by others that it was first used at the battle of Saratoga.

            An Act of Congress of January 13, 1794, provided that after May 1, 1795, the flag of the United States should consist of fifteen stripes, alternate red and white, and the union of fifteen stars, white in a blue field. Vermont and Kentucky having been admitted, at that time the States were fifteen in number. This act indicated that the flag should represent the number of the States of the Union by a corresponding number of stripes and stars. The continued increase in the number of States plainly showed that this law should be changed.

            A bill was passed by Congress, April 4, 1818, reducing the number of stripes to the original thirteen, and making the number of stars equal to the number of States; a star for each new State to be added to the flag on the fourth of July following its admission. The flag as thus established was hoisted on the Hall of Representatives in Washington, April 13, 1818; although it had no legal existence until the fourth of July following.