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| CHAPTER III. AN HISTORIC FLAG. MADE BY THE LADIES OF BALTIMORE FOR THE OLD MARYLAND GUARD, AND PRESENTED TO THE FIFTH.—MR. WALLIS' SPEECH. Before the outbreak of the war the ladies of Baltimore had begun to embroider a heavy silk flag for the Maryland Guards. It was completed after the close of the war, having been kept closely concealed during the occupation of Baltimore by Federal troops, and then it was presented to the Fifth Regiment as the successor of the organization for which it had been originally intended. The flag was six by six and a-half feet in size. It was made of heavy blue silk, with a deep border of gold fringe. On one side it bore, embroidered in gold, the seal of the United States and the words E Pluribus Unum. On this side were the words "Presented by the Ladies of Baltimore, Maryland Guard, Fifth Regiment." On the reverse side was embroidered the Maryland Coat of Arms, thus uniting, as Mr. Wallis said in his presentation speech, "the emblems of State pride and of our Federal nationality." The presentation of this flag took place on Washington's birthday, 1868, at the Concordia. The regiment had marched to the hall with 500 men in line. The hall was filled and the stage was occupied by ladies COLONEL JAMBS R. HERBERT. |