JUNE 25, 2013 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Minnesota's Gettysburg Battle Flag Capture and Epilogue

Posted by Charles H. Standfuss 
on Jun 25, 2013
 
In the next two weeks, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle for Gettysburg will be observed with reenactments and special ceremonies. Club 10 member, the Hon. John Guthmann, will be among the reenactors at our nation's Military Park to commemorate what happened there and the role the battle played in preserving the American Union.  Judge Guthmann brought the glory of the First Minnesota at Gettysburg to life with a thrilling account of the capture of the battle flag of the 28th Virginia Regiment by Union Private Marshall Sherman of Saint Paul and the State of Virginia's meritless post-war claims for the flag's return.
 

Club 10 Business Report

President-elect Jim Kosmo brought the meeting to order at 12:31 p.m. on a warm early summer day in downtown Saint Paul.  Today's meeting was held at the Minnesota History Center.  Chuck Field led the assembled Rotarians in singing God Bless America.  Carol Bufton provided today's invocation.  Mike Franklin facilitated the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests.  Today's Greeters were Deb Vos and Paul Verret. 

President-elect Jim offered sincere "big thanks" to Rotarians Shelly Rucks, Beth Naughton and the History Center staff for today's event.  He also reminded everyone that due to next week's Fourth of July celebration, there will be no Tuesday or Thursday meetings. The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 9th aboard the Jonathan Padleford for the changing of the guard, the meeting marking the end of President Dan McKeown's term in office.  Michael-jon Pease provided a reminder of the Rotary outing to "Sherlock Holmes" this coming Sunday (20 seats remaining) and the July 20th Rotary-After-Hours to be held at the Ordway Summer Dance in Rice Park.  Sarah Kolar collected Happy Dollars.  President-elect Jim made a special contribution to the Rotary Foundation in the memory of our late member Lt. Col. Mark Weber.

Beth Naughton introduced today's speaker, the Hon. John Guthmann, Ramsey County District Court Judge and Civil War history buff.  Judge Guthmann began by inviting those in attendance to view the History Center's Civil War exhibit available at no additional charge for those in attendance today.  The exhibit is in celebration of the Civil War's Sesquicentennial or 150th anniversary.  Judge Guthmann noted that later this week he will be one of 9,000 participants in one of two battle reenactments at Gettysburg.  He began his formal presentation by giving a general history of flags and battle flags.  Wars have been fought and lives have been lost over symbols, flags. Flags have been in use for thousands of years.  The study of flags is called "vexillology," from the Latin word for flags, vexillum.  Flags have been used to distinguish friend from foe.  Capturing a flag has signaled immediate and total victory; a flag's loss, total defeat.  Disposition of captured flags has often been decided by the rules of warfare.

On July 3, 1863, the third day of the battle of Gettysburg, the 28th Virginia Regiment was approaching the remnants of the First Minnesota (which lost 82% of its strength on the second day) as part of Pickett's Charge.  Fewer than 175 members of the First Minnesota charged a superior Confederate force and in the ensuing melee, Private Marshall Sherman of Saint Paul captured the colors of the 28th Virginia.  After the battle, the colors were turned over to the War Department.  Judge Guthmann shared pictures that were taken in later years showing Marshall Sherman with the captured flag.  The flag had been inventoried (No. 58) in late 1863, but as was commn practice, it was loaned out for recruiting purposes later in the war.  After several other inventories and various Congressional actions, the flag is now in the Minnesota Historical Society's collection and on display as part of the MHS's Sesquicentennial Civil War Exhibit.  In 1998, the State of Virginia raised the first serious challenge to the ownership of the battle flag by the State of Minnesota.  Although Virginia suggested that the time had come "to leave the Civil War behind us," Minnesotans have not been inclined to give up something purchased at such great cost of Minnesota blood.  The captured flag remains an important artifact in Minnesota history.  It was captured during an invasion of our country by the Army of Northern Virginia.  At that time, the Minnesota Attorney General ruled that Virginia had no legal standing to claim the flag, since the owner was the U.S. War Department, and by delegation, the State of Minnesota.  In the year 2000, Virginia again requested the return of the flag.  At that time, then Governor Ventura once again reminded Virginia who won the war.  The 1863 flag is very fragile and can be damaged by light.  It is only on display with the Civil War exhibit through Labor Day. It will then be returned to protective storage.

President-elect Jim thanked Judge Guthmann for his remarks and noted that a donation in his name would be made to the Saint Paul ImagePublic Library's "Read With Me" program.  He then led a recitation of the Rotary Four Way Test.  He adjourned the meeting at 1:24 p.m.

Chuck Standfuss, Scribe