THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

May 8, 1896

 

WAUPACA RESERVE GUARDS.

And Their Flag.

BY F. M. BENEDICT.

 

            When inquiry was made a few weeks ago in regard to the flag presented this spring by Mrs. A. H. Chandler to the city of Waupaca, the writer immediately recognized the relic as the banner presented by Mrs. Sarah H. Kearney to The Waupaca Reserve Guards, or as they were popularly called, “The Red Jackets” from their red zouave-like coats, on July 4^th 1862.  The flag was made in Chicago for the ladies of Waupaca who paid for it by subscriptions.  The Guards were regularly enlisted state militiamen subject to service within the bounds of Wisconsin being accoutered, except clothing, by the State.  The armory was situated northeast of the old courthouse.  The company was commanded by Capt. Adolph Sorrenson.

            That the presentation speech of Mrs. Kearney was eloquently partriotic is attested by the fact that it has been ringing in the ears of one of her hearers ever since, though they were only an eight year old patriot’s ears on that memorable war time 4^th of July, 34 years ago.

            Not wishing to commit the recollections of so youthful an historian to paper without corroborative evidence, I wrote to Mrs. Kearney of 4337 Ellis Ave., Chicago.  Beside confirming the facts given she adds many more of interest to Waupaca people.  Capt. Sorenson received the flag from her hand and gave it into the keeping of Color Sergt. John Dewey.

            Further the estimable lady adds:  “My memory goes back to another flag, the first stars and stripes to float in Waupaca.  It was made of cotton cloth.  Our sewing circle met in the unfinished house of Mrs. G. L. Lord to make it. This was long before the National flag was lowered at Ft. Sumpter.”

            Again she writes of the farewell dinner given the first company of volunteers to leave Waupaca.  That was Co. A. of the “Eagle Regiment” the 8^th Wisconsin Vol.  The banquet was served by the ladies of Waupaca and vicinity in the court house yard and the boys marched away to fight their thirty-six battles in our great war.

            George Leonard used the writer’s boyhood’s fife and Capt. Redfield our heirloom sword (not “of Bunker Hill” but contemporaneous with it and wielded by Great Grandsire Aaron on the Green mountains by the side of Col. Ethan Allen  ….