Webmaster's Note: The following letter was written to the Dalton Citizen in August 1887 by S.P. Greene about the regimental flag pictured about. The letter gives an excellent portrait of the last days of the regiment and some of the soldiers.
The Old Flag
Forth Worth, TX, August 1887
Comrades, it is now more than 22 years since the old 39th stood in line and answered to roll call as Confederate soldiers. Not one of us can ever forget that dark day in April 1865. Then with hearts filled with sadness and despair, we marched into that old field in N.C. and there we stacked those arms with which, through confrontations untold, through freezing cold and scorching heat--amid shot and shell of a hundred battlefields--we had for four long years battled so devotedly for the liberties of our beloved Southland. It was indeed a bitter day, yet in our humiliation we had the proud consciousness that we had done all that man could do, and that we laid down our arms only at the command of our beloved chieftain, Joe Johnston, given when he saw that further effort was worse than useless--then, and not till then, did we yield up those arms, dropped a silent tear into the grave of our Confederacy, and turned our steps toward our desolate homes, and there, with souls still unconquered, rallied all the energies of our manhood and began the struggle of providing bread and meat for our almost starving families.
That struggle has scattered us far apart from the Atlantic to the Pacific so that now when the bugle sounds the roll call, some of us are so far away and submerged in that struggle that we cannot answer to the roll call in person; but, comrades, we are with you in spirit with undying love--our souls are knitted together as firmly now as when at Baker's Creek we stood shoulder to shoulder-a single regiment- and received the charge of a whole Division of Federals; as when in the Battle of Chattanooga, we singly twice charged and routed several Federal brigades; as when at New Hope, we sprang as one man into the death hole and reestablished the broken Confederate lines; as when on that dreadfull day in Nashville, we stood alone amid the wrech and rout of army with unbroken ranks and answered back the trumphant cheers of the enemy with a true Rebel yell, while General Pettus shouted, "Men, for God's sake, rally on McConnell's old regiment."; as when next day with fragments of our own and another regiment--scarse 600 men in all--we stood in hollow square and for 14 hours held at bay 5,000 Federal Cavalry and gave Hood time to rally his broken army. Men who stood together through scenes like these, and a hundred others in which they ever did their duty to each other and to the cause for which they fought, must ever be a brother near and dear. I say ever did their duty, for we can stay, we have a right to say, and say with pride--the old 39th never failed to come up to the full measure of its duty. There is not one blot on her escutcheon-not one page of her history would we hide from review.
Duty here deprives me of the great pleasure of being with you but I send you, by the hand of our comrade, Capt. John H. King, something I know you will be happy to regain "Our Old Regimental Flag."
When I received orders to form the regiment for surrender, I could not find it in my heart to give up the old flag to the enemy, so I took it from the staff, wrapped it around my body under my clothing, and carried it out and have ever since preserved it among my choicest treasures. I send it to you now just as it was then, all rent and torn, by shot and sheel and begrimed by the smoke of battle, a living proff of what the regiment which followed it has done. I know you will cherish it as I have done.
Comrades, the war is long since over and we are all peacable citizens of the United States--true and loyal to the government of our fathers, the more so now that those great principles for which we fought have regained the ascendancy in the councils of government, and many of those noble and gallant men who then met us on the battlefield as enemies, now stand with us as friends and brethren. It in no way detracts from our loyalty that we should cherish the memories and associations which cluster about this tattered banner- memories and associations born in those days which tried our souls.
I trust you will all be spared to meet again next year, and that I will have the happiness to be with you. And now in spirit I grasp each of you by the hand and pray that the Lord our God will bless and keep you in health and prosperity.
Webmaster's Note: D Company was given a presentation flag when it was sent off to war by its people. These type of presentations were often done with much fanfare. Bands played, speeches were made by local officials, and this was usually the point the unit marched off to war. Having a record of such an event is really special. Especially when it is a company flag. The following article was provided to us by Greg Biggs. The article appeared in the Atlanta Southern Confederacy, March 13, 1862.
"Dade County has sent a gallant company of "curly maple" riflemen, called the "Invincibles", to Camp McDonald. The officers are James W. Cureton, Captain; M. Dearsberry (sic), 1st Lieut.; Francis Danile (sic), 2nd Lieut.
On Tuesday, previous to their leaving home, Miss Mary Mann, a beautiful mountain girl, presented the company with a handsome flag, delivering an eloquent address-the gallant captain replied.
Col. Robert Tatum, who has two sons in the company, also made an encouraging speech in his own peculiar style, that always reaches the hearts of his hearers."
