Notice: July 29, 1863 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
AN INQUIRY.
EDITOR GAZETTE:
I wish to make some inquiry through your paper concerning the flag which was presented to the Elgin Battery in Chicago. I understand the Captain brought it home with him when he came and I want to know whether it has been returned to the company or not. I understand the donor of the flag has written out to Elgin, substantially as follows:
"The flag was given to the Elgin Battery, and not to the Captain, and if he has taken it from the same he has done quite wrong, and should return the flag to the Battery at once. I had the assurance that it should wave over the guns while there were enough men left to man them, and that is still my decision. I hope he will return it without delay.
I am truly yours,
I. H. HADLOCK."
Notice: Aug. 26, 1863 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
THAT FLAG.
We have received several communications about the flag of the Elgin Battery, but as Capt. Renwick has yet been able to reply to the letter or the committee, we have laid all aside until he shall recover his health sufficiently to write. This morning we received his reply but too late for this paper. We will make room for it next week.
Notice; Aug. 12, 1863 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
The Elgin Battery.
We publish this week the demand of the Elgin Battery on Capt. Renwick for their flag. We have already published a letter from Mr. Haddock, stating that he gave the flag to the Company and not to Mr. Renwick, and now we have the demand of the Company. It would seem that under such circumstances, the flag would be at once given to the Battery.
We hope the present officers will understand, that this community will do all in its power to aid them in restoring the lost reputation of the company. It is understood that Capt. Wood will visit this place soon and we bespeak for him a cordial welcome.
We have received from one of the Serg'ts, a well written letter on the general news at Lebanon, which we will find room for next week. We shall be glad to hear from him often.
From the Aug. 12, 1863 issue of Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
Camp of Elgin Battery, Ill. Vol. Art.
Lebanon, Ky., July 30, 1863.
GEO. P. HARVEY ESQ.Dear sir-Enclosed you will find a copy of resolutions adopted by this company, the design of which you will readily comprehend. If you will be so kind as to assist us and act for us in this matter, you will confer a favor upon us that we shall be glad to reciprocate. Presuming that you will cheerfully aid us in carrying out the resolutions to the letter, we will hereby authorize you to make an unconditional demand of the flag of George W. Renwick, and at the same tome make him acquainted with the accompanying resolutions.
Should he refuse to deliver the flag immediately, you will please present the "copy" to the Chicago Tribune for publication, and send copies to the other papers named, for insertion, in accordance with the 6th resolution.
Hoping soon to hear from you, so that if necessary we may proceed to sterner measures without needless delay, we remain,
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv'ts,
J. N. Boutwell,'
W. Walton Clift,
Nicholas Evans.
The demand has been made of G. W. Renwick in accordance with the above, and unconditionally refused.Geo. P. Harvey.
__________
Camp of Elgin Battery,
5th Ind, Ill. Vol. Art.,
Lebanon, Ky, July 30, '63
EDITOR OF GAZETTE:You will very much oblige the members of this Battery, by publishing in your columns the following preamble and resolutions, which were adopted by the company at an indignation meeting held in camp last evening, and which will sufficiently explain themselves to a discrimination public.
Whereas, the Elgin Battery, soon after its organization, was made the recipient of a magnificent and appropriate banner, through the patriotism and generosity of Mr. E. H. Haddock, of Chicago and.
Whereas, the said banner has not been permitted to lead us into the field, but was surreptitiously taken from us on or about the 15th of February last, by G. W. Renwick, (then Captain of this company) and has since been appropriated to the gratification of his own personal vanity and egotism, we have therefore.
Resolved, 1st. That the magnificent gift was presented to this company, and not the Capt. Renwick, by Mr. Haddock, as a testimony of his confidence in our valor, and as an incentive to future usefulness.
2d. That we appreciate the motives that prompted Mr. Haddock to make this company the special object of his generosity, and that we are readily and willing, and ever have been, to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence reposed in us.
3d. That G. W. Renwick received the flag in trust for us, and we feel that we have been grossly wronged in having it abstracted from us and converted to his own use as his private property.
4th, That inasmuch as in accepting that flag, we made a solemn pledge that we would protect, honor, defend and cling to it, we will commence the discharge of that obligation by immediately making a formal demand upon Mr. Renwick for the flag, and if necessary will resort to extreme measures to obtain it.
5th. That J. N. Boutwell, W. W. Clift and Nicholas Evans be appointed a committee to take the matter in hand, and that they be empowered, if necessary, to raise money to defray any expense that may be incurred, and that they be instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to G. W. Renwick.
6th. That if our request is not promptly complied with, and the flag returned at once, that the Committee shall request the publication of these resolutions in at least two Chicago daily papers, and in the "Elgin Gazette," and the "Woodstock Sentinel."
J. N. Boutwell,
W. Walton Clift,
Nicholas Evans.
Notice: Aug. 26, 1863 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
THAT FLAG.
We have received several communications about the flag of the Elgin Battery, but as Capt. Renwick has yet been able to reply to the letter or the committee, we have laid all aside until he shall recover his health sufficiently to write. This morning we received his reply but too late for this paper. We will make room for it next week.From the Sept. 1, 1863 issue of Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
Flag of the Elgin Battery.
We are happy to announce that the difficulty between Capt. Renwick and the Elgin Battery, has been adjusted, and the Flag presented to the Battery. We had an article in type from which we select the following paragraphs:Mr. Editor:
In your paper of the 29th of July, under the head of "inquire," was an article in reference to the Flag of the Elgin Battery, to which I replied through the columns of the Gazette of the 5th inst., and I think settled every point raised.
In August, 1862, I was authorized to organize and report a battery of field artillery. On the 20th of the same month i reported seventy-three men for immediate duty, and was on that day accepted by the Gov*****, and was by him ordered to report to Col. Tucker, at Camp Douglas. When I arrived at Camp Douglas I found it necessary to appoint the non-commissioned officers of the company, which I did. The appointments gave universal satisfaction to the men under my command. Subsequently however, the men held an election for officers and confirmed by their votes, my appointments.
* * * * * *
At this time my health was poor and daily failing by reason of hemorrhage of the lungs, and was advised repeatedly by the surgeon to leave the service. This for a time I declined to do, but on the 25th of February I was handed a package marked Official Business. It proved to be a leave of absence for myself with an order for a surgeon to accompany me to my home in Ill., all without any application on my part. The next day I started for home. The Elgin Battery escorted me from by boarding house to the cars and some of the men brought that banner and placed it over my head in the car.-I brought it to Chicago, had it repaired, and as I said in my last communication will place it over those noble 24 pounders whenever they are in position to receive it.
Flag of the Elgin Battery.
Elgin, Ill., Sept. 2nd, 1863.
GEO. W. RENWICK,Dear Sir-I am now in Elgin for the purpose of obtaining if possible, the Banner now in your possession, which Banner, as you think, was presented to you by Mr. Haddock, of Chicago, and the Battery I represent think was presented through you to the Elgin Battery. I ask the Banner of you in all friendship, designing to bury forever all criminations and recriminations on this subject between you and the Battery you raised and put into the field. Hasty and personal resolutions were passed by the Battery, in which things were said which, as I now understand the matter, ought not to have been said, and ***** of the Battery ***** ******** **** you to authorize me to present the Banner in question to the Battery with an appropriate letter on your part, after which I shall consider the controversy ended.
Respectfully yours,
J. N. BOUTWELL
Elgin, Ill, Sept. 2nd, 1863.
To the Officers and Soldiers of the Elgin Battery.Your representative, Mr. James N. Boutwell, having addressed a letter to me which assures me that you are desirous of perpetuating the friendly relations heretofore existing between us, and that you desire also to settle in a friendly manner, the difference that has hitherto existed between us in relation to the Banner presented, as I understand, to me by Mr. Haddock of Chicago, and as you understand, through me to you. I accept the proposition contained in said letter, and in view of the spirit and general tone of said letter, I do hereby present to you the Banner in question, with the expectation that you will preserve and protect it through all the danger you may be called to pass.
With my best wishes for your health, happiness and final success,
I remain
Your sincere friend,
G. W. RENWICK.
Notice; from the Dec. 9, 1876 issue of The Elgin Advocate.
Yesterday that irrepressible Bourbon, Major George W. Renwick, hoisted his flag on the liberty pole, but for what purpose even George himself could not tell. All who know him know that he would not celebrate over the announcement of the election of Hayes. By the way, George will soon have to buy another flag, having almost worn it out since the election by lugging it around.
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