246 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
Mississippi. Their bones are heaped in
trenches where the leaden
hail fell thickest, and bleach unfound
in prison pens where
ghastly famine stalked. The turbulent
waves of the Atlantic
and the tepid waters of the Gulf flow
over the iron ships in
which they are forever coffined. They
are the "Unknown Dead"
-peace to their ashes! These war-wasted
flags are their most
glorious memorial-these flags that are
"While for their precious honor, red
for the rose of youth
Lost in the heat of battle, lost for the
sake of truth;
Blue for the skies above them when, in
the long ago,
They, in a loyal spirit fought with a
gallant foe".
TRIBUTE BY GOVERNOR JAMES M. COX.
It was a beautiful thought that inspired
the preservation and
display of these battle-scarred
standards of three wars. They
occupy a sacred place in the affections
of all Ohioans, and it
is indeed fitting that they are now
enshrined beneath the dome
of our state capitol, where they may be
at once an inspiration
and a beautiful memory.
It is appropriate for us to pause, in
the midst of our par-
ticipation in the present gigantic
military conflict, that we may
reflect upon the achievements of those
whose valor and patriot-
ism are commemorated by these
battle-flags.
I congratulate the Commission upon its
diligence in collect-
ing 455 of these flags and thus
affording the opportunity to
have with us for all time these eloquent
witnesses of our fathers'
and forefathers' achievements.
JAMES M. Cox.
TRIBUTE OF EX-GOV. JUDSON HARMON.
The placing in the rotunda of the
Capitol of the battle flags
of the Ohio Regiments in the Civil War
was approved while I
had charge of them. I am glad the plan
has since been carried
out.