The Confederate Flags

Tut-tut! give back the flags — how can you care,

  You veterans and heroes?

Why should you at a kind intention swear

  Like twenty Neros?

Suppose the act was not so overwise —

  Suppose it was illegal;

Is't well on such a question to arise

  And punch the Eagle?

Nay, let's economize his breath to scold

  And terrify the alien

Who tackles him, as Hercules of old

  The bird Stymphalian.

Among the rebels when we made a breach

  Was it to get the banners?

That was but incidental — 'twas to teach

  Them better manners.

They know the lessons well enough to-day;

  Now, let us try to show them

That we're not only stronger far than they,

  (How we did mow them!)

But more magnanimous. My lads, 'tis plain

  'Twas an uncommon riot;

The warlike tribes of Europe fight for gain;

  We fought for quiet.

If we were victors, then we all must live

  With the same flag above us;

'Twas all in vain unless we now forgive

  And make them love us.

Let kings keep trophies to display above

  Their doors like any savage;

The freeman's trophy is the foeman's love,

  Despite war's ravage.

"Make treason odious?" My friends, you'll find

  You can't, in right and reason,

While "Washington" and "treason" are combined —

  "Hugo" and "treason."

All human governments must take the chance

  And hazard of sedition.

O wretch! to pledge your manhood in advance

  To blind submission.

It may be wrong, it may be right, to rise

  In warlike insurrection:

The loyalty that fools so dearly prize

  May mean subjection.

Be loyal to your country, yes — but how

  If tyrants hold dominion?

The South believed they did; can't you allow

  For that opinion?

He who will never rise though rulers plot,

  His liberties despising —

He is he manlier than the sans-culottes

  Who's always rising?

Give back the foolish flags whose bearers fell,

  Too valiant to forsake them.

Is it presumptuous, this counsel? Well,

  I helped to take them.

On February 24, 1905, Congress passed a bill authorizing the War Department to return its stockpile of captured Confederate battle flags to their original owners. Although the issue was hotly contested before the final decision was reached, many Union veterans urged the return of the flags, among them the noted American author Ambrose Bierce, who had himself served with the 9th Indiana during the War.