Page 33 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 20

women to make a flag, but it was finally accomplished and the flag
run up on a tall pole in from of Perkins and Hughes auction store,
just above where the Cosmopolitan Hotel now stands. I was living
nearly opposite and there were a dozen resolute men there watching
that flag-pole, for many extreme southern sympathizers of which
the country was full at the time, had sworn sulphurous oaths that
the flag would not remain there till morning. Perhaps the sight of
some gun-muzzles protruding from the windows opposite moved
a reconsideration of that resolution. At any rate his first flag of our
country that ever floated to the breeze in Helena was “still there”
to greet the rising sun and cheer the hearts and eyes of loyal men.
The Union men, although greatly outnumbered were resolute and
respected, and let it be said to their credit there were southern men
like Edwin Warren Toole and others, who used all their influence to
restrain the more reckless and rampant from note of violence.
They confessed that the war ended with Lee’s surrender and that it
was worse than useless to keep alive the bitter feelings that the war
engendered.”63

MONTANA

Montana territory coat of arms (illustrated, 1876) by Henry
Mitchell Restoration by Godot13 - The State Arms of the Union,
Boston: L. Prang & Co.. Licensed under Public Domain.