The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956 Page: 97
587 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Collection 97
"Colonel J. K. F. Mansfield's Report of the Inspection of the
Department of Texas in 1856," XLII;
"Colonel Robert E. Lee's Report on Indian Combats in Texas,"
XXXIX;
"Elliott Roosevelt's Visit to Texas in 1876-1877," XLVIII;
"Fort McKavett," XXXVIII;
"John W. Smith, the Last Messenger from the Alamo and the
First Mayor of San Antonio," LIV;
"Texas Items in the Army and Navy Chronicle, 1836," XLIX;
"W. G. Freeman's Report on the Eighth Military Department,"
LI-LIV.
The picture opposite is of a curious banner, size 18" x 22", done
in pencil and crayon on satin. In the lower left hand margin of
the banner is a penciled inscription: "Friends, please excuse de-
fects, this is second attempt on satin." The signature cannot be
identified. The work appears to be that of a draftsman rather
than an artist.
The banner apparently is intended to forward the candidacy
of James K. Polk for the Presidency and the petition of the Re-
public of Texas for admission to the Union. Since it can first be
placed as being owned by Mason Gordon in 1870, the banner
might have been sent to his father, General William Fitzhugh
Gordon, a member of Congress from Virginia and early friend
of Sam Houston. Possibly it may have been sent by Sam Houston.
The flag was inherited by Mrs. G. Lawrence (Harriet Gordon)
Rigby of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a great-granddaughter of Gen-
eral Gordon. Mrs. Rigby's aunt, Mrs. T. L. Rosser, now 87, re-
members the heirloom as a possession of her father's eighty years
ago.
The Rigby family has been in correspondence with the Texas
State Archives, Austin, inquiring about the origin of the banner,
and a picture of it appeared in Texas Libraries (publication of
the Texas State Library), March, 1955. Mr. G. Lawrence Rigby,
5 Nelson Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia, would appreciate any
information throwing light on the origin of the banner.
About two years ago forward-looking and historically minded
Susanna L. Compton, Wing Historian at Randolph Air Force
Base, suggested to the base commander, Brigadier General J. H.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 59, July 1955 - April, 1956, periodical, 1956; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101162/m1/115/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.