Useful Woman Much Honored In Her Work

Confederate Veteran
Volume 1, Page 378
April 1908

The appointment by Gen. K. M, Vanzandt of Mrs. Rountree as matron of honor for the Texas Division at the Birmingham Reunion was especially fitting.

Mrs. Rountree's father, John S. McIver, was a member of Company B, 8th Texas Cavalry (Terry's Texas Rangers), whose sister made and presented through him to the Rangers their famous battle flag which occasioned such public notice arid created such universal interest in 1899, when Governor Mount, of Indiana, accompanied by his entire staff, the members of the Indiana Legislature, and a large membership of the G. A. R., went on a special train to Texas to return it to the Rangers.

The flag was not captured from the Rangers, but was lost near Gaylesville, Ala., on October 22, 1864, during a retreat.

It was not unfurled at the time, but was incased in oilcloth, and in the haste was torn from the staff by the thick underbrush and was found next day by an Indiana regiment and kept by them until 1899, although they freely acknowledged that it was found, not captured.

When the Reunion met in Nashville in 1897, having lost all hope of a return of the original flag, Miss Melver made a duplicate and presented it to the Rangers with fitting ceremony.

Unfortunately when the flag was returned Miss McIver's health prevented her from accepting the urgent invitation of the Rangers to be present, but when in 1906, shortly before her death, the Reunion was again held in Nashville, they called upon her in a body bearing the original flag.

Mrs. Rountree as Miss McIver was reared in Nashville. Her personal work in Alabama is well known. She is a charter member of Pelham Chapter, U. D. C., one of the first Chapters organized in that State, over twelve years ago. She has ever been closely identified with the work of the State Division, having served as Historian, Secretary, Director, Vice President, and President of her Chapter, as well as Chapter Editor of the State for nearly four years. She has been Custodian of the Crosses of Honor for the past two years. She has been doubly honored in being the chaperon of the sponsors and maids of honor of the Alabama Division of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans at the Birmingham Reunion.