Remembering the War
In 1926, recognizing that many current residents of Lynn Haven were unaware of the the story of its founding as a veterans' colony, and "Believing that some information concerning the remaining Old Soldiers in Lynn Haven would be of interest to Free Press readers, representatives of the paper, have inaugurated a series of calls upon groups of these men, to visit various sections of the city week after week, gathering data from which to write short sketches for publication."
On October 9, 1926, the Lynn Haven Free Press published this sketch of Consider Flower:
"Sidney E. Flower, (cousin of Gov. Flower of New York) was born in Boston, Mass., Dec. 8, 1843. He enlisted on August 21, 1861, in Co. F., 1st Michigan Cavalry, and at the close of the war, he re-enlisted and was sent west to fight the Indians, thus being in service in all, four years, seven months, and five days. He was in forty-two general engagements, but was not seriously wounded. He served under Brigade Commander Custer for two years. When his regiment was sent west in Indian warfare, it was scattered along the Ben Holiday Stage line, to escort the stages from station to station. At Stone Wall station, they were surrounded by Indians to the number of about 800; they fought as long as they had any cartridges left, then saddled their horses to attempt a dash out, when suddenly they saw coming over the hill, a column of Kansas cavalry, whereupon the Indians disappeared. In another fight with the Indians at Virginia Dare, the women of the station took an active part, passing out cartridges to the soldiers. An amusing incident occurred at that place. Previous to that time those Indians had been in a fight with soldiers who had a battery; knowing this, the men of Mr. Flower's division mounted a piece of stove pipe on a pair of cart wheels and pointed it at the Indians, who thought it was a cannon, and they ran hastily away. Mr. Flower was married on October 13, 1881 In New Jersey; they never had any children. They came to Lynn Haven in 1911, previous to which time they were in Alaska 14 years, located at Sitka most of the time, although Mr. Flower went to Nome in 1900 in search of the gold so many tried to find, he having the usual failure. In Sitka he served several years at post master, also as United States Commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Flower have a pretty house and lot on Eighth street and Pennsylvania avenue, and other property on Virginia, between Sixth and Seventh. His health is very feeble." <http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/bay/bios/oldsold.txt>
It is not clear if this account reflects Flower's memory or what interested the reporter in what he said. It is largely devoted to the final part of Flower's military service in the West, which it mistakenly describes as resulting from him reenlisting at the end of the war, with no details of his Civil War experiences. Despite the severe discomfort his injury caused him, and the pension that he received on that basis, Flower is reported as "not seriously wounded" during his service.