Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-02
From the Bedford Sun, August "a
COlOrS of the Second Indiana Regiment.

In the ashngton Union of llth instant, is a
communication from the pen of the Hon. Amos Lane.
OF this State, concerning the conduct of the Indiana
troops the battlefield, and the colors of the two
Regiments. II is In reply to certain slanderous
assertions made by one of the returned prisoners Of
Majors Gaines aud Borlands party in Mexico: aud
Is well worthy the pen Of an Indianian.
But the writer has unintentionally fallen into an
error concerning the flag of the second Regiment,
which we deem it duty TO correct in Justice TO
those who so calamity preserved it when about to
fall into the hands Of the enemy After speaking
very properly of the retreat of the Regiment, he
observes
Most Of them 1.-THE men) rallied and fought like ve,er-
few did not, but like many Others 10 the ranch
In this retreat the color bearer being wounded fell and with
him the flag of the regiment Major Dix Of paymasers
department. coming the moment these coors
aud handed them TO Lieut. Kuukle of the same Regiment
who bore them most CALAMITY the balance Of the day.
These coors were brought home with the Regiment and are
now IN the hands oil Captain Sanderson Of New Albany
Indiana"
We have been definitely informed of the whole
history OF this flag, by many who fought under Its
stars and stripes, and who were with it from the
beginning to the end of the campaign The follow
ing statement condensed from a full account of it
furnished US by request by one of the Lawrence
Greys, may be relied on as correct
The flag made and presented TO the Spencer
Greys," by the patriotic ladies' of New Albany. Ia.
before the Regiment organized; after it was
organized this same flag was constituted the Regi-
mental cOlors, and Il sergeant and two corporals
were detailed to bear and protect il; this" In the
language of correspondent 40 they did most ga
anty, until in the fierce conflict at Buena Vista The
bearer received severe wound in the arm, which
disabled him. He was afterwards killed. Conse-
quently the cOlors fell TO the ground, and Law until
taken Up by T. w Moberly, private in company F
(the Lawrence Greys Ibis clothing shows that
he did II at no small risk. Moberly handed the fac
TO Lieut. Col. Hadden, Hadden handed it to Major
Dix, and Major Dix to Lieut.. Kunke of the Spen-
Ger Greys, who bore it in triumph the remainder Of
the day, and returned it unsued by the hand of the
enemy to the Uuited States. 1t is now in New
Albany, Indiana
Thus it seems that it was not Major Tx. but a
brave soldier in the ranks, who perlled his life to
save the flag, under which, most of the Regiment
afterwards - rallied and fought like veterans"
The fact, as understand it Is that the bearer
was left IN the rear In the retreat and when wounded
the colors fell from his hands, young Mobery, soon
after, casting glance behind him, saw them living
the ground. and Immediately returned in the face
OF the advancing enemy, to where they lay, and
when the Mexicans were within few PAGES of him,
and their balls literally riddling his clothes,
although none of them touched him, snatched them
from their resting place, raised them aoft triumph
and soon rejolned his comrades
This brave and noble deed worthy of a
Jasper, and deserves 10 be recorded on The page OF
history, and remembered as long as the name of
Buena Vista is heard.
The principal Of these facts, we received from
Major German, on his return from Mexico, several
weeks before the return of the Regiment.
We make this correction with pleasure not to dis
parage IN the least the fair fame of Major Dix, for
brave and noble daring, nor yet with wish to dero-
gate from the high merit Of the excellent commune
cation of MIR. Lane, vino has exhibited laudable
desire to defend the reputation Of his State and her
citizen soldiers, but to doustce TO all without dstnc
ton of rank, and because condemn from our heart
the disposition too prevalent, to crown the officer
with laures unustly from the brow of the brave
private.