Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-29
The Flag of the Thirty-serenth Wisconsin.
hD-oRs. 2. u. DEPT. STTH WIS. VoL.l
NJ Ar.----.-,---..

NEAk PETERSBURG, a, Sept. 10. ,
4. To HIS Ercal2eIacy James Z, Leacis, Gorernor:
SIR:-At the request of Col Hartman.
commanding 37th Reg Wis. Vol, took the
war-worn battle flag of the s7th to City Point
a few days since, aud forwarded il by Adams
, Express 10 your address. The broken and
shattered flagstaff, and the torn and disman-
tied flag, will plainly and eloquentlv speak of
the bloody contests through which the gallant
S7th has passed,
On the 10th of May last Col Hartman sent
the flag by me to the regiment, then encamp.
ed on Arlington Heights, just south of Wash
ington- On the evening of the 10th of Nav.
reached Camp Casey, on Arlington Heights,
and delivered the flag to Lieut. Col. Doolittle,
commanding the regiment. From that time
until the 30th of July it was proudly floating
IN the breeze at the headquarters of the reg
lment, or still more proudly borne at the head
OF The regiment in its marches and its advan-
ces upon the rebel works on the ever memoir.
able days, the 18th and 18th of June and Sotb
of July
On the 18th of June, the Color-Serseant,
" III: H. Ureen, OF Co. c, while carrying the
ia? IN the action IN trent of Petersburg, was
seriously wounded, and, although it required
the use OF both his hands to drag himself from
the field, yet he did not abandon the glorious
flag which he had so honorably borne during
the storm Of shot and she'll into which our
regiment was led ; he seized the flag with his
teeth and crawled off the field, taking the fac
with him, drawing it fully hundred rods with
his teeth. Serg't Green's wounds proved IA
tai, and he died in Washington few weeks
after
On the 18th of June Corp. Jesse S. Hake,
of Co A, carried the flag, and although he
was III the midst of the battle of that day, vet
he came out unscathed. From the 18th of
June to the Esd Of July the flag was carried
by Corp. Thomas w Argue, of Co. C.
From the 23d to the 3lst of July Private
Reuben D. Shaw, of Co. c., was color bearer,
and it was he who carried the flag into the
rebel fort after it had been blown up before
Petersburg, and there planted it in full view
OF the rebel batteries to the right and left,
both OF which soon opened upon our forces
an inceSsant fire, in which our flag was terri
bly, cut to pieces, and the flagstaff being shat
tered and broken, the flag was blown some
distance out Of the fort At this junction,
Adlutant Miltimore, of the 37th, fearlessly
walked out picked up the flag, and went safe
ly back into the fort, amid terrific fire of
musketry, with shot and she'll added by way
OF variations" and there was not much
variation about it either, for every shot
and she'll brought death and carnage on it's
wings to some of our brave boys
The flag being no longer serviceable, it
was rol cd up, and Private Shaw carried it
safely from the fort on our retreat, and was
afterwards placed in Col. Harrimans tent,
where 1t remained until delivered to me to
be forwarded to you.
Many Wisconsin regiments have sent home
their tiattle-fags, bearing sad evidence of the
bloody strife through which the regiments
had passed; but what regiment in so brief
period, has suffered so much in killed, wound
ed and missing as the 37th Wisconsin; and
what regiment, other than the 37th, has had
its colors rendered so totally unservieeable in
actual battle in the short space of two months
and half? Respectfully yours,
W. G. WEBB,
Lieut.. & @. NJ 37th Wis. Vol.