The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-02-23
Col John K. Miller.

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For ne Eaa Tsnnssss UAiOa Flag.
EDS. FLAG: But a few weeks since
the enemies Of this distinguished
and gallant officer wero doing their
utmost to consign his name to infamy
and disgrace, yet Tho brave boys and
noble patriots who have ever ADDER
cd to Columbia's proud banner, hon.
ored him npon every occasion, and
cheered him on to his destined fields
of Justice and Right And-althOUgh
wicked men and base publications
have used every energy possible TO
deprive him of the laurels he has 80
justly and honorably won, upon the
battle field, he to-day wears eagles, as
it were, glisteLing with more brillian.
cy in the pure sunshine Of heaven
and his admiring countrymen proudly
look upon him as tho true defender
and real redeemer Of East Tennessee ;
and, above all, we find that his IN.
blemished character was i~mpeached
before the reading world upon charges
that were groundless. The Chief
Executive Of tho nation, knowing
well his past unspotted character, and
taking into consideration the unrival-
ed service that no performed, but re-
Gently revoked the order Diminishing
bin from the service, restoring to him
the honors he had 80 justly and hon
orally won upon the many hard
fought batlle.felds Of '6l 2, 3 and
4. Col. Miller, like oil other East
Tennesseeans, bid farewell, at an ear.
" date of the war, to the native hills
of his childhood and the home of his.
love, to sacrificed his life upon the al
tar of his country or redeem his homo
and the homes Of the people he loved
from the ruthless hand oftyranny and
oppression; yet it is useless in this
brief communication to enumerate his
deeds of valor, yet in after years
when his body sleeps'beneath the sod,
many will still live to honor his name
and revere his memory, and point
with steady nerve an dan admiring
gaze 20 the bloody battle fields Of
Morristown, S~altvillO, Marion, and
New River Bridge, whore victory
perched in jasper colors upon his bat.
tle-acared banner. Yea. Salisbury,
N. c., where an entire division was
repulsed upon three successive charges
there, where the dying groans OF
hundreds rent the air, in pain and de-
spair, with gloom depicted in the coun-
tenance of all in high authority, and
the command "retreaE' almost given
yet, amid the gloom and the excite
ment Of the occasion there was m
officer whose heart still beat proudly
and whose bosom was animated by
tho flaming fres Of patriotism, and
ached as he cast his eyes upon the
prison walls that contained his suffer
ing and dying comrade in arms, rush.
ed through the excited troops and
asked permission to storm with his
brigade the almost, i%mpregnable forti-
fi%cations that were before them. The
commanding General told him that
such q thing was impossible-tAat IL
would be folly. Yet 10 persisted, and
finally his request was granted, ard
at tho head Of a brigade that was
never known to falter, and knew not
the words retreat or despair, he
stormed the rampartS of deoth, cap
tured the enemy, and liberated from
prison cells thousands of brave men
that had been confined since the origin
Of the war!
Gentle reader. that officer is Col.
Miller, and that brigade is known by
every Tennesseean.
As an officer in the army he was
efficient in his duty ; and, above all,
loved and respected by his men. His
~unhinching constancy to tho flag he
loved, his frmness as an officer in the
army, his heroic deeds and unrivalled
courage upon the battlefield, and his
ever strict adherence TO the rules Of
integrity, will in the future shed new
lustre upon bis path. And, although
SANDER, with her impious and poison
ous breath, has endeavored to tarnish
bis unsullied character, and blemish
his name, l am proud TO say that he
now occupies a prominent posi-
ton in the hearts and affection Of the
loyal people Of this section than ever,
and above all, still lives afresh in the
memory Of those who defended q
country that Is unparalleled in the
history Of the world.
CARTER.