The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-10-22
A BATTLE INCIDENT. /
The Tragic End of a Brave Young
Texan Flag-Bearer.
GChicago Tribune.l

During the Fall of 1864 Sherman had
cut loose and started from Atlantis 70 the
sea. Hood had marched west through
Alabama, and struck the Tennessee Riv-
er between Florence and Decatur and
crossed on pontoons In his immediate
front, just north of Shoal Greek. lay
Hatch's division of cavalry "a, ,000 men)
Capron's brigade ] ,200m J, Croxton's
brigade (2,500 men). Laying here,
Hoods movements were watched, and
when his advance was made across the
river, which consisted, among other
troops, of Ross Texans, an engagement
every day was insorder, Which, 81 rule,
resulted in sorne hard fighting. AS Hood
advanced, every step was disputed up to
Franklin, when Thomas gave him his
first check. - ,
Up to this time the cavalry we're con
stantly engaged with Ross for two OF
three days in front. Often with the
skirmish line was q young fellow who
carried the flag which had the Lone Star
Often in charging, asthey swept down
upon us, he bore his flag near enough to
US to distinguish his features In ap
pearance he was about eighteen years ol
age, blonde hair, which hung to his
sword,belt, pale, beardless face. Noun
ted on magnificent black horse, he
seemed to be omnipresent When the
Texans charged the fiercest, there the
black horse, the long blonde hair and
the Lone Star were sure to be. This
had gone on 80 long that the entire di.
vision knew him, and common saying
was, "It's no use to shoot at him, fol
you can't hit him." Every one had tried
it, but be seemed to lead q charmed life
On our retreat, the day before we came
to Spring Hill, we we're pressed unusu
ally hard. Move as we would, the Tex
ans seemed TO be upon US, and flanntlns
continually in our face was that flag al
ways borne by the boy on the blacl
horse. After, falling back from q posi-
tion which had been holly contested, ane
retreating, after repulsing a charge, ",
had hardly formed when they came aeair
the Aag, black horse, and boy in front
The remarks we're general, "rhe BOY
again." "Look at the boym Don
be rider" just then Sergeant. Ma3ol
Howard, OF the Eleventh Indiana Cav
airy, called 10 one of the men and said
ED is your gun loaded :" "Yes," wa.
the reply. "Give it to me-" Howard
{ who was boy OF seventeen, slim, light
but fine shot) took the gun, dismoun
ted, kneeled down in the road and look
ed for the flag bearer, About three hun
dred yards in front was a rise in th,
ground that he would have to come ul
before he would be in sight. Howsd
waited. All looked on with almJs
breathless interest, many venturing te
remark, "It's no use ; you cam, hit hinzs
The flag came in view first, then thu
man and then the horse. He was lead
ing the brigade, his long hair floating il
the wind as he came forward at sweep
ing gallop. Every few moments hs
would give yell that could be heard
above the roar Of the carbines. A.
Howard ikneeled, his carbine came to hi.
shoulder, look down the barrel, mo.
mentary pause, flash, crack, and all
looked at the Texan. First the flag
waved and fell from his hand, then the
boy reeled and fell from bis horse, which
frightened, tore away and ran into oul
lines. Howard, pale as sheet, handed
the gun back, mounted his horse and
Joined bis command. All afternoon he
seemed sad, and that night at the camp,
fire I noticed him writing. After scrib
bling for time he threw the paper il
the, fire, which / snatched out, and, OF
reading it. found the sketch was Of onl
Texan hag-bearer. s.