Connecticut western news., 1879-08-27
A Battle-FIag with n History.

The flag which will probably attract most attention at the removal of the state regi mental colors from the arsenal to the new Capitol on the l7th of September will be the restored colors of the Sixteenth regiment Col onel John II. Burnham's old command. The SiXteenths eolors were torn from their stan. dards at the fall of Plymouth, N. C., April 20
 1864, and in part distributed among the of ficers and men, while the remaining portions were burned to prevent them from falling in. to the hands of the rebels. The pieces that
 were saved were carried through the military prisons at the South, and. finally, on the re lease of the members who survived the hor. TOTS of Andersonville, Macon, Charlestowr and Florence, were brought home. The few shreds of the old -colors which were saved
 from the Confederates at Plymouth and the disasters of prison life afterward have beer kept as sacred souvenirs by their possessors
 A few months ago the executive committee of the regiment determined on getting to-
 gether as many of these fragments as possible and have them restored, that they might be deposited with the battle flags at the Capitol.
 The design for the restored flag has been de- cided on, and the work will be done by Tiff
 tany of New York, being completed about the
 first of September. The groundwork will be of white silk, and the colors as preserved will
 be in the form of shield. Fortunately the eagles head of the original color was ore. served, and this will sunmount the shield
 with streamers made from bits of the flag ex. tending from it's beak.
 The story in full would be of intense in. terest, showing the loyalty with which the Sixteenth stood by it's colors, not only in the face of supreme danger, but also amid the most desolate surroundings and depressing period in it's career The flags in being saved had to be carried from four to five rods under the enemy's fire. A bunch of hundred men or more surrounded them. Within a few feet stood two light artillery guns, one of which had been spiked during charge from the rebels ou the position. The dead and wound ed were grouped there, and the enemy had opened on the spot with grape and canister From the state color, which was earriei by Sergeant William E. Bidwell, of East Hart ford, the silver ornaments surrounding the standard had been cut away by fragment of shell, and had fallen at his feet. Sergeant Francis Latimer of Hartford carried the na- tional color, which, he had eighteen months before gallantly borne off the field at Antie- tam, and from which he had ever afterward been inseparable. Were he living, the honor would justly fall to him of carrying the restor- ed color in the procession on the 17th of September. During this crisis the most mem- orable moment in the battle of Plymouth, the flags were called for by the officers of the regiment, Colonel Burnham and Adiutant John B. Clapp, who were directing the con. test at the right of the line of battle. Ser geant Latimer instantly obeyed the order, bearing the national color across the perilous spot commanded by the enamy's infantry and artillery fire. The state color was car ried across by member of the color guard, and both placed in the hands of the officers. The national color of Pennsylvania reci- ment still remained, and that was called for by the officers of the command The color guard of the Sixteenth volunteered to go for it., and did So, bringing it back in safety. thus running the risk of his life three times in succession for the colors which had been called for. An hour later the Union forces at Plymouth were in the hands of the rebels but the colors, which they had defended till the last moment, were either burned or ex- sting in shreds and precious bits here and there among the men. The restored flag of the sixteenth will be made up from these invalu. 'ole remnants.-I Hartford (Conn) Evening Post