Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-25
NO. 124.
miscellaneous.
HONORS FAIRLY WON.

For gallantry in action at Shiloh. John
Marshall was promoted to lieutenant Of
artillery. How he saved battery NJ, fifth
regiment, is Il matter of record in the war
archives at Washington. Ii is not that
with which this article has To treat, but Il
subsequent and even greater exploit.
\ At various times and places one of the
journals Young men had heard of what
John Marshall did at Lookout mountain.
and so one day he made up his mind to
have the whole story from the veterans
lips.
Mr.. Marshall is veteran of the Eng
lish army. having served thirteen years in
the artillery. In those thirteen years he
learned the duty of an enlisted man in
this branch of the service thoroughly.
But, to come to the story: In October
and November. 1868. Hooker's army lay
in the valley overlooked by Lookout
mountain. which in the latter month they
so gallantly stormed. Right on the point
of the promontory the rebel signal corps
had Il flag station established. From this
point all of ltooker's manGuvres could
be seen and intelligence Immediately tcle-
graphed by means of the signal flag to
Gen. Bragg. Thus it will be seen that it
was desirable to shoot away the flag.
Across the Tennessee at Moccasin Point
the six ten-pound Rodmans and the
eighteenth Ohio battery were planted.
John Marshall was lieutenant of the
eighteenth Ohio battery. He could see
the Haunting flag OF the rebel signal
station us il wave1 its intelligence day by
day, and it taunted him. lie knew he
could cut it down with one of the Rodman
guns: but his captain irowned on his pre-.
sumption in pretending to know more than
his superior officers; for had not Gen.
Brannan. chief of artillery of the army
of the Cumberland, said that it couldn't
be done? What business had lieutenant
to boast himself of being able to do what
the chief of artillery had declared Off
cially could not be done?
For that flag had annoyed others besides
Marshall. II annoyed those high in au-
thority so much so that ut the instance of
Gen. Hooker. Gen. Brannan, Col. Barnett
and Major Mendcnhall came over from
Chattanooga with the express purpose of
asccrtaining if Il gun could be trained
from Moccasin Point so us to send shot
that would humble that ta,,nting flag.
They came to the unanimous conclusion
that it was impossible. on account of the
great elevation.
John Marshall watched the estimating
with interest. and when the conclusion
was announced he stepped up, and touch
ing his cap in military style, said to Gen.
Brannan:
! Genera, -
"If you will give me permission to try,
! think can shoot the flag off there!''
The general looked at him sternly
moment, and then said:
go to your quarters. sir. under arrest
n,,N Nt~.e ,,.xN 4.
tcenth battery was attached to General
Whittaker's brigade. and bluff General
Whitaker took more stock in Marshall
than did the austere Brannan lie had
fellow with him. too. for the flag was /,
thorn in the flesh to him. Every morning
he would take his glass and look to see ii
the flag was there, and invariably as ne
took the glass from his eyes a big, big d
-epithet exploded wrathfnlly from his
lips. He was wont to talk with Marshall
about it.
Marshall" he would say, "yOu are
sure you can shoot down that id flag ?"
81 can SIR
ado you know what Gen. Brannan says
Marshall?r
II do, sir. But with all respect TO Gen.
Brannan. | maintain can do it,
"One night Whitaker sent for Marshall
to come to his headquarters. When he
got there, he said:
Marshall. I've been to Chattanooga,
to-day. and I've signed my name to 5000
for YOU
"Signed $500 for me Why, what's that
for general? ?'
"Well. sir | am going to have YOU try
at that flag. and Gen. Brannan says that
you will burst IA gun, and have gone Sc
curity to the amount of $500, and to-mor-
row morning you shall make the trial.
John Marshall went back to his head
quarters that night a happy man. lie was
now to have an opportunity to show that
he could do as much rs he had said lie
felt the hour of his triumph approach.
In the morning after breakfast Gen.
Whitaker came down TO the Point. His
gun squad was there in perfect drill, for
it if he only could get permission, and
man was proficient in his part.
The general took his place where he
could watch the effect Of the shot He
was a little anxious. "Now, Marshall,''
he said, ''bc careful. Don't explode
gun and kill me, yourself, and half -
idozer men,
Never fear, general" responded
Marshall, confidently. III hurt no gun.
Now watch where the first shot goes.h
Everything in readiness. Marshall
pulled the lanyard. Gen. Whitaker took
the glasses from his eyes and said:
TOO high. Marshall, too high! It went
a hundred yards above the flag"
Eyes, sir, know that, the next shot
will be 80 yards above it,
And the next shot was fifty yards above
it.
Now, general, this time I'll fetch the
flag.
The gun doomed. Gen. Whitaker
looked for the flag. At last he burst out,
BY, Marshall. she's goner' In his
delight he forgot the distinctions Of rank,
and, handing his glass to private Of the
gun-squad. told him to take look. The
soldier did 50, and corroborated the gem
!. eral. The glass passed around, and all
saw that the flag was gone.
Gen. Whitaker went to Marshall and
. said: Marshall. my man, congratulate