Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-11-01

crawled to the edge of the wood and
gazed cautiously outupon the plain. The
enemies sharpshooters were on the
alert and a careless exposure of your
person meant instant death. I strained
my eyes as / gazed upon thousands of
our dead and dying, who were lying
upon the field of battle, endeavoring, if
possible, to catch a glimpse of our flag,
determined, if L could locate it, to head
q forlorn hope and secure it, but amongst
such mass Of dead and dying was un-
able to discern it, and as I gazed the
twilight faded away and darkness hid
the battle field from view.
GAS [ returned to my command an
idea suggested itself to my mind. [
would see Sergeant Scanlan, and get him
to crawl out upon the field and secure
the flag.
"He had been in the Mexican war,
and on outpost duty and as skirmisher
he had invariably distinguished himself,
not only by his gallantry, but his cool
ness in trying moments.
"Send Sergeant Scanlan to me, |
said as one of my men appeared.
"He left to execute my orders, and in
a short tune he returned.
"fSergeant Seaman is not among our
men, colonel. He must have been shot
down in the fight to-day, and is doubt
less lying upon the field in front of us.
''I waved my hand to the soldier to
depart, for [ dared not trust myself to
speak, so overcome was by the news.
He had been my main reliance In many
a trying ordeal, and had always faithfully
executed the many difficult and danger
GUS duties that had imposed upon him
since the day I had assumed command
of the regiment.
cit is not characteristic of the soldier
to be overcome by his feelings, as was
at that time, but you must remember
that the colors of our regiment had been
lost In the fight, and with Scanlan's aid
/ felt satisfied that they could be- recov-
erd. The sergeant dead, all hope of re-
covering them seemed to die out with
him.
"The midnight hour arrived and with
arms In our hands we anxiously awaited
the expected onset Of the enemy.
eft did not come, however, but in
stead thereof the wounded of our army,
or such of them as were able to do so,
crawled into our lines in search OF
succor
"Among the number came one who
when he got safely within our lines
raised himself to his feet, and leaned
feebly against tree for support
"He was faint from the loss of blood,
while the pallor OH face and the feeble
accents of his voice Enthusiastically indi-
Gated that death had claimed him as his
victim. where's the coloDel-lead me
to the colonel. / must see him before ]
die. Take me to him at once, said the
wounded man.
"Two soldiers ran forward and
grasped him in their strong arms as he
was about falling to the ground.
81 heard the well-known voice, and
recognized it at once.
Z" 1t was Sergeant Scanlan.
&c fastened to his side and putting
my arms around him I led him to the
trunk of fallen tree, and upon that he
sat.
"The colors, colonel The colors of
our regiment z gasped Scanlan.
Gel know all about them, sergeant.
They're gone-we've lost them. But
don't distress yourself about them now.
Think of those at home. Have you any
message to send them 2
"He gazed in my eyes for a moment
with an expression of thankfulness,
but Immediately reverted to the old
topic.
"'The colors, colonel ! The colors
Water Water! Give me some water.
Do not let me die
81 seized my canteen, pressed 1t 60
his lips, and he drank deep draught.
Now sergeant, about the colo1s,
gently suggested, for he was dying fast
and l feared that he might die before he
told me his story.
"'The standard bearer is dead,
colonel. I left his cold body upon the
battlefield when crawled here.
I" I thought as much, Scanlan."
"'The same deadly volley that struck
him down laid me low, and we fell side
by side upon the field. [ became I'M
conscious. How long I remained so I
do not know, but when I recovered my
senses and looked about me, I saw the
little stars in heaven shining sweetly
upon me.
[ thought of the colors, colonel, ]
thought of the colors. I could not bear
to think that the enemy might capture
them, and carry them off as a trophy.
I determined to secure them if possible,
crawl into the lines and restore them to
you; for l knew you were in these woods.
Our color-bearer was still lying beside
me. His flag, stained with his blood,
was under him as though, in his death
agony, he had purposely fallen upon it
to protect it with his dead body.
| [ seized the flag, tore it from the
staff
cob boys, it was terrible to see
Scanlan then. The hand of death had
touched his heart, but he was not ready
to die. He desired to tell memore. He
jumped to his feet AMI looked imploring-
ly toward me, as if would stay the fatal
moment you tore the flag from the
staff, Scanlan, yelled in his ear. you
have already told me that. What did
you do with it then?
"With an unnatural strength he seized
his coat with both hands, and tore the
L e l.