The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-19
A FAMOUS EXPLOIT.
How the Rebel Signal Flag was Shot Awsy at Lock-
out Mountain.
LFroa he Dayton ,IoaernaI.l I

one Oh HSE citlZefS, a qulee, uA&S5uInluS ora
gentleman who is seen on the streets every day
as he takes his quiet walks, drawing calm en-
joyment from his pipe which he incessantIJ
smokes, was the hero of two brilliant exploits
that have gone into history. The man referred
to is John Marshall, the veteran shoemaker,
now in the decline of life. which is rendered
comfortable by the pension his services during
the rebellion has earned him.
For gallantry in action at Shiloh, John Mar
shall was promoted to lieutenant Of artillery
How he saved battery NJ Fifth regiment, is
matter of record in the war archives at Wash
lngton- 1t is not that with which this article
has TO treat but q subsequent and even greater
exploit.
At various times and places one of the Jour-
naps young men had heard of what John Mar
shall did at Lookout Mountain referred to, and
so one day ne made up his mind to have the
whole story from the veterans lips. Accord
ingly, he started, hunted him down, and, cor
nering him, vowed he would give him no peace
until he had full and reliable account OF how
he shot the flag OFT Lookout Mountain. Mr..
Marshall is modest man. He would rather
have not told the story; but he is at the same
time an Oblig1ng man, and courtesy compelled
him to acquiesce. To give it in his own Lam
guage, word for word, just as he uttered it,
would be the most interesting way of relating
the incident, but that is impossible.
Ar. Marshall is veteran of the English army,
having served thirteen years in the artillery.
In those thirteen years he learned the duty Of
an enlisted man in his branch of the service
thoroughly. But to come to the story In
October and November, 1863, HoOker's army
lay in the valley overlooked By Lookout Noun
tain, which ID the latter month they 50 GAL
lantly stormed. Right on the point OF the
prOmOntOry the rebel signal corps had a flag sta
ton established From this point all OF Hook
er's Elaneuver5 could be seen, and intelligence
immediately telegTaphed by means OF the signal
flag to General Bragg. Thus it viii be seen
that it was desirable to shoot away that flag
Across the Tennessee at MOecasin Point the
SIX 10-pOund ROdmans of the Eighteenth Ohio
battery were planted. John MARSHALL was leu
tenant of the Eighteenth Ohio battery He
could see that Haunting Aag-Of the rebel signal
station as it waved its intelligence day BY day.
and it tainted him. He knew he could cut it
down with one of the Rot - guns; but his
captain frOwned ON his option in pre-
tending TO know more tl superior OFF,
GERS; for had not General , Chief of
Artillery OF the Army of the Cum and, said
that it couldn't be done? What business had
a lieutenant to boast himself of being able to
do what the chief of artillery had declared
officially could not be done?
For that flag had annoyed others besides
Marshall 1t annoyed those high IN authority
so much that, at the instance of General Hooker,
General BFannan, Colonel Barnett and Major
Mendenhan came over from Chattanooga with
the express purpose of aseertaining If gun could
be trained from Moccasin Point SO as to send
shot that would humble that taunting flag
They came to the unanimous conclusion that
1T was impossible on account Of the great eleya-
tion.
John Marshall watched the estimating with
interest, and when the conclusion was an
nouneed he stepped up, and touching his cap
in military style, said to General Brannan:
General"
"WeIl, sir?"
"Ifyou viii giyeme permission totry, think
I can shoot that flag of there"
The general looked at him steFnly q moment,
and then said:
Go to your quarters, sir, under arTestP'
But this was not the end. The Eighteenth
battery was attached TO General Whittaker's
brigade, and bluff General Whitaker took
more stock in Marshall than did the austere
Brannan- He had fellow feeling with him,
too; for the flag was thorn in the flesh to him.
Every morning he would take his glass and
look to see if the flag was still there, and in
variably as he took the glass from his eyes
.big, big, epithet exploded wrathfulIy from his
lips. He was woEsto talk with Marshall about
it.
Marshall" he would say, "You are sure
you can shoot down that 1ag2"
g / can, sir"
"But, you know what General Brannan
says, Marshall?'
Il do, sir. But with al respect to General
Brannan, maintain I 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 10 5000 for you"
"Signed $500 for me2 Why, whats that for,
GeneralY'
"WelI sir, am going TO have you Try at thas
tag, and General BTaonan saws you VIII burst
gun, and have gone security to the amount
of 5000, and tomorrow morning you shall
make the trial.
John Marshall went back to his.quarters that
night happy man. He was now 30 have ths
opportunity to show that he could do as much
| as he said. He felt the hour Of his triumph
approaching.
| In the morning, after breakfast, General
Whitaker came down to the Point. Marshall
was already there. His gun squad were in
| perfect drill for he had shown them so often
how be would do it if he only could get per-
| mission, and they had taken so much interest,"
that each man was proficient in his part.
The general took his place where he could
watch the effect of the shot. He was little
| anxious. Now, Marshall" he said, be care
| full! Don't you explode gun and kill me,
| yourself. and half dozen men,"
| Never fear, General" responded Marshall,
| confidently. "Pn hurt no gun. Now watch
| where the first shot goes"
Everything In readiness, Marshall pulled thu
| lanyard. General Whitaker took the glasses
from his eyes, and said:
Too high, Marshall; too high! Tt went .
hundred yards above the flag"
Yes sir, l know that; and the next shot
will be fifty yards above it"
And the next shot was fifty wards above It.
Now, General, this time III fetch the hagn
The gun doomed. General Whitaker looked
and looked for the flag. At last he burst out,
By - Marshall, she's gone"
IN his delight he forgot the distinctions OF
rank, and, handing his glass TO private Of tho
gun squad, told him TO take lock. The SOL
dier did so, and eorrobOrated the general. Ths
glass passed around, and al saw that the flag
was gone.
General Whitaker went to Marshall and
said: Marshall, my man. I congratulate YOU
I'm going right over TO Chattanooga and tell
| General Brannan that the Eighteenth Ohio
battery knows more than he does"
General Brannan was an honorable man, If a
strict officer, and when he heard that Marshall
had succeeded in shooting the flag, he sent him
his congratulations, and commended him for
his skill. But General Whitaker enjoyed
Aarshalrs triumph even more than did Mar
shall himself, and he always afterwards treated
him with great consideration and favor, and
he would rub his hands and laugh with the
intensest of relish whenever he had occasion to
relate how Lieutenant Marshall, of thu
Eighteenth Ohio battery, knew more Of prae-