Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-10
How il Was Done.

the fight for the rebel flag at the
railroad cut on that memorable frs
day of July 1866.
On the morning of July 1st, 1868
the first day of the battle of Gettys.
burg, Pa, the regiment to which be.
longed, the 9th Wisconsin, under com.
mand of Lit. COL r. r. Davis, were de-
tached temporarily from the Old Iron
Brigade, and were sent to the left, to
support one of our batteries, | think,
b. 4th Art. On getting in position, we
found the enemy strongly posted in an
| excavation made in grading for rail
road. After getting well under fire.
we were halted for some purpose,
believe waiting for the 14th Brooklyn
to form on our left, which however,
they failed to do. The enemy's fire
became SO hot, and we were losing SO
many men with no chance for retalia-
ton, that our boys commenced to yell
.'charge" ''charge!'' Our gallant lieu
tenant colonel, who was always ready
to lead where the boys were willing to
follow, placed himself in front and on
horseback and gave the order to
''chargep' At this time we must have
been some four hundred yards from
the enemy, who were completely pro-
tected in the railroad cut. The only
way we could tell that they were in
front of us was by their flag, which
was planted on the edge of the excava-
ton, and by the smoke from their
muskets as they gave us volley after
yolley. There was portion of a
rail fence between us, and when our
regiment reached that they were COM
PEELED to make a pause in order to re-
form. This gave a few of us who were
thirsting for glory an opportunity to
make dash for the rebel flag which
continued to float SO defiantly in our
front. | remember seeing Lieut. VIM.
Remington, Drummer L. Eggleston
and myself-there may have been
others, but we were close together and
making for the rebel flag at the top of
our speed, Remington in the center,
Eggleston on the right and | on the
left. At this time the firing from both
sides was very hot, and as we got well
out between the two lines it seemed al
most impossible to breathe without
inhaling IL bullet. Lieut.. Remington
was wounded through the right shoulder
and Eggleston and myself passed on,
expecting every moment to be shot,
but it was too late to turn back. |
reached the flag a little in advance of
Eggleston and bending over grasped
the staff low down, but he was so close
to me that before | could draw it from
the ground, the staff having been driven
well down in the dirt. Eggleston had
also got hold of it. AS | straight
ened up, | noticed q rebel corporal on
his knees, right in front of me in the
act of firing, his bayonet almost touch
ed me; as quick as thought almost, |
made quarter face to the left, thus
pressing my right side to hum and
Bringing Eggleston, who still retained
his hold on the flag. as well as myself,
at my back. The rebel whom | had
noticed fired. His charge, ball and
three buck-shot. passed through the
skirts of my frock coat, in front and
lodged in my left forearm and wrist.
Almost at the same instant Eggleston
fell to the ground, having been shot
through both arms, and am informed,
afterwards lied from amputation.
The "reb'' who shot me was killed
almost as soon as he fired, by one of
our boys striking him on the head with
the butt of his musket
My wound was bleeding so profusely
that gave the flag, which was now en-
tirely in my possession, to q sergeant, /
think of Co. H, and started for the rear,
and finally went into the city and the
court house hospital. On my way into
town and near the Seminary, in passing
a house | noticed door standing open,
and thinking might get my arm band
aged up, went in, and found the house
deserted. A baby's cradle was standing
there, and looked as though the mother
had hastily taken the child out of it and
left all the little bed clothing in the era
die. | took the little pillow, for which
| beg the owners pardon, on which to
carry my shattered arm, and kept on.
Soon after going into the court house
hospital, learned we were all prison
ers, the rebels having possession of the
town, which they retained until about 4
a. m, July 4th, when they evacuated
oui NOuuuCd anu iiidiN VI butlE
own.
About 10 a. m, this same day, | was
forced TO leave the hospital to prevent
the doctors from amputating my arm.
| walked Is miles to Littlet0wn, where
| took the cars for Wisconsin, as IN
tended; but on arriving in Baltimore,
Md, the provost general placed me on
train for Philadelphia, where we ar
rived early in the morning of July 9th.
| was sent with others to the Cuyler
hospital in Germantown, Philadelphia,
where | was surprised some days after
ward to receive visit from the sergeant
to whom | had given the rebel flag on
the battlefield, and about which he
made the following statement as near as
can remember: II only had the flag
in my possession for a few minutes.
when | was wounded through the thigh.
broke the staff in two, taking the butt
end for cane with which to get off the
field, and gave the flag to corporal f.
Waller, the piece of the staff now have
with me and will give it to you as the
original captor."
| still have the piece of flagstaff in
my possession, and value it highly as a
war relic. 1t is of hard yellow pine,
about three feet in length and one and
a half inches in diameter. On the butt
end there is heavy brass ferule and
the other end has the appearance of
having been broken off. G. w. OKEY.