The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-17
That Returned Flag.
THE TRUE STORY OF THE FIGHT IN WHICH Il
WAS CAPTURED. %.
FAIRFAX, va, August 10, 1888.

AlRf AAs v Asf nus bDN ''f @NNN'
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
The circumstances OF the capture OF the
flag lately returned to the Mayor OF New
York by the Cadets OF the Virginia Militia
nv Institute have been so misstated in the
press that it would be just TO have then
correctly published, especially since Sc
ouel thereto has been woven into what
reporter terms ga romantic war story =" o.
the return OF family Bible to southern
household who had mourned it as forever
gone.
The facts Of the capture are rs follows
On December -, 1863, General T. l.. Ros'
scr's cavalry brigade started from Frede'
ricksburg, not Alexandria" in the di.
rection OF Fairfax Courthouse, the object
being TO move around Mcade's rear, who
was then quartered in Culpeper, cross the
Shenandoah at Berry's ferry, and so get
behind and cut off large raiding party,
under Averill, which had set out from
Winchester up the Valley. On the night
of the 10th Rosser struck the Orange rail-
road at Sangster's, not ''Catlett's" station,
about twenty miles from Alexandria.
Here was a strong stockade fort on steep
hill. held by about 100 men, OF what we
are now told was the One-liundred'and-
fifty-fifth New York. The leading regi-
ment in our column, as brave and true rs
any, charged the fort, but owing TO the
darkness "a dismal rain having set in), the
extreme roughness OF the ground, and the
enemy's position, were repulsed. The
force in the fort then sent out a sallying
party, which ran down the hill and took
position behind The railroad bank, which
crossed at right angles the road by which
we approached. General Rosser then or
dered the Eleventh regiment, under my
command, to move forward and clear the
road. Stumbling on III the dense darkness,
the first knowledge we received OF the po-
sition of the enemy in our front came with
a binding vOlley from the men behind the
bank, full i'm our faces, which killed the
gallant Can tmell. captain OF the leading
company, and wounded number OF men
and horses. But those who were unhurt
charged Immediately, broke through, and
scattered the sallying party, and Chamber
ing up and around the hill. rode into and
captured the fort. Seventeen prisoners
were taken inside the stockadc, the rest OF
the force having gone with the sallying
partv. or escaped under cover OF the night.
And here was found the flag which / pre-
sentcd several months later to the Institute.
at General Rosser's command, and in be-
half OF the brigade.
The dred-and-siXty-fourth New
York was a gallant Irish regiment, and at
Cold Iarbor. where only fourteen OF them
escaped death, wounds, or capture, they
lost their standard. The city OF New IOrR
then sent them the beautiful banner cap.
tured at Sangster's. When the survivors
OF the regiment heard OF this intended re.
storaton they hoped it was their old battle
FLAG which they lost so heroically, and il
was noticeable that statements tending to
belt.le the action at SangSter's were
made. in Difference TO their feelings,
and yet it had all the elements OF more I'M
portant contests, and the prisoners taken,
though they fought well, practically sur
rendered their fort TO less than half their
number. For when Cartmell fell in the
narrow road by the volley from the rail-
road bank the way was blocked a moment
by his men, who stopped to lift his body,
and all but those few who happened to be
in advance OF him were temporarily
checked in their charge. Among those
few specially remembered for the eXhibi-
ton OF splendid courage under very try
Ing circumstances were Adiutant o. X.
Funston. Jr.. now a resident OF Richmond (;
First-Sergeant Yanmeter, OF Moorefeld,
W. Va, who fell at the stockade gate ;
Lieutenant Edmund Pendleton, OF Clarke
county, who afterwards fell in the Wilder
ness; Lieutenant Parsons, OF Hampshire
county; Bugler James Craybill, OF Shenan-
doah, whose stirring peal OF the charge
guided the whole column behind him up
to the very walls; and Courier Billy Mar
tin. who lately resided in Rockbridge.
Our charge decided the question OF our
getting through Meade's line OF commune
cation with Washington. Next morning,
after marching all night to Upperyille, we
found the rain had so swollen the Shenan-
doah that we could not cross and so had TO
defect our course up its right bank to Luz
ray, and were denied the pleasure Of meet
ing with Averll. VI. ID. b.