The National tribune., 1884-04-03
A VERY DIFFERENT ACCOUNT.

A VERY DIFFERENT ACCOUNT.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
1 wish 10 reply TO the inquiry of Comrade c.
4 3. Reese, published in your issue Of March 9Th,
! in relation to whose col0Ts were placed on the
! State House at Jackson, Miss, May Il, 1863.
/ The colors were those belonging to the 59th
Indiana infantry, and were carried 10 the State
House by Lieutenant Charles Warren OF Colo
mel Sanborn's staff Myself and three others OF
my company were ordered TO 60 with him as a
guard. i assisted Lieutenant Warren to tie
the flagstaff 10 brace on the roof OF the State
House, we both using our pocket handkerchefs
for the purpose. ! remained with my three
comrades and guarded the flag there until the
next morning, when we received orders to
report, with the flag to our regiment, and we
got back just in time TO fall in line and start
for Champion Hills.
IF anyone doubts the statement as to the
ownership Of the colors. it can be verified fif
they are living by Colonel Sanborn, of 9Th
Iowa infantry, commanding eur brigade: Lieu
tenant Charlie Warren / forget his regiment,
Of the brigade staff, or Simon Brady and Jere-
miah Ricflel, whose home was in Gencseo, Iiii-
nois. The other comTade with me at the time
received his eternal discharge before the war
closed. The writer and the three comrades
/ last mentioned were members OF company H
/ 59th Indiana. The 95th Chic may have been
the first troops that entered the city, their
corps the 18TH being on the right Of the lire
while we Of the 18th corps occupied the left
bat Of one thing | certain, that our bri-
gade did not 90 around to the rear, but charged
| directly the heavy line of e2rthworks OF the
/ Confederates and captured them, along with
many prisoners and guns.
While Lieutenant Warren and myself were
on the State House roof no other national flag
save our own was visible, but we could see that
/ the streets were filled with butternnts, whose
faces were all turned towards Pearl River. l
| presume they were going for water" In our
/ charge Oh the rebel line we were supported by
Captain Henry Dillon and his 9th Wisconsin
battery, than whom no better or Drawer man
ever existed.
l would like to hear General John A.
/ Logan's opinion of the part which they per-
formed IN that charge. They kept in line with
/ the infantry until we scaled the rebel works.
In that campaign our brigade consisted of the
1 9th Iowa, 4th Minnesota, 18th Wisconsin, 4Sth
and 59th Indiana, and 9Th Wisconsin battery,
Of Quinby's division, 18th army corps.
L. b. HEALD,
ST. JoENsBURY, VI. Co. H. 59th Ind.
| [Referring to the charge of this brigade at
Jackson Miss, Colonel Sanborn says: re-
ceived orders from General Croker TO fix bay
onets and charge through the ravine and all
the way 10 the enemy's batteries If possible
] This order was Immediately communicated
and the whole line commenced advancing, and
moved forward irresistably until the whole
line of the eDemy's infantry was in full retreat
and his batteries taken to the rear. This
charge was one of the most splendid battle
scenes that could be witnessed. The whole
line, with banners unfGrled, went forward at
double-quick and with more regularity than
Of az ordinary battalion drill The fleeing of
the rebels IN front, the sharpshooters, who had
been concealed behind cotton-bales and in an
old c0ttoa gin in front Of the 59ih Indiana,
throwing out white handkerchiefs at every
window and over every cotton bale, taken in
connection with the novel spectacle presented
by Captain Dillons battery charging forward
close upon the line Of infantry, made up scene
that can never be effaced from the mind of any
who witnessed il, and can never be properly
represented on paper. After this charge the
enemy Immediately retreated through Jackson,
and my command moved into the city over the
enemys works and artillery unmolested by a
shot. Captain l.. b. Martin, A. A G. on my
staff, seized the flag of the 59th Indiana-my
leading regiment-an going far in advance of
the skirmishers 10 the capitol, raised it over
the dome, where it remained until the regi-
ment moved from the town, and Lieutenant
Donaldson, aid-de-eamp on my staff, riding
also far in advance of the slirnishers to the
vicinity of the prison. seized there a Confed-
crate flag, made Of double silk, that cavalry
company apparently abandoned in its fight.
On one side is the inscription, Claiborne
Rangers; on the other, Our Rights. '"-ED.l