The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-20
HE SAVED THE FLAG.
A WAR INCIDENT RECALLED BY THE
RECENT DISCOVERY
or the Blood Stained Battie-F1ag Of tn,
Fifty Third Illinois How 1t Went
Into the Vale OF Death
and Came Out.

SPRINGFIELD, Ills., June 2o.-Some time
ago letter was received by the adjutant
general from person in southern Illinois
saying that there was a blood-stained, bat
tie SCARED flag at the war department in
Washington, which appeared to have form
erly belonged to the Fifty third Illinois
regiment and been captured by the Con-
federates in the lats war. May Is Gov
srnor Oglesby wrote to the department at
Washington asking il such a flag were
there and whether its identity had been
definitely ascertained. Ii SO, he requested
that it might be forwarded to Springfield,
to be placed in the memorial hall in the
capitol Thus far. Governor Oglesby has
received no answer TO his letter, and no in
formation whatever has been received re-
lating to the identity of the flag. Should
this memento Of the war be received at the
adjutant generals department here, it is
thought it will soon be recognized by some
of the many hundreds of old soldiers that
visit the memorial hall ......
An Ottawa, Ills, telegram says: The
Fifty-third Illinois infantry was recruited
at Ottawa, and was in great measure COM
posed of men from this county. Col Hit,
Maj Gibson, Capt King and many others
| are here who belonged to it, and some steps
win be Immediately taken to bring the flag
TO tho state where it belongs. On
July 5, 1868, the Fifty-thiud moved with
Gen. Sherman's army against Jackson. On
the 18th the regiment was en-
gagged with then Third Iowa and Twenty.
| eighth and Forty first Illinois in the
battle of jackson. The Fifty-third partici-
| pated in the gallant but disastrous charge
of that day, going into the fight with 200
men and coming out with sixty. Col Earl
fell pierced by four bullets. Lieut. Col. Nc
CANADIAN was severely wounded. Capt
Michael Leahy and Lieut. George W. Hem
| street were killed, and Capt J. Z. Hudson
MORALLY wounded. Capts. Potter and King
were wounded. Lieut.. Smith lost an arm
and was taken prisoner, and Capt Lodge
was captured. Lieut. Orrin Bull was
wounded. The entire loss was eighty eight
killed and wounded and forty-six missing.
The color guard of eight men was annihil-
ated George G. Poundstone was the color
sergeant How bravely he bore the flag is
shown by the above description. The flag
was riddled, the shaft broken by the fierce
storm Of shot, shell, and canister. At last
to save the colors he was obliged TO teaI
them from the staff He received a canister
shot in the thigh, but he stuffed the flag in
the breast of his coat Then came a bulle,
through the left eye. and George Poundstone
lay upon the fielddrsnching the colors of hi
regiment with his life's blood. HI
was found upon the field by the
enemy and removed to a house al
jackson When the enemy abandoned
jackson he was found with Capt. Bailey
Smith, who had had his arm shot off but
could walk around. He died at Vicksburg,
July %, and his remains were brought
home They now repose in the Poundstont
family cemetery, few miles souGa of thi.
city. The Poundstone family is one Of the
Oldest and best known in the county, and
the news of the flag is received with much
sxcitersnt by them. 1t is but q short time
ago that enc of them commissioned the
writer 10 Look for it at the memorial hall
Springfield, supposing it might have beef
sent there frcm the south for it was known
that ID was In the hands of tbs Confeder
| al