The National tribune., 1885-09-17
The First Flag at Columbia, s. C.

To THE EDITOR: / notice in your paper
claims by comrades of the 18th, 25th and 31st
Iowa regiments that their respective regiments
were the first troops to enter Columbia S. c.
Please allow me to make statement of facts,
which is substantiated by official reports regard
ing the occupying of that city. On the 10th
of February, 1865, the Union army occupied
the west bank of the Congaree River, being
unable to cross, as the bridges had been de-
stroyed and the enemy was In force OH the east
bank. During the afternoon the artillery
threw some shells among them and large
force of infantry was posted on the west bank
to attract the attention of the rebels. Just
before dark the First Brigade of First Division
of the Fifteenth Corps consisting of the 4th,
9th, 25th, Both and 3lst Iowa, commanded by
Col. Stone, OF the 25th Iowa, was moved to the
left across the Saluda River and near to the
banks of the Broad River, where they were
ordered to light no fires and to remain quiet
The Engineer Corps, under cover of the dark
ness and the noise of the water falling over a
mill-dam and rapids, constructed a rope ferry
across Broad River within sight of the rebel
picket fires on the bank.
About midnight We received orders to move
down to the river and cross On the ferry. The
31st Iowa had the advance. AS only part of
regiment could cross at a time, it required
several hours for the brigade to cross. At day
break Feb IL only three or four of the regi-
was necessary TO move out at once and surprise
the rebels these regiments depiOyed up and
down the river and made an advance and cap
tured the pickets and reserves with but little
firing and no loss. The brigade then advanced
up the hills into an open field, where they
halted and formed, which occupied some time
While waiting here for the companies to form
in their places carriage was seen coming from
the city, carrying white flag. Col. Stone,
with his Aids, met it and received the surren-
der of the city by the Mayor Col. Stone then
gave orders for the brigade to march into the
city, when he, with his Aids, returned with the
Mayor, taking with him the colors of the ad-
vance reg iment (31st Iowa. and placed them
on the Capitol building This brigade arrived
in the city about o'clock, and were the only
troops there except stragglers until about noon
After the rebels were driven from the river the
Engineer Corps laid a pontoon on which Gen.
Sherman and staff crossed first and arrived in
the city about or a little before noon.
notice letter from j. w. Ragsdale, Santa
Rosa, Cal, in which he claims that his company
(the 18th Iowa. crossed the river about 10
o'clock a. m. of Feb. IL. The Iowa Brigade
spoken of above took their breakfast about 9
o'clock a. m. in the city, and the flag of the 3lst
was placed on the Capitol about $50 q. M,
which was from one hour and half to two
hours before the company of the 18th crossed
the river, according to their own statements.
One thing is certain, the Iowa Brigade spoken
OF did all the fighting that was done at CO.
lumbia on the 18th of February, 1866, and Col
Stone, OF the 25th Iowa, was the first Union
officer in the city, and he carrid the Stars and
Stripes-the colors Of the 3Ist Iowa-wth him
and planted them on the Capitol early in the
morning.-R. M. MARVIN, Orderly, Co. IT, 3Ist
Iowa, Manchester Iowa