The National tribune., 1885-04-09
A HOOSIER BOYS STORY.
Gen. Ranscm's Death--The Flag at Raleigh and
perryyilIe

Gen. EinSQms Belth--tHp Flag at anu
Perrysille.
To THE EDITOR: Gen. Sherman's article on
the life, services and death of Gen. Ransom
brought back to my mind the circumstance OF
his death, which l had nearly or altogether
forgotten. AS he says, on the 29th of October,
1864, on our march from GaylcSville, Ala, TO
Rome, Ga, as we were nearing large two
story white frame farmhouse, we saw stan
officer, halted in the road, communicating
something 10 officers and men as they marched
by. When we came up he informed us that
Naj.-Gen. Ransom had just died in the house.
and asked US to not make any unnecessary
noise. We marched 10y in sadness with uncov-
cred heads for we ell loved and admired the
gallant young General; for, though he was not
4 commander III our corps, he was known
throughout the entire army.
l have seen several articles claiming Tor
different regiments the honor of placing the
first colors in Columbia, s. C., and l want
right here to lay claim for the regiment to
which ! belonged TO being the first that
marched into Raleigh, n. C., raising the colors
on the State-houSe and removing the Conied-
crate flag from the same Ny regiment was
the SSth Ind, First Brigade, First Division,
Fourteenth Corps. On the morning OF April
II, 1865, Sherman's army was marching from
Smithfeld to Raleigh, with the sSth Ind. IN
advance of the entire army. When near the
city, some four miles south, we were met by
On engine and one car, bearing flag OF truce.
II proved TO be the city authorities, with some
of the State officials Gov. Vance having lied, }
come out TO surrender the city. The preilnl-
narieS arranged, we were assured by these
officials that there would be no resistance
offered, ana the march was resumed, WIN
colors flying bands playing and drums beating.
/ The officers of the regiments, brigade a2d
division were riding i'll advance, together with
Gen. Fitzpatrick, who, with his stah and order
lies, had come up on another road just as we
were entering the city.
We marched up the principal street towards
the State House. where an incident occurred
which ! will relate. A lone and struggling
rebel cavalryman rode around corner IN full
view of mounted officers and fred several shots
at them without effect, when he wheeled his
horse around and fled with all the speed there
was in him. Immediately some OF Fitzpatrick S
officers and orderlies, with others OF our IN
fantry otiicers,-among them Lieut.. Whitaker,
OF our regiment, who was on brigade stan
duty-gave chase. The rebel would have
escaped, but it had been raining that morning,
! and the walks and crossings were wet. In
turning corner his horse slipped and fell,
throwing his rider, who was captured. we
were Informed that he was taken out and shot.
The SSth marched into the State-house yard
and stacked arms The Adiutant, Allen ID.
Dougal, now resident of Fort Wayne, Ind,
directed some men to GO up into the dome OF
the State-house and take down the rebel flag
and place our colors in its place, he waiting at
the bottom of the stairway to receive the Con-
federate flag when it was brought down. To
his surprise, after waiting some time, he found
the men had removed the flag and thrown 1t to
the ground on the outside, to the boys below,
where it was torn into thousand pieces or
more.
1would like to ask Comrade j. W. Layborn,
Sd Ohio, TO add to his list of bytle's Brigade,
at Perryviile the SSth Ind, as we were attached
TO that command and participated in the battle.
| We were then new regiment, nearly 1000
strong and only two months from home. He
is right about there being no water there. We
suffered terribly for want of water. The creek
mentioned was not reached until the next day,
and was dried up. We heard OF it i'll the morn
ing before the battle commenced. While wait
ing in line of battle, with orders for no man to
leave the ranks, some OF the boys of my COM
pany concluded to hire colored man. that we
had in the company as cook, to go down be-
tween the lines TO this creek and fiji some can
teens, promising him so cents each If he
returned with them full of good water. After
strapping on him what they thought he could
carry, they started him in the direction of the
creek. While lie was gone i'll search Of water
the fight opened with artillery and musketry.
| The negro came back at a three-minute gait
! leaving every canteen down at the creek. He
was not even going TO stay at the regiment, but
! was promptly halted by the owners of the can
| teens and interrogated rs to where he left them
All manner of persuasion and threats of de-
struction We're made against him, but he
promptly and firmly replied that he would not
60 down there again for the whole S6th regi-
ment. The next day, after reaching this creek.
i remember raising up large fat stone in
the bottom of the creek, and digging down fol
water, trying to fill my canteen.-HARYEY T.
BEAZEL, Co. b., SSth Ind, Warsaw, Ind.