Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18


martin, of this city, and Capt. McMullen
are the only company commanders now
{ living, the last named now lives in Texas.
Eighteen members of the garrison were
wounded, one OF them fatally, and 3,OOO
shot and she'll were thrown into the fort.
[ Many instances of heroism are related or
the garrison during that concentrated fre
OF three miles OF batteries, and the bat
tered easements and parapet still attest
the severity OF the enemy's IRE. IL is re-
lated that on the second day, when the
fire was the hottest, the halyards OF the
forts flag were cut and it fell. Lieut..
Christopher Hussey, of the Montgomery
Guards. and John Latham, Of the Wash
I lngtOn Volunteers, Immediately sprang 10
the ramparts, and Selling the flag re-
placed it on temporary nag
staff at the northeastern angle
Of the fort where il ffoated until the sur
render. Before the occupation ofthe fort
! bv the Federals, Col. Walker, who as
Post Commissary, had charge Of such
/ property, burned the flag with his papers.
THE GUARDS CoLoRs.
/ When the white flag was h0isted at the
! surrender, Capt. Gullmartin, in the pres
4 ence OF his Lieutenants, removed the
] Montgomery Guards colOrs from their
staff, and again entrusted the flag to the
/ custody of Color Bearer O'Neill, telling
him that he would be held personally re-
] spOnsiOle for its safe return South
! upon the commands exchange. Before
| leaving Fort Pulaski each man OF the
! garrison was rigidly searched by the
| captors. This ordeal was repeated at
! Hilton Head, $. c., at Castle William, on
! Governors Island, n. Y, and at Fort
! Delaware; yet the secret was faithfully
| kept, and the flag remained in the hands
or concealed on the persons OF its friends.
! At Fort Delaware it became rumOred
that Color Bearer O'Neill was about to
! take the oath OF allegiance to the United
| States, whereupOn six members Of the
Montgomery Guards-Privates Thomas
II. Laird, DAM. DOnahue,P. Murphy, Thos.
! Mclean, lien Henderson, and Ord. Sergt.
Donald Mcdonald laid a plan to save
their treasure. They knew that O'Neill
kept the flag IN his knapsack, which he
| used as a pillow; and the rescue was at
tended with far greater difficulty and risk
than can easily be appreciated. But pa
triotic determination was thoroughly
aroused, and on the night before
O'Neilps intended departure his
liant six. While private Laird care
fully held the sleeping color bearers
head, Murphy, DOnahue, and Mclean
| nolselessly drew out the knapsack, which,
| after the flag had been removed, was re-
| placed. The work was bravely done; the
flag was saved, and each of its captOrs is
said to have solemnly sworn that he would
swallow his portion of it rather than
allow O'Neill to carry off the colors.
SAVING THE FLAG.
As was expected, O'Neill departed for
the Federal camp, where, it is reasonable
to suppose, he was more surprised than
gratifed upon opening his knapsack; but,
so tar as is known. he made no effort to
betray his comrades, and no mention Of
the matter was ever made.
Under the strictdisciplinea and ceaseless
vigilance of the authorities at Fort Della
ware, where the nOn-commissioned Off
GERS and the privates of the company were
imprisoned, while the commissioned Off
GERS were confined at JOhrsOn's island, in
Lake Erie, o., the safe-keeping of the
cOlors was problem not less perplexing
than their recapture had been; but it was
solved by Laird, Donohue, Mclean Hen
derson, and Macdonald, who took turns
in secreting the flag upon their persons.
Ill health, the result of cruel treatment
while in prison, prevented Murphy from
undergoing that hardship. 1t was mid
summer, and when the size and weight OF
the flag are considered the sufferings OF
these devoted men may be family mag
ined, but they succeeded.
| In September, 1862, the comma and was
| exchanged, and on arriving within the
Confederate lines at Atkins Landing, on
the James River, Virginia, Laird, hastily
improvising a staff, once more gave the
| flag to the breeze, amidst the hearty
plaudits of his companions. The Federal
officer, whose custody OF the exchanged
prisoners had just ceased, was dumb
founded at first, but quickly realizing the
situation offered 500 tor the relic, one OF
his felow-Officers followed with an offer
of $500, but Laird, whose fidelity was
above price, replied that Lincoln and the
| United States Treasury could not buy IL. -
The flag, after its strange adventures and
''hairbreadth escapes" had, indeed,
COME SOUTH TO STAY!
Upon their return to Savannah the
Guards reOrganized by the selection of
the following officers: Christopher Hus-
sey, Captain; Christopher Murphy, First
Lieutenant; b. NJ Neelv. Second Lieu
tenant; J. +. Holmes, Third Lieutenant.
Attached to the Twenty Georgia
battalion of siege artillery, the company
served throughout the war, and surren.
: dered with Gen. Joseph f. Johnston in
April, 1865. Just prior to the surrender,
Capt. Hussey died, and Lieut.. christopher
Murphy succeeded to the captaincy. This
highly priced flag accompanied them al.
, ways, and when Gen. Johnston capitu.
lated it was saved again by Capt. Murphy
In May last he returned it to the original
| uOnOf, CapI. Il. d. dullmarun, TO ne ais
2 | posed OF as the latter seemed fitting
, Capt. Guilmartin promptly selected the
oldest Irish organization in Georgia as the
most appropriate guardian for a relic
: with which Irish devotion to an adopted
2 country had been so closely identified
: The flag Is rich in historical associa
: tons, and will be kept by the society as
one of it's most sacred relics. The face oil
the flag is of plain silk, upon which is a
cross in gold chenille. Above the cross is
the motto, SIN Hoe SigRO VRceS," and
/ under the cross are the words, "God and
our rights" The reverse is OF white
. watered silk. On it is worked harp
about which twines a shamrock. Be
r meath the harp is the name Of the com.
r pany, montgomery Guards" Above the
harp are twelve bright stars, typical oil
; the Confederacy. The banner is heavily
fringed with green and tasseling. 1t il
A inches long and % inches wide, and il
handsomely encased in Georgia pine.