Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-10-04
THEY WE'RE ALL FIGHTERS.
Col. rleck's Family Fought for the Union,
saw Custer Die. and Guarded city


In 1861. when the war broke out.
Frank Flcck Of Toledo, then n vigor-
Gus Young man. was chief of police in
that city.
The roar of Sunrtei's guns was still
sounding among the hills and the heart
of the nation when Mr.. Fleck threw M
his position aud donned the blue. He
enlisted for the thrrc-months' service,
and returned Immediately to Toledo,
where he set about organizing COM
pany.
He had considerable money and used
it with no illiberal hand. He soon had
fine company Of l07 young men
formed and was about ready 10 90 to
the front when he received word that
his mother living in Baltimore, was
diving. He got a weeks leave of alb
sence ard departed for the bedside of
his dying mother.
On his rctuIn he found Gen. Steed-
man. then organizing the 18th O. V. l.,
had placed new officers in command Of
the company. He naturally kicked,
and the result was the company to a
man refused TO join the 18th.
At last he consented to 20 with the
regiment and 20 he did.
4 series of brave deeds at Mill
Springs and Stone River raised Fleck
to the position Of sergeant, and at the
famous charge of Jonesboro he had the
honor of leading his company over the
brcastworSs
In the cyclorlma of the battle of
Jonesboro at Chicago, a soldier is seen
waving the stars and stripes from the
brcastworks. That man was Frank
Fleck and that flag hangs in 6. A. X.
hall Toledo.
"Thc ground through which we
passed was very rough and covered
with trees, whose branches almost
reached the ground, said the old vet
erau 80 We broke line, and it was
every man for himself just as we
reached the works Cox, who bore our
colors. fell with bullet through the
brain. picked mp the flag aud car
ricd it up up. What hot place it
wasl How the canister ratified! Well,
somehow / got in advance of my com
pauy, but ! ran on Surrender! shout
cd q brIgadicr-general as ! topped the
works.
MY answer was q lunge Of my
sword which went right through him.
By the way. that same sword was pre-
scented to me here in Toledo by num-
Der Of ladies'. | saw fine revolver
pccpiug oat of the pocket of the dead
man, and don't know what induced
me to do il. but stopped and took it
from his pocket and have it yet.
II caught up the flag continued
Col Fleck, land placed it on piece
0f artillery that topped the works.
This was the signal for our boys. aud
they rushed pcll-mell over the breast
works.
This is my boy, " said the old man,
proudly. turning To n young man who
sat at the table "He fought under
Custer aud was present AT the famous
or infamous massacre My eldest, now
at Sturgeon. Mich was wounded AT
Chattanooga and my youngest is a
soldier in the regular army"
80 you were with Custer?N said the |
reporter to the young man referred to,
who. by the way, is named after his
father and IL worthy son of u worthy |
sire.
Yes, fourteen of us left Toledo in
"a to Join Custer. Remember the mas
Sacrc? Well, ! should say 50. ! was
Scrgeant-ordcrly of the day, and my
horse falling lame, was sent back TO !
take charge Of the pack train was
wounded. Sec here and here and he !
poiatcd To rcd sears on arms and breast |
YES, | was the only one Of the four |
teen who left Toledo a year before who
escaped Frank Flcck, Jr., lives at
Ottawa Lake, and he, 600, has never
applied for pension, though his /
wounds cutitlc him to one.
The third brother already referred
to was the hero who saved 50 many
lives when the passenger steamer Al |
pena went down ON Lake Huron a few
years ago, Among the passengers
saved ON the occasion were several
Toledo people, one of whose friends
promised the brave rescuer 800 but
he has forgotten to Keep his word.
"Ilc didn't even get a word of thanks,
said Frank in relating the incident tot
a reporter. land he doo-u' care, but II
jus; shows what an estimate some PEG
pile place upon their lives. '--I olc'o