Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-09-06
THEY WERE AL FIGHTERS.
Col. Fleck's Family Fought for the Union
Saw Custer Die, and Guarded City,

In 1861, when the war broke out,
Frank Fleck Of Toledo, then vigor-
Gus young man, was chief of police in
that city.
The roar of Sumter's guns was still
sounding among the hills and the heart
Of the nation when Mr.. Fleck threw up
his position and donned the blue. He
enlisted for the threc-months' service,
and returned Immediately to Toledo,
where he set about organizing a COM
pany.
He had considerable money and used
it with no illiberal hand. He soon had
a fine company Of 10Y young men
formed aud was about ready to 90 to
the front when he received word that
his mother, living in Baltimore, was
dying. He got a weeks leave Of alb
sence and departed for the bedside Of
his dying mother.
On his return he found Gen. Steed-
man, then organizing the l4th 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 l4th.
At last he consented to go with the
regiment, and go he did.
A series Of brave deeds at Mill
Springs and Stone River raised Flec1
to the position of sergeant, and at the
famous charge Of Jonesboro he had the
honor Of leading his company over the
breastworks.
In the cyclorama Of the battle Of
Jonesboro at Chicago, n soldier is seen
waving the stars and stripes from the
brcastworks. That man was Frank
Fleck and that flag hangs in G. A. r.
hall, Toledo.
"The ground through which we
passed was very rough and covered
with trees, whose branches almost
reached the ground" said the old vet
eran. so 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. l picked up the flag and car
ried it up-up. What hot place il
was! How the canister ratified! Wen,
somehow ! got in advance Of my COM
pany, but | ran on. Surrender shout
ed a brigadiergeneral as topped the
works.
'My answer was lunge of my
sword which went right through him.
BY the way. that same sword was pre-
scented to me here in Toledo by mum
Der of ladies' | saw n fine revolver
pceping out Of the pocket Of the dead
man, and / don't know what induced
me to do it. but / stopped and took il
from his pocket, and l have it yet
ii caught up the flag continued
Col Fleck, ''and placed it on a piece
of artillery that topped the works
This was the signal for our boys, and
they rushed pell-mell over the breast
works.
This is my boy said the old man
proudly, turning 10 a young man who
sat Mt the table "He fought under
Custer and was present at the famou:
or Infamous massacre. My eldest, now
at Sturgeon, Mich, was wounded a
! Chattanooga and my youngest is {
soldier in the regular army.
$50 YOU were with Custer? said The
reporter TO the young man referred to
who, by the way, is named after I'M
/ father and is a worthy son OF worthy
sire.
Eyes, fourteen of us left Toledo il
IA to Join Custer. Remember the mas
sacre? Well, | should say SO. wa!
sergeaut-orderly OF the day, and my
( horse falling lame, I was sent back t,
! take charge of the pack train. wa.
/ wounded See here and here, " and ht
/ pointed to red sears on arms and breast
t.Eas 1yas fine only one of the four