The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-05
"oUR BOYS IN GRAY
Lieutenant Lyon COrrects a1 n
in the sketch Of Company A, lo'h
s. &. Regimcnt-..It YVES the Coior.
Bearer of the 10Th s. G. NeGine"'
who Refused to Give Up His Coiors.

Mr.. EDITOR: Gen. Hemphill. editor OF the
A6Geville Medium, kindly handed me copy
of your paper issued August g. 1888, Wnich
contained an historic sketch Of Company a
10th $. Z. V. Regiment, written by MT. soi'
Emanuel, which read with very deep lnter.
est; and want to thank Mr.. Emanuel ior the
effort when ne has TO- by the
writer were vividly brought up again III Iue
mirror of memory. c. .,,,.
Among those who were conspicuous for cour'
age and the highest soldierly qualities IN
That splendid leth Regiment, and there were
many, none were more noted than CAPT. y: =.
White of Co. A. He was as brave as JULIUS
Cesar. His command "Rally on the rlgpl
group! in the battle OF MurireesDoro VIII De
remembered as long as there is survivor OF
the Regiment, aud also by comrades, OF III
least one other Regiment Us long as time may
last with them Next TO Capt. w nlE IN
soldieIly conduct, think EuslSn shaw oi tme
10th Regiment, would take rank. L well re-
member him as physical athlete, q reauy,
quick and powerful man. ,,
There is one error, however, in the sketch'
which wish to correct. In the letter OF Eet' SAl
$. ID. Lee 10 Mr.. Emanuel, dated Nov; 49, 1922,
the General says that he attempted 10 Jake
the colors Of the 10th $. Z. Regiment OF MANI
gault's Brigade from the color-bearer, 10 as
sist in rallying the men. The coior-Dearel
was q gallant man. He refused to give up the
colors, but said he would bear them any
where directed, or do anything with them
desired, except giving them up Ihey were were
in his charge and 1T was his duty 10 pear Lnetn III
as long rs he lived. was particularly struck
with his galIantry. did ot take the colors,
feeling that he would carry them as praVeiy
as myself l understood afterwards that Lhls
color bearer, whose name dlu not know, WIS
u member Of Company n. 10Th 5. T." ,
With this statement OF Gen. Lee, whlch Is
exactly as l remember the occurrence, the
error Of MIR. Emanuel is most reasonable.
colors to assist in rallying the men, That Is
true. Those men had been repulsed by inc
enemy twice or three times, and they heeueu
rallying, but it was not the 1Oth regiment, Us
Gen: Lee recolects It, II was tie ,He tIen ,inr. 81 ~
bearer who acted as Gen. Lee has stated ana
not Ensigh Shaw, of Co. y, lUth 5. Z.
Ensign Truwit was member OF GO. II, lStn
5. G. Regiment, OF which company was
Lieutenant. was within fifteen feet OF Gen.
Lee and Ensign Truwlt at the time referred
10, saw the incident and heard every word
spoken. l was proud OF the conduct OF EL.
sign Truwit, and have referred 10 II many
times since the war as one OF the most gallant
acts performed by any member of our COM
pany. ,,,s.,,,
a splendid iron.gray horse and looked ana
acted every iuch the soldier and General that
he was; but, as matter of fact, he did ap.
pear not a little set back, when the colors
were refused him. My recollection Is that as
the General turned his horse to ride way ne
said: Il would TO God every man In tnls
Regiment was just like you" =,
Mr.. TruWit Is still living and farming In
this (Ahbeville) County. He is son Of Il.
Williams Truwit, deceased, who doubtless
was an acquaintance OF Gen. Lee in former
years. -.
saw Mr.. Lewis S. Truwit on the 18th inst,
and spoke TO him of the sketch by MIR. Eman-
uel and of the error herein referred to, He
replied that he supposed 1t made but little
difference now; but as matter OF fact the per-
sons and commands had got mixed.
This event occurred during the last hours OF
my service to our beloved southland; for
within q few moments after the occurrence OF
this event, was wounded, passed out of ser
vice minus an arm, and my recollectlon Is
distinct concerning what have written.
My sole purpose IN writing this, Is to aid In
making up a true history-and this Is the
only way It can be done.
J. FULLER LYON,
EX.Licut. Co. II, 18th >. {. Reg't.
Abbevillc, $. c., Aug. 20, 1885.