Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-17
The SAVING or THE FLAG.


n Thrilling Episode from the Austro-
italian War of 1859.
The "Reminiscences Of Gen di Revel"
cGntaih the following stirring account of
the saving Of the flag: During the Italo.
Austrian war Of 1852 on the 2ith June,
part Ut the Forty fourth Italian infantry,
consisting Of group Of about ten officers
aud twenty-five men, got separated from
their regiment during surprise, and
boiBg hard pressed by the Austrians en-
tered - villa called Fenile, near Alzarea,
hIld prepared for an obstinate defense.
They had with them the flag of the regi-
ment, and the oldest officer present, Capt.
Baroneellit, took command.
After the Austrians had been repeatedly
repulsed they Bet fire to some heaps of
straw hny and other innammable material
kept In the garrcts of the villa. The Ital-
ions, half suffocated by the smoke, and
sgsing that IL would be impossible TO de-
Ahd themselves much LONGER, determined
70 save their flag before surrendering.
They stripped the bunting from its staff
aud tore II into small pieces, of which each
officer hid u portion under his clothes; the
spear point, being indestructible was hid
den under fireplace in the house, and the
staff was broken into pieces and burned
This done Lieut.. Chverni, who spoke
German, fixed n white handkerchief to the
point Of his sword and, leaning from a
window in the midst Of smoke and fire,
offered TO surrendcr--a proposition imme
diately accepted By the enemy.
The brave little troop issued from the
house and surrendered their arms to Col
Altcmps, Of the Hohcnlohe regiment
"Where arc the othcrsW asked the colonel
atssf 10 nd hat ho La,
tanned chat there were really no more he
exclaimed, "Brayol you defended your
selves like lionsp The Italians, taken
prisoners to Austria. managed to keep
their precious relics secret, and one of them
dying his piece Of hunting was buried with
him. Gu the LIST Of July following Gen
di Revcl was appointed commander of the
division, aud while inspecting the Forty.
fourth infantry was surprised to see no
flag He was told that il had been taken
by the enemy, but ~ the matter had never
been mentioned, not even by the Austrians,
who would naturally hive been proud Of
such II trophy, the general called the
officers Of the Forty-fonrth together and
begged them To keep perfect silence as to
their loss, and tbs first time they found
themselves within reach Of an encnly's flag
to revenge themselves by taking il.
When Austria agreed TO the convention
Of the Rcd Cross the Italian military doc
tors were set free, and one Of them came
To Gen. iii RCvCl and Informed him of
what had been done with their flag by the
group of officers Of the FOrty-fourth. The
general recommended silence aud his wish
was respected On the 9th of October,
when hi Rcycl went to Verona, u mer-
chant Of thHt city was presented to him,
aud in secret consigned to him the spear
point OF the missing flag, which had been
found In the villa Of Sgnora Rose Faina,
and by her jealousy preserved in order to
bc restored to the Italian army. One can
imagine the gratitude of the general
lie reported the affair IA the minister Of
war, Begging him - provide II flagstaff
This was done. aud when peace was con.
Cluded rnd the prisoners Of war returned
home the officers Of the Forty-fourth con
,igncd to the general the several pieces of
thcir flag. They were sewn together by
three workwomcn In the presence Of two
officers Of the company, and attached to
the stniT aud spear point, the whole pro
Ceediug being written down, witnessed to
aud signed. and AN account of the saving
Of the Tag added
On the 18th October tho Forty fourth
regiment was drawn up IN the square of
st Mark, and in front stood Lieut. Lii
bretti bearing the recovered flag. The
itunr5iin vol was sounded, and Gen. di Revel
expressed his pleasure at being able to re
store TO the assembled regiment the actual
flag. stained with the blood 81 the handful
uf heroes who had ~ Valiantly preserved ii
from the enemy zone piece only" he
concluded. "is missing, and that lies IN the
heart OF the brave man who carried it with
him Ia the tomb \ storm of applause
burst from the regiment and the specta
tons. then while the mon presented arms
the general kissed the flag and gave il TO
Lieut. Col Znrni, the commander of the
regiment, who also kissed It, and then re
consigned il ta Lieut.. librrtti who, bear
INK aluit the glorious banner, accompanied
Gen Ill Roycl along the front of the rrgi-
mcnt amid renewed hcclamatiOns. The
general speaks Of this incident as one Of
ibe most moving Ia his mi ltary career.