News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-08-28

Tn this thicket fighting began, and
the colonel of the First Texas stated
in his report That as soon as the
ball opened he could not restrain his
men Formation could not be main
tanned and every man went on Wher-
ever he could find a foeman, and no for
midable check was made until the farther
edge of the corn field was reached. Here
there was a rail fence and beyond low
ridge crowned with Union batteries. AS
soon as the retiring Union troops passed
under their line of fire the batteries opened
on Wofford's men, and the First Texas,
being in 'front.' close on the heels of the
Union infantry, received CALLING shower
of missiles. The men halted. and opening
on the gunners and horses inflicted ter
rible punishment, compelling the artiller-
lists to timber up and prepare to move
away. But a fresh column of Union in
fantry came up, and moving in solid lines
swept on through the corn, pushing Wof-
ford's brigade before them, and the doomed
First Texas, far in the exposed rear, was
caught the second time at disadvantage.
The commanding officer says in his re-
port that although he had but handful
of men he hesitated to order a retreat, and
when at last he did so the few men re-
naming to him turned at regular inter
walls and fired upon the enemy. -Four OF
his color bearers were shot down under the
eve of the colonel, and he recognized them
all. Four others fell carrying the colors,
but none of the survivors could identify
them. Finally the flag disappeared in the
corn, the bearer falling unseen, and when
the colonel asked for the standard he was
told that it had left the field. When the
remnant came together in the open field
bevond the corn swarmed with Union
troops. and it was too late to attempt to re-
cover the flag. Out of 225 Texans that en-
tered the fight 45 were killed and 141
wounded, or S2.3 per cent.
The commander, after recountlng his
action and his loss, devoted much of his
renort to explanation of the loss of his col
ors. He wrote:
"While falling back (being still in tie
corn field | gave the order to halt and IN
uuired for the colOrs, intending to dress on
them, when was told the colors had gone
out of the corn field. Then l gave the or
der to move out of the corn and form be-
hind the crest of a small ridge just outside.
II was when | reached this point that l
became satisfied our colors were lost, for
looked in every direction and they were
nowhere to be seen. 1t was then too late
TO recover them There was no one who
knew the spot where they had last fallen,
and owing to the density of the corn a
view of no object could be had but for a
few feet. BY this time, also, the enemy
had moved up within 80 or 10 yards of my
left and rear No blame, | feel, should
attach to the men or officers, all of whom
fought heroically and well. There was nc
such conduct on their part as abandoning
or deserving their colors. The colors
started back with them, and when they
were lost no man knew save him who had
fallen with them"
This apology, made when four out of
every five of his men lay dead or bleeding,
shows how strong is the soldiers ruling
passion for the honor of his flag.
GEORGE L. KILMER.