The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-08-07
G. A. GLADKF
n,. On the Stand.
A Bright Star From the Flag

In our issue OF last week we published
an interesting "Reminiscences of the Con-
federate war DR.. W. A. Spence, now of
Jacksonville, Fla, father of Mrs. J. N.
Liggett, formerly of Harrisonburg, had
two sons in the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia-members of the Fredericksburg
Artillery. He has in his possession two
pieces of the battle flag of the company
which he greatly treasures. When the
surrender of Lee took place, one of the
sons of DR.. Spence said: eve will
never deliver up our flag The flag
was torn to pieces and distributed among
the boys.
Friday morning of last week. the re-
porter of the VIRGINIAN sat in his
office thinking of items for the next is
sue OF the paper, when a gentleman of
this city came in with u VIRGINIAN in
his hand. He said, pointing to the
piece, A Faded Scrap of Flag who
put that in your paper?n The reporter
looked at it, and finding that there was
no sspistols and coffee in it, put it on
the shoulders Of the senior editor.
"Well,n said the gentleman, 81 am a
| living witness of the truth of what is
there stated" Said the reporter "How
was it, and how do you know about it p
"Why, / was there and member OF
that company" He said cit comes
back to me like dream, but as clear as
if it happened only yesterday. l was
then not more than Is Years old. 1t was
the morning of April 9th, 1866. Oul
company was stationed on q plat OF
rising ground, just in rear OF farm
house, on the suburbs of Appomattoz
q. H., and we were pouring hot shot
into the ranks of the enemy. We saw
General Custer ride up to where General
Gordon stood and have a short con
versation with him. We at once re-
ceived orders to stop firing. stood al
the gun which had been loaded the
printing was in place, and / held the
lanyard in my hand when the order
came. said, Sergeant, we'll give then
this one, anyhow This was the last
gun fired at Appomattox. The next day
Twas paroled and returned to my fathers
home. We had 70 men in our company
when we surrendered. The flag was
torn up as stated when we surrendered
and got one of the stars as my part
| have my parole framed, and in one
corner under the glass is this star from
the battle-fag of the Fredericksburg
Artillery, with this inscription: 'Takel
from. the battle-flag of the Frederieks
burg Artillery at AppoMattox G. H.
April 9, 1867
This boy, who surrendered at the ag'
of ii, entered the service of his countr.
at the age of Is. He first served in tn,
signal corps and afterwards in the re
serves stationed at STANTON. Witt
burning desire fer more active service
and wider fields OF usefulness, this youth
Jul citizen soldier made his way to Rich
mond and joined the Fredericksburg
Artillery. His drill in the camp a
Staunton served him we'll. He soon al
tracted the attention of his command
ing officer, and was detailed at variou
future was before him as the reward c
his brave and manly conduct, whe
the surrender of the Army of Norther
Virginia sent the boy soldier to hi
home in the Valley of Virginia. Ia
same sterling qualities and force Of chal
. acter which made him a conspicuou
soldier when hoy, have made him
good citizen and won for him honor an
! distinction in the walks of civil lif,
: Few of our people know of the pal
:. this boy-soldier of the Oonfederac
! played in the late war. The gallant DO
of the Fredericksburg Artillery is Ge'
Ii. Harrison, ESQ, a distinguished men
! Der of the Staunton bar
III 7