The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-03-04
The Tenth vermont's Colors.

The Tenth VermOnt's COlOrs.
Editor Vermont Vatchman 1t is
altogether Xix ly that nine out of ten of
those who view the colors Of the Tenth
Vermont at the state capitol at Mont
pelier have little, if any, idea of their
history. When a few more years shall
have passed, there will be none left to
tell the tale, aud generations to come
will only wonder what that history may
have been.
1t was during the terrible struggle at
Cedar Greek on October 10, 1864, and
early in the morning, when the Eighth
and Nineteenth Corps had been sur
prsed and hurled to the rear in disor-
der, and disaster was everywhere. The
grand old Sixth Corps was fighting
Early's entire army and doing its best
to check his advance. They were out
numbered two to one on every part of
the field. When the enemy won ID
throw his long lines around our TANKS
the corps had to fall back to prevent
capture. While falling back on one of
these occasions, Mcknight lost one of
his guns and Van Etten lost two. They
We're already forty yards to the rear of
our new line, aud the enemy were so
sure of them, and our new position as
well, that they made no effort to haul
the guns from the field. Colonel Henry
saw their situation and ordered the
regiment to charge and recapture them.
Bayonets were fixed, and then forward
dOuble-quick went the regiment, charg-
ing into the very teeth of the enemy
and into the jaws of death. Sergeant
William Mahoney, the brave color
bearer, kept well in advance with the
colors, and was one of the first to reach
the guns, planting the colors on one of
them. For few minutes the fight for
the possession of the guns was terrific,
then the enemy gave way in disorder,
and the regiment brought the guns
from the field, being obliged to haul
one of them off by hand.
While making this charge the coors
had been nearly shot from the staff.
In fact, they would have fallen had not
Sergeant Mahoney caught them in his
hand and wound them around the staff.
While the regiment was engaged in a
hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy
for the possession of the guns, Sergeant
Mahoney pulled from one of his shoes
leather shoe-string, and with it lashed
the cOlors firmly to the staff, and then
again unfurled them to the breeze, Just
in time to cheer the grand old regiment
on TO victory.
History has told the story of the re-
treat of the Sixth Corps, inch by inch,
as Early swung his long lines around
its TANKS, until three more long miles
had been reached, and then the rebel
advance was checked for good. Sheri.
dan soon after appeared on the scene,
the shattered corps was reOrganized,
and then general advance was ordered.
The Tenth Vermont had to charge su-
periOr force of the enemy, strongly
posted behind a stone wall, on rising
ground. They soon routed the enemy,
but at fearful cost. Among the slain
was the heroic cOlor-bearer. Sergeant
William MahOney lies Wondering in
the grave, to be known no more, but
the flag he carried on so many bloody
fields rests behind a glass case in the
state capitol building, dashed to the staff
with Sergeant Mahoney's leather shoe
string, just as he tied it up on that field
of carnage and death. 1t is the duty of
those in authority to so mark that flag
that those who shall look upon its
sacred folds in years to come may read
and know its history. If nothing bet
Ter can be done, let these incidents in
its history be printed on a slip and
pinned to its folds, so that it may be
read through its glass covering. A
photograph of the dead sergeant would
if it could be obtained and fastened tC
the flag, help to perpetuate his memory
There were also others of the color
guard who are worthy place in the
history of that flag, and whose names
and photographs, if attached to its
folds, would help to keep them in re
membrance; and why not place theil
names where they will live in history
as the brave defenders of the flag OF
the Tenth Vermont? Corporal DAME
b. Freeman was one of those guards
and Drawer man than he never Tough
in defence of his country. The three
wounds he bears attest his valOr OF
many battle-felds.
LIEUT.. Il. II. WHITE,
Tenth Vermont.
Single Springs, Cal, February 16,