The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-16
HOW HE GOT 1T.
Another Chapter ia the Cedar
Fork Flag Incident.

| ly, Ohio, was in Chillicothe the
other day, and in an interview
with the Rambler" of the
Chillicothe Leader, he told the
following story of how it came
into his possession
after the battle of Gettys-
burg" said the Colonel, land
when the Army of the Potomac
had returned to Virginia, Gen.
Orland Smiths brigade, of
which the 73rd o. V. |. formed
a part, went into camp at Bris-
toe Station, some twenty miles
in front of Washington D. e.
While lying there, the brigade
was constantly annoyed by a
band of Confederate soldiers.
under the command of q Capt.
KetchelOe, who carried on a
kind of guerilla warfare with
such of our men as strayed be-
yOnd our lines. This band,
which numbered about $50, had
captured several Of our men.
and had taken u few horses be.
longing to the brigade. was
sent out several times, By Gen.
Smith, with the view of captur.
ing or driving away these gueril-
las, and had captured quite a
number of them. ] had learned
that they We're in the habit of
meeting about once a week at a
certain place, and then dividing
up into small bands, to carry on
this irregular mode of warfare.
Sometime near the latter
part OF August, 1868, | was sent
oIt in command of about 100
men, detailed from the brigade.
and was furnished with a guide
who was thoroughly acquainted
with the surrounding country.
On this expedition l surprised
aud captured several of Capt
! ketcheloe'S men, and more than
twenty of his horses.
"ln a little log cabin in a asmall
clearing" continued the &C.
onel. stopping to light a cigar
the Rambler had handed him.
surrounded by a dense pine
forest, and while in pursuit of
some Confederate soldiers, |
bagged a soldier belonging to a
South Carolina regiment. This
log cabin seemed to be a kind of
headquarters Of Ketcheloe's
band. In and about it we found
concealed several rifles, car
bines and quite a quantity of
,vercoats and other clothing,
such as was worn by our sell
liers. Among other materials
We found several trunks filled
with Confederate officers cloth
ing, sword belts ETC., and the
dag of which you ask an &C
count. This flag was of rich
blue silk, with a white silk
fringe, on one side of which was
the coat of arms of North Caro-
lima, with the inscription. 1.-The
Old North State" On the 9TH
er side were the words, Pres
ented by the Ladies of Cedar
Fork, to the North Carolina
Grays,'
"On taking this flag to camp,
| was told by my brigade COM
mander TO keep it, and, have
had it in my possession ever
since then. 1t is a beautiful
dag. and is IN a good state of
preservation. 1t is highly priced
by my family, as a trophy of the
late Civil war. | have learned
since communicating with some
of the survivors Of the company,
organized as the North Caro-.
lima Grays.' that the company
was mustered into the Sixth
North Carolina regiment, as
Company /. and that after the
battle Of Bull Run, at which
their Colonel was killed. the
officers Of the company EN-.
plOsed some one to take their
trunks e. Fredericksburg. but
thot thcyucv'r saw them again.
nor knew what had become of
them. One uf the survivors
write, to- the. that when he read
my. letter. stating that | had
tErir lag. that he felt as one
who. for many years. had
muurnr,l the loss Of a dear
friend. AMI had been told that
he was not deal but alive and
well. liz says that he never
shall forget the occasion when
the flag was presented 10 the
company hy thr fair ladies Of
Cedar Fork. aud the song that
they sang, Defend the oll North
state Forever.
This is the history vfthc flag.
so far as know" remarked tlr
Colonel. The obtaining the
flag in the way related. reflects
no discredit upon the company
into whose keeping tie ladies Of
Cedar Fork had entrusted it.
nor was its capture-if capture
il could be calIed-any thing to
boast of, by those into whose
hands it fell. 1t was but an in
cident of the war. Il fell into