The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Tho Hand-to-Hand Fight for the Flag of the
120th Pa.

CI1 "A IN ~ ELl0ff1S 1LLG.
The Hand-to- Hand Fight for the Flag of the
129th Pa.
The incident referred to in the issue of Feb
Is, of the capture of two rebels who, with
others, had seized the flag of the 10th Pa is
well remembered by survivors Of that Sunday
struggle in the black jack underground of the
Charlottesville woods.
The regiment had been holly engaged, its
ammunition exhausted, and rebel columns were
upon its flank and rear before the order
reached it to retire. 1t had been left alone for
some time, the troops on the right and left
having retired to the rear When the colors
were seized its Colonel Jacob e. Frick) was
near the Color Guard; its Lieutenant Colonel
tWilliam n. Armstrong; in the hands of the
enemy. to escape few minutes later in the
confusion caused by the fire of our batteries
and its Major Joseph Anthony, supposed to
be mortally wounded, was being carried from
the field.
Capt. John Stoneback, of Co. K, rushed to
the rescue of the colors. He was a tall, power
fully-bult msn Of dark complexion. The
sword thrust aimed by him at the foremost
rebel was turned aside by the Colonel, who
desired to take him prisoner, but was followed
by blow from the Captains fist, which
staggered the audacious Johnny, and in the
rush then made by other brave men of the
guard (the names of whom have escaped mel,
the colOrs were retaken, and the prisoners cap
tured marched to the rear.
The thickness of the underground delayed
those carrying the wounded Major, as well as
the Color Guard, and when the flag was seized
all near rallied to its rescue.
You published in your issue of Aug. II a
mess of silly stuff about the affair from the pen
of w. n. Williams, which has, so far as it re-
lates to the colOrs and movement of the regi-
ment not the slightest foundation in fact.
In the first place, Matt Quay had no regiment.
He resigned as Colonel OF the 134th regiment
prior to the battle Of Fredericksburg, Dec. ID,
1862. The 134th was CALAMITY led at the bat
ties of Fredericksburg and Charlottesville by
Lieut.-Col. Edward 0Brien. The 134th was
nowhere near the 129th, nor were the colors of
the 134th near that regiment. Mr.. Williams
does not know what he is talking about when
he says, We were ordered to retreat, and in the
movement our regiment became somewhat dis
integrated OH account of not understanding
orders" The truth is we had orders to
retreat, and therefore held our ground long
after all OF the regiments of the brigade our
right, as well as French's Division on our left,
had retired. What was the Color Bearer of
the 134th doing there in our ranks2 1t is all
miserable rot. had no orders to retire, and
only did SO after having been notified twice
once by the Captain Of Co. and again by the
Adjutant-that the enemy had already passed
by my right and was getting In my rear.
Then, that / might Illustrate the evident
purpose Of the enemy to capture my regiment,
l took the responsibility to retire without or
ders. The command to face by the rear rank
was given clearly and distinctly-my voice was
very strong and loud, the General of the bril-
gade stating in his official report that he could
hear it above the din of battle-and think no
one failed to hear it. The regiment marched
in perfect order to the rear, and there was no
misunderstanding of orders and no disintegra-
ton. In our march to the rear the attempt
was made to capture and carry off the coors Of
the 129th, but the attempt was signaly de-
feated by the brave mon OF the 129th. Capt.
Stoneback displayed great gallantry on the oc-
casion. One of the audacious rebels would
have felt the point of his sword had / not
promptly struck it to one side. He then used
his powerful sledge- hammer fist and sent his
antagonist sprawling to the ground.
These are the facts pure and simple, without
further elaboration. ] therefore conclude, and
repeat that it is mere rot to talk about Matt
Quays" regiment ~ and the flag of the 134th
in connection with the episode of capturing
and recapturing the colors of the 10th at
Charlottesville, May 3, 1861. G. FRIcK,
Colonel, 10th Pa Pottsville, Pa.