The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-11-15

4 /" : |. |: 4. !: !. !.
MTll Gen. Lee resolved
3GX to break and drive
GlN!VNEA them back il pos
EJX#%s IL sible TO that end
~ ~ he ordered an A..
ENfNWH tack in force to be
- AgJNNNNEH9 made on Gen.
M ! YN&uGIuS Grapts line of cir
uN. WyJ cumvalaiion on
"T'Z July ~ 1864.
a Ws1wsSy NJ The point select
I,M| WtI4gt,.. - ed for assault was
fts~ul- ISlWNJAr =. in the vicinity Of sn
WSSsSs XSVk.pIA%Ssef,A old country in called
---.-S A The eIlow Tav-
NyRy -. ern'
rsS49--... t<Sl l-<xeAi The order was tina.
EsSxz.. the attack be mads
&sn. Just before tns
- ~s~Srdawn of day, the
time most favorable for "a rpfise. When
deep sleep falleth Oh men, II was the
experience, however, of many Confederate
officers charged with the duty of attacking
in the gray OF the morning, tbat II was
iiicult 10 bring their troops into line a.
that early hour. Although thes were gen-
orally. but in the grisiie aud not yet hard.
ened into the bone OF manhood, they wers
in one sense, at least, not OF the rising gen
Grafton
Hence 1t was that Gen. Johnston Haso ID.
whose brigade of South Carolinains was
assigned to the right ot the attacking force.
found that daylight had broken beiure hs
could align his command. Gen. Hagood
was as true soldier as ever drew sword in
b tile; TO him The path of dJty was the
path of honor, and although he saw tina.
his brigade was in plain view Of the Union
troops, whp had already manned their IN.
trenchments, he ordered it TO advance to ths
assault. II had to cross a space OF about
go yards in width, which had an undu at.
ing surface and the broken nature OF the
ground afforded some shelter until II de-
bouched upon level highway within sew.
enty yards OF the works.
II then met with terrible fire OF artillery
and rifles. but II was not composed OF sea
soned veterans and II now fsltered. Whers
the dead fell. the living slept and their lev
eled bayonets soon spar killed. within twenty
feet OF the line Of IN renchmPntS. There
the brigade came to an involuntary halt for
before 1t lay wide. deep ditcn, half tu.l OF
wafer, which II had no means of cross ing.
Unable to advance, aud yet unwilling to re.
treat without orders, every soldier delivered
his hopeless fire with the energy Of dsS-
paif.
A. me cifui suggestion, no doubt prompt
ed by admiration tor Uouy OF brave men,
doomed otherwise to certain slaughter, the
Union soldiers called ont to them TO sur.
render, but the call was unheeded. At that
deadly injuncture mounted otii Ger wa
seen TO emerge from the sally port of an
earthwork at a re-en,erins angie of the lins
center OF the brigade. lie galloped up to
the color bearer of the - South Carolina
regiment and holding out his right hand,
demanded the surrender of the colors.
Although mounted the uniform and should
er strapsof the daring Union officer indicat-
ell that he was q Captain of infantry lie
was, apparently, about thirty years Of age.
with noble and handsome face, and tall
heroic form.
The Color Sergeant. seemingly dazed, or
perhaps paralyZed hy the sublime efrontery
Of the demand, surrendered the colors
The flag was especially dear 10 the regi-
ment, for 1t had been presented oy the
women OF the district In which the regiment
was raised, and 1t hal been borne aloft with
honor on many battle.iields. Ii was State
nag, with the arms OF South Carolina upon
u, snd counterpart OF that which thu
famous Palmetto regiment in the Mexican
war had planted on the walls of the capitol
Of Mexico the first foreign flag to wave
there since the time of Cortez. That IL
should have been delivered up to a single
toeman when there were a thousand men 10
iefend il, and the thrust ola bayonet or the
pulling OF trigger could have disposed OF
him, was past all understanding, | hfys
thought that perhaps, sorely terplexed with
their comrades falling fas, all around them.
they may have thought at the moment the
delivery OF the Tag was intended as signal
to the troops in the trenches to cease firing,
At any rate they lost their heads for the
nonce.
Not so, however was IL with Gen Hago0d
who was distant about seventy-hve yard
and saw with amazement the surrender OK
the flag. He was on loot, his horse having
been shot under him. and he came forward
on run TO intercept the officer. who was
riding slowly along the front of the resl-
ment, ohliqutng somewhat toward his owD
lines. Gen. Hagood, on coming u with
him, seized the bride OF the horse, and, lev
cling his cooked revolver at the Captains
breast. said {" him: "t''"e ~ that Hsg.
sir" III e ans wer was; "W 40 70 you" IL q
General replied: IL coniinanu mis- brigade.
| admire your bravery. tive me the Tag
and you shall return unmolested 10 your
own lines" The Captain, who had furled
the flag and was holding it upright with the
ierule of the staff resting on the pomme OF
the saddle, responded. General, you had
better surrender to me yourself Look be-
hind you.' The General looked to the rear
and sew that large force that had sailed.
from the intrenchments on bis iett wer.
moving to cut of his retreat. all othereom-
mands having retired from the fruitless as
sault Turning to the defiant Captain, ne
exclaimed "Once more. sir, will YOU Civ,
up that hag?' The answer was, in a loud
tone; Never" With the answer zen.
Hagood fired and the officer fell. she
through the breast. lie still grasped the
flagstaff as he fell backward, an ii wa,
wrested from his grasp. The General then
mounted the horse and ordered a retreat.
which was effected with the loss of nearly
one-half of the brigade
The captured borse was killed on the re-
treat by sho, from the Union lines and rs
he fell he kicked ont his heels and rs IL to
ayenge his fallen master. srick Or. Taylor,
the brigade surgeon, in the head. intlicting
wound from the effects of which he never
sntirely recovered
Often within the lines at Petersburg.
around many camp fire Confederate sol
diers discussed the strange incident of the
hag surrendered at Yellow Tavern. How t
was that such famous regiment should
have allowed the flag to be surrendered in
battle 10 force consisting OF but one man
was most puzzling
The occult powers Of hypnotism might
have furnished a solution. but lit was then
unheard of, and is still unknown to the ar,
Of war.
All agreed. however, that no bravei
Iced was ever done than that of the
Yankee Captain who fell, stiligraspins that
dag,