The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-05-16
ABOUT A BATTLE FLAG.
Romance of Wilson Creek in
Which a Missourian Was
the Hero.
Or. Thomas e. Staples Tells
the Story of Sigel's SiIken
Banner.

ScrVlCS OI Tue ldtc COutueTu SOuieueT'
acy a drawer or more faithful soldier
than DR.. Thos. E. Staples, now a resi-
dent of Nelson, Saline county, Mo.
He had seen service in the Mexican
war. and when he shouldered his gun
in 1861, he was no stranger to the
smell Of powder and the clash Of arms.
Doctor Staples was in Sedalia
last Friday, and the reporter had
an interesting conversation with
him in reference to celebrated ex.
plot in which he was the hero. This
was nothing more nor less than the
capture of General Sigel's battle flag
at the bloody and evermore memora-
BILE battle Of Wilson Creek, August
10, 1861.
Staples, soon after the surrender Of
Fort Sumter, organized an indepen-
dent cavalry company in and about
Georgetown, Pettis county,
and became its captain. The
command was well mounted, we'll
equipped and composed of many of
the best men in Central Missouri.
They had great confidence in the
courage, capacity and experience. Of
their leader, and we're ardently attached
to the cause they espoused.
The morning of the 10th of August,
1861, had hardly broken above
the rocky crests of the
Ozark mountains when SigePs heavy
guns, planted on the surrounding
hills, sent their salute of shells into
the sleeping camp Of the Southerners,
and practically opened one of the
deadliest combats in the whole history
of the Civil war.
The surprised soldiers of Generals
McCulloch and Price rose from their
rude beds and fell into ranks as
rapidly as possible. Not a moment
was to be lost. The hillsides and val
legs, still dim in the dawn, were al
ready clamorous with battle echoes.
The conflict increased in fury every
moment, and men in blue and gray
were falling within few feet of one
another, thick and fast. The
gallant Lyon was shot from his
horse in the final charge and
the Federals were soon in full retreat.
Many started to Rolla. Sigel, with a
small escort. dashed toward Spring
field, ten miles away.
Captain Staples and a part of his
company gave the redoubtable
Clutch" cavalryman hot pursuit.
They pressed him so closely that the
color bearer thrust SigePs battle flag
into the headquarters wagon,
which was soon run upon
by Capt. Staples who, personally,
captured the precious trophy and bore
it back in triumph to his proud COM
mander. =
This flag was something peculiarly
sacred in the estimation of Sigel. But
short while before it had been pre-
scented to him by loyal ladies of St.
Louis. 1t was of costly silk and
cunning workmanship. Mrs. Frank P.
Blair had made the presentation ad-
dress i'll the presence Of a distinguished
gathering of soldiers and civilians and
its now famous recipient had sworn to
carry 1t in the forefront of victory and
glory. Its loss was nothing less than
lamentable.
Tie trophy was generously turned
over TO CAPTAIN STABLES as his personal
property, and he thereupon conceived
theidea of presenting ito PresidentJef.
ferson Davis as a memento of the first
great Confederate victory in the West.
With that purpose in view, he OBJ
tanned leave of absence to visit
Richmond, and took the flag
with him. Upon reaching the Con-
federate capital, he sought an audi
ence with Mr.. Davis, time and again,
but that gentleman was just then
busily and seriously engaged in i'm
portant official matters from which he
could not divert his attention.
Finding that an interview with the
president could not be obtained, Cap
tain Staples gave the flag to General
Tom Harris, who proposed to present
it to Secretary Judah P. Benjamin.
This scheme was successfully carried
out.
About that time and many years
afterward, Mr.. Benjamin and Cap
tain Staples carried Oh a personal
correspondence in reference to the
silken trophy.
The great southern secretary has
long been dead. The last dim echo
of the war has died away. Richmond
has risen to glorious beauty and pros
perity from the ashes and debris Of de-
struction. The conquered banner
has been folded away in the dusty re-
cesses of the war department, or is