The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-03-01


Thirteenth Corps. The enemy iell back be
fore the steady adyarce of the Union army
until the sth of April. 1864, when the Con
federate Gen. Dick Taylor, according 10 h'S
history of the battle, made stand win lhe
com biucd forces of 10 Generals at Snnlhe
Crossroads. 10 match this Overwhelming
force of the enemy, Zen. Banks sent our
division composed of two small brigades'
under General W. ]. Iandrum. numbering
2.Ilj men. At the same time the Ihir-
tcenth. Sixteenth and Nineteenth Corps went
into camp within sound of our guns, wait
ing to see the outcome OF this unequal con
test
Gen. Banks was present when the battle
opened ard for nearly two hours OF hafd
and stubborn lighting we held our original
line. and rcpu,cd the repeated charges ot
all the troops they masSed on our front. We
had gained the victory and were waiting
impatiently for orders TO advance and reap
the fruit of our success. when all of sud
den heavy cnflading lire was poured into
Us on our right, which was followed rapidly
by fire in our rear. We attempted now tn
fall back, but it was too late. We were
caught between two lines with empty guns.
After trying in vain to break through the
double lines that surrounded us they
demanded our surrender. With no other
alternative, the regiment reluctantly threw
down their arms and empty cartridge.
boxes. and before the sun went down the
Asth Ohio. 18th Ky. nth and 18th iii. reg.
iments. and Capt. Whites Chicago battery.
nun bering in all about 200 men, were on
our way to the rebel prison, Camp Ford,
near Tyler, Tex. where we arrived after
seven days hard marching.
When the enemy closed in on ne from all
sides and our color bearer, Isaac Scott, saw
that all was lost. he tore our regimcntal
flag from the staff and gave II to his mess
mate to conceal in his haversack When
he received his first rations of corn-meal
from the Confederates he covered the flag
with the meal. and in that manner carried
it till he took sick and was taken In a hospi-
tpl where he was kept several weeks. But
through all his sickness he chung to the tlag
and after u journey of $50 miles he finally
arrived at Camp Ford, and delivered the
| colOis TO the officers oi the regiment A
hole was then dug inside our Shanty and ih
il we buried that emblem OF our freedom"
| our old flag. IN the stockadc were soldiers
| and sailors who had been III prison FOR near
| ly two years and when it was whispered
| about that there was CnIon flag in the
| prison we could not withstand the pl aiding
| of the old prisoners to let them get n glimpse
of the old flag. Time and again it was dug
up from its hiding place, aud after station
| ing guards around the shanty TO give the
alarm in case of danger the old prisoners
were permitted to go in and take a look at
| 80 d Glory" as GEN Sherman called the
! flag
Col. A. J. y. Duganne, of the 10th NY,
in referring 10 the incident writes as fol.
| lows:
II have seen poor comrades in Southern
captivity creeping out of their huts under
the darKness OF midnight and clustering
| together like shadows TO surround This
treasured emblem, kept day by day with
| Jealous secrecy from the search OF rebel
| guards. And | have seen those loyal and
| loving soldiers and sailors rough men
| though they were, with tears in their eyes
and with swelling bosoms pass the precious
| folds of that cherished old flag from lip 10
| lip in holy communion of patriotism"
In the meantime the prison authoritic-
| got an inkling that there was a Union flag
| in the prison. One day, Unexpectedly. they
marched a Texas regiment into the stock
| ade and ordered every prisoner out into line
| After our line was formed they went through
every c,bn and shanty in the prison and
| dug up the floors with their bayonets. bul
| they iuied to find the flag. We now had q
| difficult task before us-to find a more Sc
cure place for the flag before they searched
| the prison again; but we were equal to the
| emergency That night the flag was dug uJ
| from its place of burial. and Capt Jane:
Sowry sewed il in the lining of Capt David
Gunsaulus's blouse. The following day they
| searched the prison again, but We ielt that
| our treasure was secure in its new lace o
| concealment The officer wore the blous,
| Tor more than six months among the Con
Tod ata httt Ina a N,ot
what a precious charge to keep he had.
At last,after seven long and weary month!
| OF captivity, the regiment was marched I,
Shreveport, and from there by boat to tn,
mouth of the Red River for exchange. When
we reached the Mississippi River we wer,
met by Col. Dwight, our Commiss oner o
Exchange He ordered us on board thu
steamer st. Mary. where brass band from
New Orleans and q number of ladies' wivc
| of Union officers were awaiting our arrival
Just as Capt. Gunsauius stepped from tn,
| rebel steamer onto our steamer the exciie,
soldiers literally tore the blouse from the
officers back, and hastily tied tie flag to
| stnH prepared for the occasion. Al this sigma
the band struck up the AR" fhe Star Spaiigl
ed Banner and the old flag of the 4stl
| Ohio In the presence OF the Coniederat,
guards was unfurled TO the breeze with wav
ing of handerchiefs by the ladies and tn,
wild shouts and ringing cheers OF the re
But no words of tongue or pen can expires
the emotions of that hour. IL was AN in
spring scene that wll never lie forgotten
The Confederate Assistant Agent OF Ex
change Capt Birchett, on his return I,
Camp Ford Prison, related to the prisoner
how, in his presence, the flag of the ASH
Ohio was lorn from the coat of an office
when they were exchanged at the mouth o
the Red River He said it was one OF tn
most exciting scenes he had ever witnessed
and that the 4sih Ohio deserved great credi
for preserving their cOiors during their i'm
prisonment. II is the only reeimental fla.
that went through rebel prisoI
during the war of the rebellion
and escaped the clutches ofthe Confederate
1t was soon sIter deposited in the nag. room
of the State Hous at Columbus. U. Whel
II is required tor Re unions or pubic enter
tsinments 1t is placed in charge OF Conrad
J. W. Bolinger, OF Cincinnati, O-MILEru
GARNER, in National Tribune.
A FANCY drink has no necessar