The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-11-22
A War Story.

The lines Of the union army were
closing around Petersburg like a
shroud of iron, when Gen. Lee resol-
we'd to break and drive them back. if
possible. To that end he ordered an
attack in force to be made on Gen.
Grants line Of decentralization on July
19, 1864.
The point selected for assault was
in the vicinity of an old country inn
called "The Yellow Tavern" +"
Gen. Johnston r ood, whose bri-
gade Of South Carolinians was assiged
to the right of the attacking force,
found that daylight had broken before
he could align his command.
It met with heavy fire Of artillery
and musletry and it faltered.
| AS merciful suggestion, no doubt:
prompted by the admiration for a
body of brave men, doomed otherwise
to certain slaughter, the union soldiers
called out to them to surrender, but
the call was unheeded.
At this deadly jucture mounted
officer was seen to emerge from the
sally port Of an earthwork at re-en-
tering angle of the line of intrench-
ments nearly opposite the center of
the brigade. He 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 shoulder straps Of the caring
union officer indicated that he was'a
captain of infantry. He was, appa-
rently, thirty years Of age, with no
BILE and handsome face, and tall, hero
ic form.
The color-bearer, seemingly dazed,
or perhaps paralyzed by the sublime ef-
frontery Of the demand, surrendered
the colors.
The flag was especially dear to the
regiment, for it had been presented
by the ladies of the district in which
| the regiment had been raiseed, and it
had been borne aloft with honor on
many battlegelds.
It was State flag, with the ans of
South Carolina upon it, and a,coun-
terpart Of that which the famous Pal
metto regiment in the Mexican war
had planted on the walls Of the capi-
tol Of Mexico, the first foreign
flag to wave there since the time of
/ CorteZ.
Gen. Hagood, who was distant
about seventy-fve yards, saw with
amazement the surrender of the flag.
He was on foot, his horse having been
shot from under him, and he came
forward on run to intercept the Of
fcer who was riding slowly along
the front of the regiment, obliquing
somewhat toward his own lines.
| Gen. Hagood, on coming up with
him, seized the bride Of the horse,
and, levelling his revolver at the cap
tain's breast, said to him, "Give me
that flag, sir'' s,
The answer was, "Who are your"
The general replied, 81 command
this brigade. I admire your bravery.
Give me that flag and you shall
return unmolested to your own lines. !"
The captain, who had furled the
flag, and was holding it upright with
the ferule staff resting on the pommel
of his saddle, responded: General,
you had better surrender to me your
self. Look behind youp1'
The general looked to the rear and
saw a large force had sailed from the
intrenchments on his left was moving
to cut off his retreat, all other COM
mands having retired from the fruit,
less assault.
Turning to the defiant captain, he
exclaimed: ''Once more, sir, will you
give me that Aag?"
The answer was in a loud voice,
"Never."
With the answer, Gen. Hagood
fred, and the officer fell, shot through
the breast. He still grasped the flag
staff, as he fell backward, and it was
wrested from his grasp. The general
tAen mounted the horse and ordered q
retreat, which was affected with
the loss of nearly one-half Of the bri-
gade.
The captured horse was killed or
the retreat by shot from the union
lines, and as he fell he kicked out hiE
heels and, as if to avenge his fallen
; master, struck DR.. Taylor, the
brigade surgeon, in the head, inaictinl
a wound from the effects of which he
never recovered.
Often within the lines Of Peters
burg, around many campfire, con
federate soldiers discussed the strange
incident of the flag surrender at Vel
low Tavern. How it was that such {
famous regiment should have allowed
its flag to be surrendered in battle to q
force consisting of but one man, was
most puzzling.
The occult power of hypnotisn
might have furnished a solu
tion, but it was then unheare
of, and is still unknown to the arts oi
war.
All agreed, however, that no brave,
deed was ever done than that Of thu
Yankee Captain who fell, still graspinI
that flag.
} Sixteen years later Gen. Hagoot
was the honored chief magistrate O.
South Carolina. The writer was cir
cult judge, holding court in Columbia
and called on the governor at thecapi
tol to pay his respects.
"You recollect that federal office
that was obliged to shoot in the bat
tie of Yellow Tavern, to recover tn
hag?" he asked. ''Well, thank hea
ven, I did not kill him. He is still
living. Here is letter that hav'
just received from him. Please reat
it,"
The following is copy:
Council BLUFFS, "a, Dec. S, 1880
Gen. Johnston Hagood, Columbia, S
General: If I am correctly in
formed, you are the confederate Office
who shot me in the right breastin the
battle of Yellow Tavern. This wounc