The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-12

notism might have furnished a solu-
ton, but it was then unheard of, and
Is still unknown to the art of war. All
agreed, however, that no drawer deed
was ever done than that of the Yankee
captain who fell, still grasping that flag.
| was then captain of engineers in
the Confederate army. Sixteen years
later General Hagood was the honored
chief magistrate of the state of South
Caroline, a worthy successor OF many
illustrious Carolinians who had held
that high office. | was a circuit judge,
and holding court at Columbia, and
called on the governor at the capitol to
pay my respects, found him highly
elated and he said to me: " You recol-
lect that federal officer that | was
obliged to shoot in the battle of Yellow
Tavern TO recover the flag? Well, thank
heaven, did not kill him. He is still
living. Here is letter that | have just
received from him. Please read it,"
l read the letter with the deepest inter-
est, of which the following is a copy:
"CoUNc1L BLUFFS, Iowa,
December 4, 1880.
GENERAL JOHNSTON HAGooD,
" Columbia, S. G..
"General:-If | am correctly informed,
you are the Confederate officer who shot me
in the right breast, in the battle of Yellow
Tavern. The wound was inflicted to re-
cover from me regimental flag which had
been surrendered to me by one of your
color bearers. | had apparently recovered
entirely from it, but it has troubled me for
some time, and l now find myself obliged
to apply for a pension, AS | was within your
lines and out of sight of my comrades when
] was shot, l am obliged to request that you
| afh t. hat I t1,a.
wound in the line of my duty. You will do
me a great favor if you will make affidavit
stating the facts, and forward it to me.
Please state also that you have no interes t
in my claim.
4 am, General yours respectfully,
" Late Captain Fourth Iowa Volunteer
Infantry"
l am unable to state the entire con-
tents of the affidavit, but noted this
paragraph:
Captain Bailey received the wound de-
scribed while in the faithful discharge of
his duty as a soldier. His act was the
bravest that have ever known or read of
in military annals. Nor was it an act of
mere inconsiderate rashness, for, in my de-
liberate judgment, had / not interposed as
as | did, my entire brigade of veterans
might have surrendered to his single
arm"
In his letter enclosing the affidavit,
Governor Hagood extended to Captain
Bailey a most cordial invitation to visit
South Carolina as his guest. He as
sured him of almost sincere welcome,
and that he would be received by an
escort of many thousands of eX-CoDfed-
crate veterans, all now heartily loyal to
the United States. He stated, further
that the flag with which Captain Bal
ley's wound was so honorably associate ed
was still preserved, not as a hostile
symbol, but as souvenir of comrade-
ship, and that he would be pleased to
place it in his hands, and have him view
it in the midst of friendly surroundings
Captain Bailey made most soldierly
reply, expressing his grateful apprecia.
ton of the invitation so cordially ex-
tended to him to visit South Carolina
as the guest of the governor. He ex.
pressed his sincere regret, however
that the state of his health would not
permit him to make the journey at tina,
time, and stated that he hoped to do SC
at some future day, as it would afford
him the highest qualification to meet as
friends, in the walks Of peace, the brave
men whom he had met as foes in war
Had the good Whittier, that true Amer
lean poet, who ministered alike at the
high altar of patriotism and humanity
known of Captain Bailey's chivalriC
deed, he would surely have celebrate
it worthily in thrilling poem. 1t would
have confirmed the truth of his line
penned in tribute to another knightly
American:
Said I not that Bayards and sldneys still ar
herew
Capt Mackey,s IN McClure'S Magazine