The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-12
SOLDIERS BUDGET,
A Tale of the War.

force to be made on General Grants
line of decentralization on July 10, 1864.
The point selected for assault was
in the vicinity of an old country inn
called /" The Yellow Tavern"
The order was that the attack should
be made just before the dawn of day,
the time most favorable for surprise,
when deep sleep falleth on man"
1t was the experience, however, OF
many Confederate officers charged with
duty of attacking in the gray of the
morning that it was difficult to bring
their troops into line at that early hour.
Although they were generally " but in
the gristle and not yet hardened into
the bone of manhood" they were, in
one sense at least, not of the rising
generation.
Hence it was that General Johnston
Hagood, whose brigade of South Caro-
linians was assigned to the right of the
attacking force, found that daylight
had broken before he could align his
command. General Hagood was as
true a soldier as ever drew sword in
battle; to him the path of duty was the
path of honor; and although he saw
that his brigade was in plain view of
the Union troops, who had already
manned their amendments, he or
dered it to advance to the assault. 1t
had to cross a space of about $50 yards
in width which had an undulating sur
face, and the broken nature of the
ground afforded some shelter until it
debouched upon level highway, within
seventy yards of the works. 1t then
met with terrible fire of artillery and
rifles, but it was composed of seasoned
, veterans, and it never faltered. Where
the dead fell the living slept; and
their leveled bayonets soon sparkled
within twenty feet of the line of in
trenchments. There the brigade came
to an involuntary halt, for before it
lay wide deep ditch, half full of water,
which they had no means of crossing
Unable to advance, and yet unwilling
10 retreat without orders, every soldier
delivered his hopeless fire with the en-
ergy of despair. AS merciful sugges-
lion, no doubt prompted by admiration
tor body of brave men, doomed other
wise to certain slaughter, the Union
soldiers called out to them to surren-
der; but the call was UNDECIDED. AT
that deadly juncture a mounted officer
was seen TO emerge from the sallyport
of an earthwork at re-entering angle
of the line of intrenchments, nearly
opposite to 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 daring Union officer indi-
Gated that he was captain of infantry.
He was, apparently, about thirty years
of age, with noble and handsome
face, and tall, heroic form.
The cOlOr-sergeant, seemingly daz-
zled, or perhaps paralyzed by the SUBJ
lime effrontery of the demand, surren-
dered the colors. The flag was espe-
cially dear to the regiment, for it had
been presented by the ladies of the dis
trict in which the regiment was raised,
and it had been borne aloft with honor
in many battle fields. 1t was state
flag, with the arms of South Carolina
upon it, and counterpart of that which
the famous Palm etto regiment in the
Mexican war had planted on the walls
of the capital of Mexico, the first for.
eign flag to wave there since the time
of Cortez. That it shou have been
delivered up to a single foeman when
there were thousand men-all veteran
soldiers-to defend it, and the thrust OF
a bayonet or the pulling of trigger
could have disposed of him, was past all
understanding. | have thought that
perhaps, being sorely perplexed with
their comrades falling fast all round
hem, they may have thought at the
moment that the delivery of the flag
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 it with Gen era
Hagood, who was distant about seventy
five yards, and saw with amaze ment
the surrender of the flag. He was on
foot, his horse having been shot under
him, and he came forward on a run to
intercept the officer, who was riding
slowly along the front of the regi
ment, obliquing somewhat towards his
own lines. General Hagood, on COM
ing up with him, seized the bride OF
his horse, and leveling his cooked re,
volver at the captains breast, said to
him, Z" Give me that flag, sir!" The
answer was, "Who are your" The
general replied, " command this brig
AIDE. admire your bravery. Give me
the flag, and you shall return unmo'
Tested to your own line" The cap.
tain, who had furled the flag, and wa;
holding ii upright, with the ferule of
the staff resting on the pommel of his
saddle, responded: General, you had
better surrender to me yourself. Look
behind YOU" The general looked tC
the re- ar, and saw that large force
which had sailed from the intrench-
ments on his left was moving to cut of
his retreat, all other commands having
retired from the fruitess assault. Turn
ing to the defiant captain he exclaimed
Once more, sir, will you give up that
tiag?" The answer was in loud tone,
Never" With the answer General
Hagood fired, aud the officer fell, shot
through the breast. He still grasped
the flagstaff as he fell backward, and il
was wrested from his grasp. The gen.
eral then mounted the horse, and or.
dered retreat, which was effected with
the loss of nearly one-half of the brig
ade. The, captured horse was killed