St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-08-30
SrIrrtrn Sturu.
A TALE OF THE WAR.

closing around Petersburg like a
shroud Of iron, when General Lee re-
solved to break and drive them back
if possible To that enc he ordered
an attack in force to be made on
General Grants line of circum valla
ton 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 dav, the time most favorable for
surprise, when deep sleep talleth on
man" 1t was the experience, how
ever, of ma ~ Confederate officers
charged with duty ofattacking in the
gray of the morning, that it was
difficult 10 bring their troops into
line a that early hour. Although
they were generally but in the girls
tie and not yet hardened into the
bone of manhood" they were in one
sense, at least, not OF the rising gen
Grafton.
Hence it was that General John
ston Hagood, whose brigade Of
South Carollnians was assigned to
the right of the attacking force, found
that daylight had broken before
he could align his command. Cen
eral Hagood was as true 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 entertainments, he or
dered it to advance to the assault.
1t had to cross a space of about $50
yards in width which had an undu-
lating surface, and the broken nature
of the ground afforded some shelter
until it debouched upon a level high
way, within 70 yards of the works.
1t then met with a terrible fire of
artillery and rifles, but 1t was COM
posed of seasoned veterans, and it
never faltered Where the dead fell,
the living slept: and their levelled
bayOnets soon spanked within 20
feet of the line Of intrenchments
There the brigade came to an invOl-
untary halt, for before it lay a wide
deep ditch, half full of water, which
they had no mean of crossing. I'm
able to advance, and yet unwilling
to retreat without orders, every sol
dier delivered his hopeless fire with
the energy of despair.
As a merCiful suggestion, no doubt
prompted by admiration for a
body of brave men, doomed other
wise to certain slaughter, the Union
soldiers called out to them to sur
render; but the call was unheeded.
At that deadly Juncture mounted
officer was seen to emerge from the
sailv-pOrt OF an earth work at q re-
entering angle ofthe line of intrench-
ments, nearly opposite to the centre
of the brigade. He galloped up to
the color-bearer of the South Caro-
lima 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 indicated
that he was a captain of infantry.
He was, apparently, about 80 years
of age, with a noble and handsome
face, and tall, heroic form.
The color sergeant, seeming V daz-
ed, or perhaps paralyzed by the sub
lime effrontery of the demand, sur
rendered 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 was raised, and it had
been borne alOft with honor in many
battlehelds. 1t was a state flag,
with the arm of South Carolina
upon it, and a counterpart of that
which the famous Palmetto regi-
ment in the Mexican war had plant
ed on the walls Of the capital of Mex
leo, the first foreign flag to wave
there since the time Of COrtez. That
it should have been delivered up to a
single fOeman when there were a
thousand men-all veteran soldiers
to defend it, and the thrust of bay
onet or the pulling of a trigger could
have disposed OF him, was past all
understanding. | have thought
that, perhaps, being sorely perplexed
with their comrades falling fast all
round them, 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 fir
ing. At any rate they lost their
heads for the nOnCe.
Not so, however, was 1t with Cen
eral Hagood, who was distant about
rs wards, and saw with amazement
the surrender of the flag. He was
on foot, his horse having been shot |
under him, and he came forward on
run to intercept the officer, who was
riding slowly along the front of
the regiment, obliquing somewhat
towards his own lines. General Ha-
good, on coming up with him, seized !
the bride of his horse, and leveling |
his cooked revolver at the captains
breast, said to him, Give me that
flag, sir'' The answer was, who |
are you?' The general replied, Il
command this brigade. l admire
your bravery. Give me the flag, and