The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-07-17
which took place Immediately proceed
ing the fall of Richmond.

which took place Immediately proceed
ing the fall of Richmond.
A handsome representation of the
stars and bars, which is one of the best
preserved in the collection, and but lit
tie torn by missiles, is the flag of the
Eleventh Alabama, taken in battle at
Willis Church. Va, June 80, 1862. A
part of the Pennsylvania Reserve corps,
commanded by Col. L. Magilton, made
n fierce charge against the confederate
lines, pushing back tho opposing
forces to the main body and then ma
%neuvering preparatory to the advance
into Maryland, which was followed by
the battle of Antietam. During the
charge a hand-to-hand conflict in the
center of the line of battle resulted in
the taking of the Alabama regiments
colors by Private Springer, of the
Fourth Pennsylvania, and a short time
atterward the prize was sent to Wash
ington.
The history of the capture of each
flag brings out the story of some deed
of heroism on the part of the captor,
For example, the Louisiana Tigers"
were famous confederate fighters, and
the Thirteenth Louisiana infantry was
in that fighting brigade. On May IL,
1864, in the vicinity of Spottsylvania
Courthouse, Virginia, the Thirteenth
Louisiana came into deadly contact
with Birney's division of the Second
corps. In the long charges and coun-
ter-charges which ensued among the
briars and underbrush, Sergt. William
Jones, of the Se~venty-third New York,
and Corp. Reynolds, of the Fourth Elk.
celsior regiment, managed to secure
their enemy's tatteFed forerunner, but
one of the captors, Sergt. Jones, fell
pierced by a dozen balls before he could
realize what wa gained. The embleR
is well-nigh in shreds, and it's streaming
pieces are in keeping witt the ugly bat
tie ground where it's capture was eff.
fected.
Another relic of the hand-to-hand
fight which ragged for hours May Ia
1864, is the standard which the mem.
bers of the First North Carolina fol.
lowed into battle early on that day,
Before the contest was an hour old the
Second corps of Grants forces was or.
dered to charge. This time a private
of a Keystone state regiment distin.
guished himself when g. w. Harris, OF
the One Hundred and Forty-eighth
Pennsylvania broke the hold of the con.
federate color guard and bore his prize
out OF reach. Unlike it's mate, taken
from the Thirteenth Louisiana, the
North Carolina flag is Unfair condition
There is not a flag in the collection
which does not bear a memory of the
shedding of blood. The flags were de.
Tended bravely, even to desperation
They were captured by brave men OF
the same race of people. The history
discloses the fact that even after cap.
turing the flags many a federal sol
der yielded up his life.
A flag with ar interesting history II
one belonging to a South Carolina reg
iment. which the Palmetto soldier.
lost at Antietam. September17,1s62 The
number of the regiment, and its corps
or division are not inscribed upon tn,
banner, and consequently are unknown
but it was opposed to the Thirty-nintI
View York in the struggle, which mad,
an unhealthy locality in the neighbor
hood of the 'stone wall" as Private
Hare, who was killed in the same battle
was the man who captured the bullet
SCARED trophy.
What became of the stars and stripe.
which were captured on numerous bat
tlefields by brave confederate soldiers
They are not on exhibition. When til,
civil war ended the union was pre-
served, and all federal flags captures
were given back to the federal troops
Ultimately through the war depart
ment, they were returned to the regi
ments which had lost them.
1t is not to be presumed that, durins
the present generation, the confede
rate flags will be returned to their sew
eral states, if ever. Only those whC
followed those flags win retaiu uene
ration for them. The next generation
will know but one flag. the stars anC
stripes. They are not likely to wish K
; possess the tattered remnants of tn,
! colors which were borne against the ma
ton SMITH D. FRY.