Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-06-10
BORE HIS PRIZE OUT OF REACH.

- g.
BORE HIS PRIZE OUT OF REACH.
which took place Immediately preced-
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 30, 1862. A
part of the Pennsylvania Reserve corps,
commanded by Col. L. Magilton. made
fierce charge against the confederate
lines, pushing back the 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 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 short time
afterward 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
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 Seventy-third New York,
and Corp. Reynolds, of the Fourth Elk
celsior regiment, managed to secure
their enemy's tattered forerunner, but
one of the captors, Sergt. Jones, fell
pierced by dozen balls before he could
realize what was gained. The emblem
is well-nigh in shreds, and it's streaming
pieces are in keeping will 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 IL,
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 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 in fair condition.
There is not 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 federal sol
der yielded up his life.
A flag with an interesting history is
one belonging to South Carolina reg
iment, which the palmetto" soldiers
lost at Antietam, September IL 1852. The
number of the regiment and its corps
or division are not inscribed upon the
banner, and consequently are unknown,
but it was opposed to the Thirty-ninth
View York in the struggle, Witch made
an unhealthy locality in the neighbour
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 stripes
which were captured on numerous bat
tlefields by brave confederate soldiers?
They are not on exhibition. When the
civil war ended the union was pre-
served, and all federal flags captured
were given back to the federal troops.
Ultimately through the war depart
nent, they were returned to the regi-
ments which had lost them.
1t is not to be presumed that, during
the present generation, the confede-
rate flags will be returned to their sew
eral states. If ever. Only those who
followed those flags will retain vene-
ration for them. The next generation
will know but one flag. the stars and
stripes. They are not likely to wish to
possess the tattered rempants of the
colors which were borne against the M
ton. SMITH d. FRY.