The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-03
A Federal Soldier Wishes to
Return q Flag.
TAKEN AT BENTONVlLLE
BELONGED TO THE FORTIETH
NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT.
HE WANTS NAME OF AN OFFICER
1t Was Captured by MIR. Mazye, of
EImira, New York, and Another
Union Soldier MIR. MazYe
Now Has Ii,
Now Has 1t.

The old feeling between the North and
South is dying out Time is healing the
sears, those who took part in that mem
orable contest are passing away and
with the lengthening years better spirit
is coming-the sullenness ON the one side
and the despair on the other is giving
place to frankness and sincerity, goodwill
and friendship.
Now and then a trophy of war, which
has been kept these thirty years to gloat
over and point to in telling of victories
won, is sent back to the North or brought
back to the South and delivered into the
hands of its rightful owner. These
pleasant incidents grow more frequent
with the years. In the State library
there are now number of flags that have
found their way back in recent years
one last year.
Soon no doubt there will be others
there. Yesterday Mayor Russ received
the following letter, which explains itself,
from Elmira, n. Y:
Dear Sir:-If any member of the
Fortieth North Carolina Infantry Con
Federated is living around your city, /
would like to communicate with him or
the color-bearer, in the battle of Ben
tonville, where the flag was captured by
two Yankee boys. We are both alive and
know where the flag is.
Yours truly,
G. II. SMAYZE.
Care of Lehigh Valley Railroad, Elmi-
IA, n. Y.
The companies of the Fortieth regiment
were composed of men from the eastern
counties Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson, Pitt,
Beaufort, Lenoir, Baden and others They
were all of heavy artillery, and, with
the exception of some service by company
\ at Fort Hatteras, were stationed, I'M
til the fall of Wilmington. at the forts
near the mouth of the Cape Fear They
were spectators of the scene when Fort
Fisher was beseiged, but looked on from
the distance separating Smithville and
Fort Holmes from Federal Point. Their
only chance for bloodshed was in the
short interval that preceded the capture of
Fisher and the surrender at Greensboro.
This included the battle of Bentonville
Their losses were never reported. John
j. Hedrick, Of New Hanover, was colonel
of the regiment George TAFT, of Bladen,
lieutenant, and William b. Rodman, of
Beaufort, major.
Though the Fortietl was an artillery
regiment, and had been operating on the
coast, it had in this battle been turned
into infantry and was so known. 1t be-
longed to Gen. II. f. Hoke's division,
from the department of North Carolina,
commanded by Gen. BraXton Bragg. 1t
was. during the battle of Bentonville, in
Clingman's brigade. and after being con-
solidated with tie Thirty-sixth North
Carolina regiment was commanded by
Maj. William .. Holland, of Lenoir
county.
In this fight, which occurred March
19-21. 1865, Hoke's division lost 81 kill
ed; 475 wounded, and 202 missing OF
these Clingman's brigade, of which the
Fortieth regiment was a part, had 3 kill
ed: 36 wounded, missing
4 year ago "a monument was erected on
this battlefield to the memory of the
Confederate soldiers who persisted in the
fight