Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-11-18
COLOR BEARER AT SHILOH.

.t"War "Reminiscences BIZ Jutisce
Jarvis Blumc, formerly of the Sc
ond Kentucky volunteer infantry.)
After the terrible battle (of Shi-
loh)was over and The bloody results
estimated, one of those who were
missing WIS the color sergeant oil
the brigade, G orge Berz, of the
First Kentucky regiment. He was
tall, splendidly built young man
with q resolute countenanae, piercing
dark eyes--a magnificent specimen
Of physical manhood. He was q
German by birth. The tall form Of
Sergt. Berz was at all times pic
turesque figure on the march, in tue
camp. or amid the smoke oil battle;
and by reason OF his prominence as
the color bearer, be was, of course,
a conspicuous object in the center
Of the line.
In about the frs. onslaught by the
confederates on our lines George
Beiz sell wounded, as has since been
as certaiDed, in five pluces. A por-
ton OF his right foot was shot away;
he was wounded il the right wrist;
he was shot entirely through the
left breart just above the heart tlit-
orally pierced Though aud through
and shot in tie calf OF the leg. with
these friehtful wounds on his person
he fell and in the confusion of battle
was IS it was reported at the time,
left for dead on the field.
His conduct at all times prior to
this battle was manly and coura-
geous in the face of danger, and it
was common talk among the leaders
of the division who referred proudly
to the heroic gallantry of the color
sergeant.
| shared the belief with many in
my regiment that he never survived
the battle of Shiloh, an3 strange as
it may seem, for over two years
thereafterward, after muster out and
% subsequent years, never knew
that George Berz had survived the
battle and was in the land of the liv-
Ing. But such..was the fact. This
] learned by very curious acciden-
tai conversation as late al. the year
1890. Ab,ut this time, while casu-
ally conyersing with gentleman in
Chicago, several persons standing
about and listening to US, l was ask
ed if had been in the service. /
replied:
why yes, was all through the
war;" When asked what regiment /
belonged to, / replied: "The Second
Kentucky volunteer infantry, of
Gen. Nelson's division" With
manifest show of excitement this
man ssid:
"My God. is that so? The Sec
ond Kentucky infantry? Why I
belonged to the First Kentucky and
was with you at Shiloh"
looked him over increduously,
and like fash of lightning, it came
to my mind that the speaker was
George Berz, whom / had known for
a number of years in Chicx go as
prominent politician and at that
time the postmaster of West Chica
go, with whom I came almost with.
in daily contact for a number Of
years, was the identical person and
none other than the heroic color SER
geant whom l certainly believed we
had left dead on.the battle field. 1t
is needless TO say that we had an
animated conversation on the Sub
ject, and expressed my Underwent
that | had not before discovered
and had all these years been igno.
rant of the fact that he was the iden.
tical man whom | had supposed to
be buried in the field of Shiloh.
1t seems that after the battle
Belz was removed to hospital and
for many months lowered 9 ween
life and death and never rejoined his
regiment and, although wounded
desperately and somewhat crippled,
he again enlisted under another com
mand and followed the fortunes of
the war TO the end.
To me it seems almost like a
dream 80 have encountered him al
ter so many ,ta's, and | never see
him but what istir ctively grasp
him by the b nd and wish that /
we're commissioner If pensions and
could adjust the claims which he has
against government hat i all too
slow in recognizing his merits. So
it is; the old soldiers are scattered to
the four winds many of them Grip
pied, in l-health broken down and
prematurely old.-Ch4cago Later
Ocean.
DIR. Miles Nervine not only cures