Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-03-02
AT BLOODY ANGLE.
How Sergeant Fasnacht Captured a
Rebel Flag.


The story of how Sergt Fasnacht cap
| tured a rebel flag at the Bloody Angle
is one of the most exciting episodes of
the Civil war. The affair look place
while the advance force Of the Union
army was moving through the wilder
| ness towards Richmond. Fasnacht was
sergeant in Co \ of the Ninety-ninth
and here is the exploit as related by Carl
Hoyey III The Medal of Honor" series
i'll Every body'S Magazine:
There was commotion; rihemen
showed their heads and doubled their fire;
Confederate flag was flung up high
above all. The sight of this flag in an
instant made another man of Sergt. FaS-
nacht In his minds eye he saw himself
the captor of the rebel flag. The idea
flashed upon him all in one confused mo-
ment. and then took shape in Il definite
determination. But as he ran round the
bright of his company and sprang ahead
or the men, he appeared only one among
a mad group who We're rushing straight
at an inyincible earth-wall which had
promised their destruction.
The Wail doled ont destruction to the
lines of soldiers. one by one. Behind this
was ditch filled with water, and from
the opposite side of the ditch rose the
earthworkS, with the men in dirty gray
dIscharglng their bayoneted muSkets in
rain and smoke-and the flag waving
over all. The few men that were ahead
were caught fast in the first entangle-
ment; but as they faltered. struggling
the mass of the lime crashed heavily
against their backs and pushed them
through into the ditch. Fasnacht felt
himself hurled forward had struck down
the soldier directly in front of him with
the butt of his musket- and found him
self standing on top of the earth mound
The flag was only a few feet away. He
rushed ut the cOlorbeWrG Il tall man
who WAS holding the flag high: with out
stretched arm he yelled to him to surren-
der
a section of the fighting came between
them. The man with the e-9lgrS and the
soldiers rbout him dropped inside the de-
fences and ran off toward some woods
Before Fasnacht could follow the smoke
and fog had hidden them Intent upon
fgIS business of the day, the sergeant
avoided the bloody cOnfusiou bere and set
off alone toward the woods. Rea soning
THAT as there was an open gap ON the
right of he Union battle-line. the color
bearer w0Ild try 10 escape on that side.
Although he could see nothing but the
glEstening trunks of trees. he felt SURE
the flag would not escape him. and SO
continued for perhaps Il hundred and fifty
pushing slSide briary shrubs breathie,s>iy
going on. Then appeared in front of him
through an arch of the trees the color
bearer carrying his flag. Five or six
men. his C0lOf-guard, were luSt benlHd
him. Fasnacht threw his nrusket To his
shoulder. pressing his finger against the
trigger. The gun was not loaded. The
other saw him.
. Surrender" painted Sergt. FaSnacht
"The tall man said: Don't shoot. I
surrender. The men with him made no
motion to FIRE Doubtless their gums were
not leaSsed. The tall man reached ont
the flag an it's stick, which the sergeant.
still keeping his Formidable mu>ket
cooked. let fall at his feet. He told the
men OF the colorguard TO drop their
arms. and they did so.
. Get tn the rear cGhfinHed he in a
cool fashion: and as soon as the Confed
crates bad passed round him and ,lisap-
peared he turned his attention tn the
captured prize. 1t was old with service
inscribed with the names and battles and
the title of the regiment Second Louis
lana Tigers. The sergeant srlnnea in his
good humor. He was delighted with him.
self at that moment. Standing on the
staff he ripped the ifag off and stuffed II
away under his loose blouse
4" 'You had better let me have that.
somebody said behind him. Turning with
a Jerk he saw the colonel of his regiment
some distance away. and. farther off,
some of his comrades coming through the
woods. He stared at the mounted officer
with a serious. gloomy face. and. rs if the
movement were mechanical, continued to
crowd the flag into his bosom.
Keep it said the colonel. with a
laugh