The National tribune., 1901-02-14
GOOD WORK UNDER FIRE.
Who Saved the Flag of the 4eth N. Y. at
Spottsylvania, May ~, 1852

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l have
often been requested by comrades to re-
late my experience at Spottsylvania, Va,
on May IL, 1864. 1 will say that at .
o'clock a. m. we were all aroused and told
to put our cups into our haversacks. The
morning was very foggy, and when our
dear old Colonel, Tommy w. Eagan, gave
the order, Attention, 10th; fix bayonets,
we all knew that something was coming.
Charge, bayonets; double-Quick," and up
a hill we went Tiny brother and L with our
regiment aud across field.
AT that time the fog was lifting, and L
beheld a sight that l shall never forget.
Our regiment was at the angle, and we
had captured four pieces of artillery.
Serg't Santmyer, of our company, called
to some of his comrades to load the cannon
while he thumbed the vent. We gave the
rebs a few shots, when Santmyer was shot
III the breast. Capt. StreIght, of our COM
pany, called to the men to go forward to
the other breastwOrks, and as | looked to
the right | saw our men and the rebels
hghting hand-to-hand. But the rebs soon
retreatcd to the second line of their works.
At this time | heard our Captain say:
Here comes the colors. Rally around
them, boys"
As looked to the left | saw Jim Nc
Coy coming on 4 double-quick with our
regImental flag. Jim was worked up to Il
high pitch of excitement, and / never saw
HIM look so well. On he went until he got
within hundred feet of the breastworks.
My brother was about 20 feet ahead of
jim. Valentine Monk was just back of
Jim, and L was about 80 feet back of my
brother.
At this time a rebel jumped over the
-ka a
been shot in the right shoulder and had
dropped the flag. At this time that rebel
soldier was within 80 feet of the flag, and
Monk was kneeling down and had the flag
staff in his hand. | heard my brother say:
Fire, 4Uth," and few of us fired, and the
reb fell. Just then | heard some one say
Fire. and the whole rebel line fired.
Then over the breastworks they came, and
we retreated i'll good order to the first line
of works. | met Monk with our flag. He
told me that we had shot the rebel, and
this was the proudest day of his life.
But poor Monk, he did not live long to
carry the flag he loved 50 well, for in the
next battle, few days later, he was shot
dead, and when they tried 10 get the flag
staff out of his hands they had to tak
bayonets to loosen his fingers from the
staff | helped to bury him, and | can
assure you, my comrades, that | saw many
a tear run down the old veterans cheeks
at this time.
Lieut.-Uol. A. J. Warner asked me
where | thought my brother wasf | told
him did not know, but hoped that he was
alive. He said: You boys saved our
flag and deserve to be promoted" He
would speak to Gen. ID. b. Birney about it.
And now comes the strangest part Of
this. A few years ago | met man in San
Francisco, who said to me:
Il see that you wear the G. a. r. but
ton" Yes" | said. II have right to
wear it." He said he was on the other
side. | asked.
Where were you on May u, 1862"
81 was fighting the fellows who wore
the Red Diamond in Hancocks Corps. By
the way, let me relate what | saw there,
but before | commence l want to ask you
did you have a brother taken prisoner
there, who was shot in the neck? You re-
sembie the man | think Of"
l told him YES" and he told me the
story just as have told it, and he said the
soldier was shot in three places. My
brother was sent to Andersonville, Ga,
where he stayed II months, and returned
home a wrecks. A. PARKER, Co. a,
10th n. Y, Oakdale, Cal.