The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-14
FLAG OF THE NINETEENTH
THRILLING STORY OF aN INDIANA
REGIMENT AT GETTYSBURG.
Color Bearers Earned DeathIess Glory
on That Terrible July Day
A Tale simply Told.

ISL OF July, 1913. Nhen we IOllOW the Ola
flags again at the dedication of the monu-
ment at Indianapolis we cannot forget
they mean TO us and to the world, and what
they cost. The Nineteenth Indiana, as part
of the First or Iron Brigade, First Divi-
sion, First Corps. was the advance pick
ct line of the infantry of the Army of the
Potomac on the night of June 80. 1853, at
Marsh creek, four miles from Gettysburg,
having marched from Fredericksburg, Va,
at the rate of thirty miles a day. After a
night on picket in a heavy rain, they ar
rived near Gettysburg about IL a. m. July i.
The brigade was deployed to the left of the
Emmettsburg road, and was soon engaged
with Archer's brigade of Heth's division
of A. P. Hills corps, which it drove down
to Wiloughby run. where it captured Cen
eral Archer, part of his staff and a large
part of his m Buffers brigade,
of the same division (Wadsworth's), was
heavily engaged on the right with a much
superior force. Although it held it's posi-
ton for a long time, it was several times
driven back through the grove and fields,
GOWN to the base of Seminary ridge.
1t lost heavily in killed and wounded in
these assaults. During these alternate ad-
vance and backward movements 1t lost at
one time 1900 prisoners, which were after
ward Tetaken, and captured of Davis's
Mississippi brigade 500 prisoners. After the
forenoon engagements the lines were re-
formed. In this formation the Nineteenth
Indiana was placed on the extreme left of
the First Corps and brigade, at the edge
of McPherson's grove, on the bank of Will
loughby run, where for three hours they
saw A. p. Hills corps being massed in
front of them in three lines of battle, get
ting ready for the attack. These lines ex-
tended as far as could be seen TO the left.
In the meantime the Eleventh Corps. under
General Howard, was being placed on the
right of the First Corps. In the afternoon
the rebels were reinforced with Rhodes's
and Ealey's division of Ewell's corps.
General Howard had seen that Cemetery
ridge was the key TO the position, so that
he early had division placed
there, with batteries of other commands.
The afternoons battle began with the rebel
force more than twice o~utnumbering the
First and Eleventh corps. The order 10
the Iron Brigade was TO hold McPher-
8 O'Clock, the whole rebel line moved for
ward across the fields, in perfect line.
A DAY OF SLAUGHTER.
Here was shown the sort of mettle of
which the members of the Nineteenth In
diana were made. After the days of hard
marching. the night on picket, the fore
Moons battle, the hours spent In watch
ing a tornado of shot and shell being pre-
pared for them, knowing that they were
really ~umb without support of
any kind on their left, they were told TO
stand. They held their fire until in close
range; then for one hour not a rebel got
across W~illoughby run and lived. They
held their ground until ordered back. They
were getting a heavy fire on the flank,
and must move or be annihilated or cap
tured. They fell back, fighting all the
way. Loading and deliberately firing, each
soldier at his man, they fell back to where
some other troops had made a barricade OF
a rail fence. They fought there until there
was not a rebel flag flying in front OF them.
From there they were ordered 70 Cemetery
hill. Burlington Cunningham, of Company
X, was color bearer, made such because
he rescued the flag in a charge at Ante
tam. In the morning, just before the
charge on Archer's brigade, a staff officer
rode by and said: DO not unfurl the flag
but when Cunningham saw the battle line
was forming he said: Abe, pull the Shuck,"
and swung the flag TO the breeze. In the
first volley a shower of bullets fell about
the colors and Cunningham fell. shot in
the left side, and lay unconscious for hours
where ne Tell. some one SAID, APE IA.
j. Bucklesl, drop your gun and take the
flag" the line then pushing forward and
capturing Archer's men. The line passed
Willoughby run some distance in this
charge. Buckles KEEP some distance ahead
or the line, waving the flag, Lieutenant
Colonel Dudley, in words quite emphatic,
said, Come back with that lag!' The
regiment was ordered back across the run.
There the men lay down until the afternoon
charge. In the meantime Cunningham had
recovered so much that he took the flag
again. He was supposed TO have been
killed. When the charge of the rebels was
made in the afternoon, at the
Attention" Cunningham stood up, but
was soon stricken down with a wound in
the right leg, and lay there until three
lines of rebels passed over him. About
this time Buckles was shot through the
shoulder and disabled. Patterson McKin-
ney was also wOunde while carrying the
flag. When the regiment was ordered to
fall back. some one said to Captain w. w.
Macy: The flag is down" He said: go
and get it," The reply, with an oath, was:
Il won't do it." Captain Macy then ran
back and pulled a man off of it and caught
up with the regiment. He was being as
sisted by Second Lieutenant Crockett East,
when Lieutenant East was shot dead, bear
ing the flag TO the earth. Captain Macy
was carrying the flag from the field when
Sergeant Major Asa Blanchard came up
Blanchard would act rashly. NO; there
have been enough men shot with it now"
Blanchard then appealed to the colonel,
who said TO Macy: Let him have it."
ONE OF OUR HEROES.
As soon as he received it he tied the
shuck around his body. unfurled the flag
and began waving it at the rebels, crying
Rally. boys!' At once he was shot in the
groin, an artery being cut. W. n. Jackson,
who was next to him, said the blood came
in a gush. He fell against a tree and said,
Don't stop for me; don't let them have the
flag. Tell mother l never faltered." Capt.
William H. Murray took the shuck off Of
Blanchard, sheated the flag again and was
going to carry il eff, knowing that TO do so
was almost certain death. Just then Burr
NJ. Clifford, of Company + Southport,
Ind, came up and took the flag. l was
acting as hospital steward at the Express
building in the town when DIR. Ebersole
said TO me, Henry, you had better go to-
wards the regiment" AS the Eleventh
Corps was being driven back and was
pouring through the streets | started run
ming in the direction that l had left the
regiment, almost in front of a line of battle
Of the rebels, until l came TO what / have
since learned was Washington street,
where l met what was the only organized
Union troops that l saw-a body of the
Sixth Wisconsin. Of our brigade. / found
back, so l followed them out of town, with
the rebels firing at US from each side street
and rear. When we arrived at Gene
terry ridge General WadswOrth was sitting
on his horse on the slope. Seeing Nine
teenth Indiana on my hat, he said: There
and the flag. When | came up 10 Clifford
he showed me the bullet holes In his cloth
ing and hat, but no flesh wound. The flag
staff was splintered and the mas punctured