The National tribune., 1902-12-04
diers needed the call of their commander,
and the enemys position was quickly car

of war was the flag of his country dishon
nred or triuEphcd over by his captOrs. II
gave an added panS of sorrow to soldier
prisoner. as he entered Libby Prison, to
see in the commandant's office the Ameri.
can flag displayed on the wall Union
down" And there was no sight that gave
sue. ;;ladnesS to Il released prisoners eyes
as tie dear old Stars and Stripes on the
i.ag-oftrnce boat at City Point. as he
came from the Confederate boat floating
the Stars and Bars. A soldier Oh duty oil.
the Federal exchange boat. the New York.
said that he had seen many released pris-
oncr drop on his knees. as he came once
more under the Stars and Stripes, and
thank God that again lie could see that
tiug flying triumpEantly.
| SOUTHERN LOVE FOR THE OLD FLAG.
In Il demonstration against Richmond, in
Injunction with Il reconnaissance i'll force
| from another direction, during the later
months of Ike war, 8; portion of the home
guard of the Confederate capital was or
ticred ont to repel the minor attack. a
| member of this home guard was wounded
and fell into orr hands. AS | stopped over
him to inquire into his condition. he told
NE that he was Union man and that he
lad never been in Il fight until this occa-
sion, when lie was forced out of the city
to meet our advance. Yet even then he
had not fired Il shot against our lines. lie
asked ne TO take his wallet from his
pocket and open it. rs his wounded right
arm prevented his doing so. In one of the
inner fold. Of that wallet | found Il tiny
United States flag printed i'll colors. to-
.ather with certificates from a well known
Union man of Richmond, vouching for the
trust wortiriness of the bearer. The poor
fellow seemed to think it hard that he was
4 wounded prisoner III our lines, wEen he
bore or his person Il cGIE OF the Old flag
as his treasure and hisotaiismaI. Eut it
had It's influence in seQNein2 for him spc-
ciai favor rs Il Union man and a lover Of
the Stars and Stripes. abr
There werc many slIcbGnatances of love
for the old flag on tiidJrSouthern side of
the dividing line in war time. Even
among those who fought under the Stars
and Bars there was not wholly lacking Il
recognition Of the superiority of the Stars
and Stripes with their patriotic and i'll
suiring History and associations as a ma
tionai fa. As talkslGwith n group of
Confederate soldiers. while waiting mt a
railway station in South Carolina on my
way from Columbia to fsshmord rs Il pris-
orer of war, | was asES,l hy ore why we
made such IL fuss over bur flag. as if that
were the only thing worth having or fight
ing for. BeforcI cosilIa rerlg. another
Confederate spok2Gni' warmly us if ont Of
the memories of the Mexican War or other
national service: - Ia
"Oh. well, as to that. the Stars and
Stripes Gre just the saucicst rag TO fight
under that ever WAS swung on = battle
field. and ] dol't wonder they like that
flag
Any old soldier OF or side of the lines
could say Amen" 10 that sentiment.
9THE CoLoRs BEFORE FORT GREGG.
In tie final attack on Petersburg, which
resulted in its capture and the breaking of
the Confederate defeDscs. never to be re-
established. oGr brigade was assigned to
assault Fort Gregg one Gf the star forts ON
the strong inner line of works. That sue
ccssful assault was one of the severcst and
most gallant actions of the closing scenes
of the war. And in this assault the devo-
ton of soldiers to their flag bore a CON
sp:cuous part.
1t was impossible to keep up an rn-
broken line in crossing the fre-swept plain
of death. but the orders were for every
man to make, at any cost, for that fort
and for all to rally Oh the face of its en-
bankment. The colors were, Of course, to
he the rallying point, and to get those col
oTs there was the duty and the pride of
their devoted bearers and guard. At the
word our men started on the run. Both the
National ard the State flags were in the
race: but they were Il special target for
tie enemy, as well as an object of devoted
interest to our men. Officers and men
dropped by the way. but others pushed on
and the cOlors were quickly taken up by
new bearers as often as they went down.
A Color Sergeant bearing our State flag
| had dropped Just before this charge was
ordered Corporal Norti1rop took the col
or. in his place. He fell wounded before
the ditch was reached. Corporal Phillips
| and Corporal Parmalee of the Color Guard
caught at the falling flag in the storm Of
grape and bullets, saying cheerly:
Lets take hold of it together and run
for the fort. Maybe one of us will get
| there"
Both of them got there. Through the
ditch. up the slope toward the parapct.
they carried the blue flag of Connecticut.
1t was the first flag on the fort. There
they held il up as a rallying point for the
irregular beseging line struggling across
the death-swept plain. Corporal Dutton,
foothold on the slope, caught at the hand
Of one Of tie Color Guard, even in the ex-
citement OF battle and called out joyously:
| "Oh! I'm so proud to see that flag the
| first here
Springing then to his work, he fell Sc
vcrely wounded, and could have no further
part in the fight, excePtito call inspirinGly
| thing through. Yet part he did faith
fully to the end. Corporal Phillips was
barely 10 at that time,.Set he had been al
ready three years in service. AS he held
up that flag above tltqparapet, his life
was nothing to him in ils comparison; YET
it was Il life well wortb9ifving. Reporting
his service afterward I'D his commander.
he said drily: o92
II worried EN- with the flag. I'd shake
it in their faces. and, when they'd grab it.
| Parmalee would shoot EN-"
| Victory was fnallyi2W0n only by bay
Onet and mnsket butt ,fTKat State flag had
never been in fight before. 1t was newly
presented to the regiment, the old one be-
! ing worn out in. prolonged service. Yet
that new flag had rs bullet holes in it, and
| three more in its staff. at the close of the
fight. Only soldiers who have watched
and defended flag in the hours of battle
can realize how much that flag was to
those who gave their lives for it, or who
were ready to die.
This feeling of love for the flag as the
visible symbol of our c0untry's unity and
Government, which increased in intensity
| AID dominance as the war went on, was
prominent with United States soldiers
when the war broke out When, in April.
| 1861, the few officers and men of the
| Regular Army then stationed at San An
| tonic, Texas, were taken prisoners by Co
Van Dorm, of the Southern army, the feet
| ing OF patriotism demanded of the soldiers
| that the SecessiOnists should not have pos
| session of the National coiOrs. At the
| timely suggestion of Lieut.. HartZ, Sergt-
Maj. Joseph X. Wilson and CorpI John G.
| HesSe of the Sth Inf determined to con-