The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-29
.BRAVEST
SOLDIER
"A Correspondent Gives His op'n-
4 ion on This Subject, on Which
People Differ Widely.
MEMBER OF nth VIRGINIA
"A Bold and Adventurous Color
observation-disclosures and Re
!. miniscences War lS6l-'65.
,dftor Of The Times-Dispatch:

EDITOR Of The Times Dispatch:
s,r BEING in company with number
at old Confederates few days ago. the
question was asked me VINO thought
y was the bravest soldier in my regiment
or brigade was q member OF mat
famous old brigade under Generals JOS
3 Johnston, onLgstreet, Cratk, Ewell, A.
=. Hill, kerper and William r. Terry
4. n brigade that was never known to tal'
ter and never failed to DO whatever y
was ordered to do.
II was q difficult question tor me TO
answer, bu, after a few minutes ran
So cking OF my memory. bethought my
y self of the color. bearer of the Eleventh
Virginia Infantry, and herewith give
my reasons for thinking So
A PROMISE MADE.
In 1861 while we were encamped at
centerviile, that color sergeant was en-.
trusted with ule honor OF carrying and
defending our starry Southcrj cross. IN
q neat little speech made by our gallant
Colonel. Samuel Garland. the fiag was
delivered to the color bearer who 10
pliet to the colonel In words that told
that he fully appreciated the response.
bilitt' and homo. conferred on MIN. IN
conc,usion. he said:
"Colonel and comrades OF the Eleventh
Virginia. win never surrender this
flag so long as have streng>-. to hold
end defend It"
Some of US thought that ne was only
talking pretty talk" back at the colonel,
but see how far right we were IN our
view.
AT WILLIAMSBURG.
The sergeant was wounded while carry
kt,z frNS Of MI G.
burg on the 9Th OF May, 1S62-a musket
ball striking him In the side was de-
Elected by gun screw driver Into his
left vest pocket.
This shot tore away good sized piece
OF flesh from his hip and cracked one
Of his ribs. He then turned his colors
over to one OF thu color guard. and. not
march from Williamsburg to Seven
pines he followed on with the regiment.
Though sore and lame his wound I'M
healed, and being under the surgeon
when the Seven Pines fight came on, h
took his coors and led the regiment Into
that bloody battle until he was sho
through tho .Ught shoulder, He was
sent to Richmond whar., he had the good
fortune to fall into tho hands OF q
Major Archer. who took him to his
house and had him kindly and properly
attended to by his family.
MAJOR ARCHER
@ PHYSICIANS got him "a wounded fur
Tough and sent him home to his family
IN Ftnca stle and we old Confeds al
eaid God bless Major Archer"
The sergeant returned to his command
some time before the Second Battle o
Manassas, He went into that fight. an
IA IN a very short time he was agai1
wounded, and again he turned his color
over to one OF his guard.
H,e did not go to tho hospital but FOL
lowed on after his command through a.
the terrible march to Gettysburg, an
though not entirely fitted for duty. n
III took his colors and led his regiment II
d that awful charge,
SHOT AT GETTYSBURG,
When within fifty steps OF the enemy
works he was knocked down and mad
almost insane by the conclusion from
cannon bali and was thought to b
Killed He however. in some way. e
off the field and wandered back to IN
rear When again stra!shtened up h
returned to his duty. and from then
y 10 Five Oaks or Five Forks he was
every engagement with his regiment. re
ceiv1ng three more wounds from ba
n and shell,
Il Al Five Oaks he proved that no was NJ
'raIking nrstty talk ba OK to tho colona
Surrounded bv the Anemyt nesry all
his division Killed wounded or capture
he was ordered 10 give up his flag, ::
refuesd 10 DO so. saving: ~ promised n
colonsl that would not surrender II
flag so long as had strength to no
It," He was shot down, and In fallin
threw his flag over his shoulder thin
Ing that nossihly one OF the boy, Won
get 4, and get away with H. undt
gland that one OF rho regiment caNE
this flag, and tearing It from the sta
~ did get Oft with It,
66 ENEMY's PRAISE.
The Yankee nfrcer IN command @
a dersd our calor-be>rer to be ,aksn hs
10 the hospital fsying he was too bra
"a and cor,sctent!ous n man to be left wi
there. He WAS shot through the r'e
leg. the hall lodging IN his left. wht
he VIM carry It iii order.sd 70 zero
over tire river"
re was sent to Point Lookout, al
5E being commissioned officer, he was frc
az three sent to Johnnon Island He "
M exchanged on the 18th of June, 1865. q
returned TO his herne,
# Now on this record 7 think am p'
fect)y Justified IN saying that Mar
van Buren, FLrkok was the bravest a
~ most conxc1 sntious soldier that ] KIN
In the Confsd,rate army
He Is still LIVING. At the age OF six
seven year. beloved and respected
al OF his Rctetourt county neishbor'
ChrisHsnsburg. Va. ]. n
(Now II would he In order for sol
other friends OF oars to tell US OF
WE s..uxut x,sn uho eaIrn6 within the ran