The National tribune., 1903-07-16

rear. looking for the supporting lines of
troops. None appearing. l said to myself.
half aloud. Il can't take these works
alone" Turning about, looking for the
flag, l sprang swiftly down the path,
picking my way among PROSTATE bodies.
Not seeing the object of my search, the
thought occurred to me: If / do not
wish to be shot in the back. 1 must face
about Again, the flag was supreme in
my mind. Peering about, searching for
it once more. between bodies and brush.
found myself partly on the outstretched
legs Of two or three men. One Of them
murmured painfully: You are hurting
me; can't you move back n little?' As
1 raised myself ball tore through my
shoulders and cartridge belt. Scanning
the ground to my left and rear l saw the
precious flag little northeast Of me. lying
diagonally across the path, on higher
ground with its head toward the enemy
on the southeast. Could | venture TO it
in face of the sharpshooters, whom
Pea Ridge is written on that flag" The
rebels shall not have it. Hugging the
ground, l crawled back and up to il, per-
haps six or eight feet. A bullet struck
the staff the moment l touched it. When
| attempted to remove the flag, something
seemed to be 1lding it. l dared not lift
my head to see. Making another effort
l secured the flag, which had been held
probably BY brush or stump. / dragged
it and myself down the slope TO the west.
Hugging it affectionately, kept the spear
toward the foe. Elson. the Color Ser
geant, was lying five or six feet west of
me, on lower ground. In the hearing of
others, / said to him: 1T will not do to
keep the flag here. The Johnnies will
come out and get it when the sun goes
down." Some one. Corp'l Curtis. per-
haEs, took hold of it, saying: Let me take
it" | replied: mo; it must go down the
hill" Seeing the Adjutant behind a fall
len tree. some ID or % feet below, call
ed to him softly, asking him to care for
the flag in the event | should succeed in
passing it to him. He tod me to pass it
down. Rising little on my right side
l managed, i'll my weakness and increas-
ing pain, to slide it with hand and foot
to some one below, telling him to pass it
along to the Adjutant. l watched it
eagerly as it was passed from one soldier
to another until it reached Changers
hands. Then l heaved a sigh of relief,
feeling the flag was safe in the hands
of a resimental officer, all but two or
three of the Color Guard being wounded
and scattered. l stretched out upon the
ground, weary, but thankful and happy
Within a few minutes Serg't Elson asked
me for Il string. | gave him my hat cord
WHICH titu dDDNe
wound, stopping the flow of blood none
too soon. We lay there until night
For good and sufficient reasons. our
flag stopped short of the Confederate
works some 20 or 30 feet. The brave Ser
geant when lie fell wounded, did not re-
main upon the flag. 1t was not taken
from its place of peril by the Adjutant.
Proudly, l ask, did not the Color Guard
do their duty? Are they not vind;cated
from all f;ShnDorob1
My story is told. The four-sQuare mon
ument of history is completed. Our tat
tered and blood-stained Old Glory is
shrine for us and ours.
A memorial monument is to stand where
the flag fell. as perpetual reminder of
that days bloody sacrifice ON the altar
of Union and Liberty.