The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-10-10
A BATTLE FLAGS STORY.
How the Students of Limestone Re-
ce;ved it-Iow the Gallant Pal
metto Sharpshooters Defend
ed the Eever-Loved Ban
ner of the Confederacy.

Several companies of the Palmetto
4Sharpshooters were from Spartanourg
county. About May, 1868, Prot w. L.
johnson, of Gafney, received tur-
toupf to come to his home at Lime
stone Springs. His father: Prof. M. 5.
Johnson, was music teacher in DR..
Curtis school. The son came down
from the north just as tostilitles were
Beginning, or after they had begun
and although quite young he joined
the Confederate service. When he
received the furlough Col. Joseph
Walker turned over the battle tlag OF
the regiment, which had been torn
and shot into strings and asked him
TO bring it to his home and place IN
she care of Mr.. Ajax Wingo. He
reached Limestone with the flag just
as the school was having an entertain
ment. A pupil wrote an account OF
the entertainment and the part the
Flag took in it for the Spartan, but
it was not published, SO far as we
know. Here is her account OF 1t:
Rhinestone Springs, June S, 1868.
Mr.. Editor: Last night Our kind
teachers gave the neighbors and ouT
selves a musical entertainment. We
had the usual number of quartettes,
,duets and solos in vocal and instru'
mental music, and the evening closed
: with the following incident, which
znay be interesting TO your readers.
AFTER the last musical performance,
DR.. Curtis, our principal, came for
ward, bearing flag, which showed
s,nu,istakable signs of the ruthless
hand of war; for, as its folds were un-
wound, many a rent and bullet hole
gave evidence of the work OF the
, bomb and rlinnle-ball. AS 1t
rested there a memento of our blood
:iest batt1efields, its history was told.
1t was the flag belonging TO the regl-
ment of Palmetto Sharpsfooters. lhe
staff had been taken from the enemy,
-at Hate battle of Gaines Mills, to sus-
rtain a more glorious ensign. In the
EEffieht of Seven Pines, it had tloated
above our gallant men; the fields OF
Manassas and Fraser's Farm saw 1t
triumphant; in the hard contested
battles of Sharpsburg and Frederlcks-
burg it never yielded. Dscolored by
-ehe smoke of battle and torn by ball
=and shell nothing laid it in the dust
At one time, eleven brave fellows
volunteered to guard it; nine gave
esheir lives in it's defence, and but two
remained to bear it triumphant from
-She field. Like some SCARED veteran,
Il was now returning from the wars,
having been brought on by one OF our
s5rave soldier boys, who, the next day,
delivered it to Mr.. Wingo, the father
:;ncIaw Of Col. Walker of the Palmetto
sSsharoshlooters. Such is the brief his
,forv of this battleflag. AS it stood
before us, silent, yet eloquent, DR..
Curtis called upon one Of our school
mates TO supply his place in support
ing it; this seemed to be her peculiar
rIIefit for her dear brother had lost
!eg while fighting under this war
worn standard. Then we all gathered
around it in song, one of the falrest
fof our number crowning it with
garland of ivy and oak leaves, inter-
.spersed witll nine white lilies, ore for
each of tfe noble hearts whose throb-
( bings had been forever stilled in be-
half OF this loved banner. You may
Imagine with what fervor we joined IN
Ghe chorus:
For this flag of our country, in tri-
umph shall wave
D'er the Southerner's home and the
Southerner's grave"
A Pupil
The writer is unknown to us. But
Mildred Thomson, afterwards Mrs.
NOVEL;, was a pupil then and Dr.
Curtis called her to the platform to
hold the flag while its story was CIV
en-. That was proper because her