The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-10
MRS, DEWEY GIVES
 UP FAMOUS FLAG Ensign of 20th Alabama Back
 in Montgomery CAPTURED AT BALD KNOB Lieutenant General Walker of Virginia Department Writes Tribute to the
 Heroism of the Famous
 Regiment. zlrI
AT BALD KNOB
RY HERvEY w. LAIRD.

Montgomery, September 9.-(Speeial)- The flag of the Twenty-eighth regiment, c. s. A, has come back from the Ma tional museum by grace of Mrs. George Dewey, wife of Admiral Dewey, and the widow of the late Gen. W. B. Hagen. U. s. A. It was captured November 2S. 1863. at Bald Knob, near Chattanooga, af- ter fight that depleted the command and gave it the same glory that fell to the famous light brigade. Union and Confed- crate alike tell of the glorious fight 1t made when under the impression that 1t had been ordered to hold the position taken at all hazards. Some of the best men of Alabama were on its rolls and many of them never came back to tell of its glories.
 The regiment was organized at Shelby Springs March 29, 1862, flor three years or the war" It went out under Col. J. ". Frazer, who soon resigned the com mand to Col. John c. Reid, who led it in all it's death-dealing and death-Eeceiving raids upon the enemy. Colonel Reid died ten years ago in Selma, an honored civil ian as he had been a revered soldier. There were in the command two com- panies from Perry, one from Blount and Marshall and one from Blount, one from Dallas, three from Walker, three from Jefferson. The adjutant of the regiment was the beloved Sumter Lea, blind now, though a successful lawyer of Birming- ham.
 The Jefferson county companies were under command from time to time Of William M Nabers, John C. Morrow, G. w. Hewitt, J. T. Tarrant. W. M Flaw kins, w. R. McAdory and W A. McCloud. One of the Walker companies was com manded by the late Judge F. A. Gamble. In his history of Alabama, Brewer says: ''The regiment was hotly engaged at Chickamauga and lost largely in killed and wounded. At Stone Mountain the reg iment was nearly surrounded by the ene- my and fought desperately, losing 1I2 killed, wounded and captured"
 Among the distinguished minor officers of the command was the late Judge P. G. Wood, who died while in London three years ago as a delegate from the Metho- dist church in Alabama to the ecumenicai conference Prof I. w. McAdory recent ly visited the scene of the battle where there is a slab marking the spot of the fight, which they thought was to be held at all hazards.
 The following letter has been received by Dr. Thomas NJ. Owen from Gen. c. Irvine Walker. testifyng to the bravery of the command:
 Army of Northern Virginia Department, United Confederate Veterans, Lieut.. Gen. C. Irvine Walker. Commanding.
 Brig. Gen. James G. Holmes, Adjutant General Chief of Staff
 f Charleston, S. C., September 5, 1905. Hon. Thomas M. Owen, State Historian,
 Montgomery, Ala.
 Dear sir-I notice, through the press. that the battle flag of the Twenty eighth Alabama regiment, captured at Orchard Knob in the battle of Missionary Ridge. was about to be returned to the state of Alabama. I would be remiss in my duty to my old comrades of the Twenty-eighth Alabama regiment did I not advise you, the state historian and through you all the good people of Alabama, of the mag nificent bearing of the regiment on the occasion of the capture, so the record could be preserved. It is high privilege to bear witness, as I truthfully can, to their splendid galantry and devotion in that fight.
 The Twenty-eighth Alabama regiment was in Manigaults brigade of which l was, then, adjutant general and as such, in a position to know whereof I speak. l cannot say that l remember that heir flag was ever captured, but l do know that the conduct of the regiment was such, that its capture reflects not the slightest dscredt on the brave men who fought under its folds.
 This regiment was on the picket line of the brigade, on Orchard Knob, in front of the brigade's position at Missionary Ridge. Orchard Knob was held only by a picket line. The whole plain around Chattanooga was open and the Federal advance could be at once seen and when made every Confederate sprang promptly 70 arms. Col. John c. Reid, command ing the Twenty-eghth Alabama regiment always said that he had received orders to hold his position lat all hazards" as the brigade would move out and the fight be made on that line. This was a mis- understanding, most unfortunately. How is came about I have never been able to ascertain. But Col Reid certainly be- lieved that the Twenty-eighth Alabama