The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1906-11-21
THIRD IOWA BATTLE FLAG.
Story Of the Atlanta mpniGn That
10 the Subject Of Croat Interest
to the Iowa Veterans.

diers, are Interested in the story OF
how the Third Iowa recsptursd its
flag. Isaac Patterson of st. Ansgar
has an account written by O. w.
Quincy, at ono time corporal OF
the Third Iowa, and has permitted
the Reporter to reprint the story for
the interest and entertainment OF
others. All the surviving members
of the regiment have piece OF that
old flag The story printed in the
Yanktown Gazette follows:
In my account Of the battle Of At
lanta 1 told your readers incidental
ly that the Third Iowa recsptured
its old flag while prisoners Of war in
the streets of Atlanta. 1 apprehend
that some of them, especially among
the old soldiers, might wish to know
the particulars, and I will give them
so far as 1 am able.
For very graphic description OF
this flag episode 1 sm indebted to
Col. j. H. Smith of Comanche, Iowa,
who together with the most OF his
regiment (the Sixteenth Iowa. was
captured the same as the Third.
The boys were marched directly
to Atlanta under strong guard COM
msnded by a major, and paraded in
the heart Of the city, where "throng-
ed the citszsns," not with "terror
dumb" but in che greatest exulta
ton. 1t is hardly necessary to tell
the old soldiers that these "citizens"
consisted chiefly of the "high born
DANES and dAmsels," the male pop
ulstion being away otherwise en-
gagged"
"Msjah, isn't this about all the
Yankee army, and don't you think
the wah'll soon be oyer now~ Such
cheering remarks and others not 30
ingenious were overheard on all
sides.
In order to make the stay Of the
boys os pleasant rs possible during
their brief sojourn the streets were
hung with perfect rainbows Of Con-
fsdsrate bunting, and the gay scene
was made musical IS well, by the
changes from "Dixie" aad the "Bon-
ny Blue Flag" to "Maryland, My
and back.
Feeling willing to give something
for this entertainment the boys sang
"Dsisy Dean" new at the time, and
was 1 think, written both in words
aud music by soldiers in Lsggettas
division. We had some fine singers
and no doubt the piece was we'll
rendered. This was followed by
others, especially "The Star Spsngl-
ed Banner" in which the parts were
all brought ont, and 1 known that
they had an uncommonly fine tenor,
aud the piece must have been rend-
cred in the very best manner.
"This," the colonel said, ''seemed to
quiet their nerves." Was it posi-
BILE that those miserable Yankees
could sing as we'll as fights There
was the faintest attempt to CHI eer on
the part of some of the dansels, but
it was promptly checked by thu ma
turer danes.
"Give the boys an inch and they'll
take an ell" Some one with more
voice than discretion struck up "John
Browns Body" 1t was sung with a
will from start to finish, every voice
in the chorus. They did not forget
the lines, swell hang JEFF Davis on
the sour apple tree, as We 20 march
along" This" as Burns says
pleased them worst of ALL" and one
Of the danes from a prominent pos:
lion in an upper balcony cried out in
! shrill voice: "Major Blank, aren't
you ashamed to sit there and gee us
nsulted in this way by these misers.
lble Yankees? You are not fit to
wear the Confederate uniform. II
Tou had q spark Of manhood You
would put a stop to it." These
words did not seem to please the
major, and leaning toward the sing
r he said quietly, but so distinctly
8 to be heard by several, "Whoop it
light up, boys; sing louder; sing
ouder and let's have a real good
ime." And as the song grew loud
r, whispered conspiracy was made
} recspture the flag. During these
related the rebel Gus.