The National tribune., 1907-09-26
THE FLAG OF THE 26TH TENN.
II Was Captured by n brave boy of tis
18th Pa. and That Regiment Kept 1t.


Editor National Tribune: l have beer
reading the claim of Lieut.. Frederick
Z. Wilson, Co. E, 69th Ohio. beg leave
to claim that he cannot be correct when
he states that he captured the flag OF
the 26th Tenn. at Stone River and
threw it away; not likely, and it is a
late day to come in with such story
when all the evidence is against him
The 18th Pa. was in that charge, and
Miler's Brigade did not retreat. as he
says. Official reports will not carry out
his assertion. There were four guns OF
Byrnes's Confederate battery captured
j Will here give you an abstract from q
history written by Rev. ]. T. Gibson, a
Presbyterian minister of note living in
Pittsburg, Pa:
The morning of Jan ., 1863, found
Gen. James S. Negleys Division assign
ed to position to support the right Of
Gen. McCook's Corps. We remained in
this position till / p. m. but while we
were trying to turn flour, water and salt
into digestible food we were ordered to
support Gen. Crittenden's Corps, on the
left wing of the army, and took position
in an open field to the left and in the
rear of batteries on the left of the rail-
road, near the bank of Stone River. On
our left the river flows directly north
ward, but about half a mile in front
there was a bend, so that in our front
II flowed directly eastward, and part of
Gen. Crittendens Corps had crossed the
river and was in line of battle. extend
ing to the river little north of where
the river began to flow northward. The
position car be easily understood by
reference to diagram of the same. A
bluff overlooking the river concealed us
from the enemy, and we had an i'm
preston by this time that Gen. Rose
Grams was massing his troops on his
left in order to attack the right wing of
the enemy 1t was developed after
ward that Gen. Bragg was massng his
troops on his right to attack our left.
The conditions, therefore, was in some
respects the reverse of what it had been
in Wednesdays battle. Then Gen.
Bragg had massed his troops agains,
our weakest point and found us un-
prepared, whereas on Friday he massed
his forces where we were best prepared
to meet him.
The private soldier in a volunteer
army like our own differs in many re-
spects from the private soldier in the
armies of other Nations. By thoro
discipline he becomes a part of a ma
chine and he obeys orders, but he does
not refrain from thinking nor cease to
exercise his intelligence, and he very
frequently is dishearened because the
orders are not in accord with his judg-
ment. On the other hand, when he
thinks his commander is making wise
disposition of his forces his courage is
greatly stimulated. We had evidence
Of this in Fridays battle. We mad been
driven in great confusion on Wednes-
day by the attack of the enemy but
the recollection of that day did not in
the least interfere with our confidence
that We should be victorious on Fri
day, because when the attack was made
on Friday We had evidence, Satisfac-
tory TO us, that the enemy was attack
ing our strongest position. We felt that
however it might issue no mistake had
been made by our commander.
About 4 o'clock a furious charge
was made on Van Cleve's Division on
the south side of the river not far from
where the river turns eastward at near
ly right angle. When this attack was
made the 18th Pa. was lying back of
the crest of the hill overlooking Van
Cleve's position, and our artillery was
on our right and in our front a little
nearer the crest of the hill When the
enemy attacked Van Cleve's their bat
teries opened very heavy fire On us,
TO which our batteries replied. Shell,
solid shot and grapshot were flying
thick, but we were comparatively safe
being protected by the crest of the hill.
My personal recollection of this position
and of what took place is still very dis
tinct. Gen. Negley came along our
lines, and, being cheered by his troops
said in reply, Boys. you will now have
an opportunity to pay them back for
what they did on Wednesday, These
words of the General, in whom we had
the greatest confidence, inspired the
soldiers with courage and enthusiasm
in the crisis of the battle. The final is
sue depended on what Negley's COM
mand would do within the next Is
minutes. Gen. Van CIeve's Division
had been driven back into the bend of
the river, and some had been COM
peiled TO retreat across the river, pass
'ng thru our line as we lay behind the
,rest of the hill. Just at this critical
moment another regiment q believe the
9sth Ohio) Of a different brigade was
ordered forward, marched to the crest
Of the hill in good order, fired one vol
ley and retired. Why the regiment
retlred we never knew. Just at this
moment also our batteries had exhaust
ed their ammunition, and limbering,
gaiioped TO the rear. Then our regi-
ment, being the first in Gen. Miller's
Brigade, was ordered forward. Shot
and Shell and mimic balls were flying
very thick when we reached the crest
OF the hill, but We opened fire at once,
and were followed by other regiments
of our brigade. Only few moments
had elapsed when the shout went up.
They are retreating! They are retreat
Ing" Without any command from any
person, so far as i know, led by soldier
ly instinct that sometimes sees better
than Generals can plan, men and Off
GERS moved forward in double-quick,
crossed the river and drove the enemy
before them. Then began what came
as near being 4 hand-;o-hand fight as
we had ever witnessed up to this time
In crossing the river the lines of the
different regiments were thrown into
great confusion, but Gen. Miller, our
brigade commander, in his official re-
port, says: a tolerable line was kepf
on the colors of the 18th Pa, the men
moved forward with spirit and deter
mination.' During all this time the
enemy's batteries were posted on an
eminence in field to our front, but
when this charge was made their in
fantry retreated in great disorder. leay-
Ing the ground covered with the dead
and wounded. When we were about
$50 yards from the battery Gen. Miller
ordered the 18th Pa. to charge, and the
command was instantly obeyed, the
18th Ill, 69th Ohio and other regi-
ments joining with us We captured a
battery of four guns belonging to
Byrnes's Confederate Psttery two OF
them being secured by our regiment.
the 18th Pa. We captured also the
colors of the 10th Tenn. The captured
flag was seized, / believe, at the same
time by Private Davis, of Co. !. and
Private Hughes, of Co. b. There was
an artist belonging to some other com.
mand who was q witness To the Scepe