The Washington herald., 1907-01-13
GEN. JOHN c. GILMORE
He Saved the Colors.

Follow she eagr' be crs7d.
And men who rarcged m the blllct-stoEm
Rallied agsin; taok courage az tAoir leaders CT.
law --'' THOMAS EPpEs.
John Curtis Gilmore, brigadier general
Of the Uaitsd States army. retired, is an
example Of the efficient soldier graduated
from the field OF battle into the regular
army Of the United States. He was born
in Canada April Is. 1877; and when h
was but six months old mis- parents re-
moved 10 Louisville, st. Lawrence Coun-
". * Y He attended the village school,
and. after completing its course Of study
he entered, and in due time was graduated
from the Albany Law School, at Albany,
n. Y. Circumstances soon diverted him
from the law, however. and in 1852 he en-
tered the Union army and went u the
trent as captain Of the Sixteenth New
York Volunteer Infantry, and served until
the CLOSE Of the war He was promoted
major OF tie same regiment on Septem-
Der q Of the same year; became lieuten-
ant colonel Of the 1851 New York Infan-
try March Is, 1866. brevet colonel OF vol
unteers November "A, 1865, and was mus
tered out of the volunteer service jan
uary Is. 1866. His civil war record was
one of gallant-y and honor, and was off,
cially recognized by brcvets and promo
lions fer meritoriOus service at Antietan,
Fredericksburg, and Salem Heights, Va.
For distinguished conduct" in the last
named battle the Congress Of the United
States awarded him a medal Of honor
Gen. Gilmore lives now at the Portland,
a quiet and retired life, and though his
mind teens with memories of war K
is hard 10 get him TO talk about the part
he took in many of the most famous
battles. With the gallant Sixteenth New
York Infantry ne took part in every bat
tie and skirmish from Bull Run 70 Chan
cellorsville, where the regiment was mus
tered out. Its members all promptly re-
enlisted for the war" II was at the
battle of Salem Heights. which was part
OF the fight at Charlottesville, that Gen.
Gilmore won his medal OF honor for saw
ing the colors Of his regiment, and using
them as a rallying point for his sorely
beset men, who facing overpowering
back II was one Of those sledge ham,
mer crashes between Hooker and Lee in
which so many lives were shattered.
Says Gen. Gilmore: ut was on May 3,
1868. and l was then major Of the Six
teenth New York Infantry. We were part
Of the Sixth Army Corps under com
mand OF Gen. Brooke, who had his lip
shot away in this battle I don't knOY
al
were assailed along the whole front OF
our line by an overwhelming force Of Con
federates. The attack was the most fierce
on our left flank, which was guarded by
the One Hundred and Twenty-fiTst New
York and after holding their position for
a time they We're beaten back by sheer
weight Of numbers, and there was grave
danger Of our left flank being turned.
The One Hundred and TWenty-tirst New
York was a new regiment. and IL was the
first time the men in it had been under
fire. but they fought very we'll When
II came our turn TO attack we advanced
against the enemy, whose force we
thought we had estimated, but by far
the larger part of his men who were
hidden by a sunken road and these,
emerging suddenly, attacked so furiously
that any troops might well have wav-
cred
But about the colors, generaI?'
well, there was not much 10 that
You see the men were uncertain, and II
looked for a moment as if they might
break. which would have been fatal TO
us all. and so I made my way 20 the
color-sergeant, took the colors from him
and advanced in front OF the regiment
toward the foe. You see, l knew that
when the boys saw the colors going ahead
they would stand by them, especially
when the major OF their regiment had
them The uncertainty only lasted a mo-
Inent, the men rallied quickly. and we
held cur position until darkness set in"
Il was evident indeed, that the boys
Of the Sixteenth did love and honor their
major Only a short while before this
they had presented him "a sword, which
now occupies prominent place in his
home. II was presented by Lieut. VII
liam R.. Helms. Of Company F, in let
ter, which said:
Your uniform kinduess and self-denial in
comprising the welfare of your company,
the galiantry displayed amidst danger,
ability IN trial. vigilance by day and
night. melting by a worthy example 20
initiate. as respect induced Us. 70 respect
your commands, the joys we have shared.
the mutual sorrow and unaffected grief
we have endured as we have borne our
fallen heroic comrades to their graves
where
Honu's voice could not awake their dust
Or Aattery s5othe tLc G-ll, c-ld ear OF death.
These considerations cause US TO deplore
the necessity for separation. and grief at
the distracted condition Of our country,
which makes a gift Of 50 significant OF
wars bloody ordeal so acceptable: but as
a token Of affection we tender it-as an
expression Of our congratulatiOn at your
deserved promotion. receive this beautiful
present from your company, not as re-
ward. bat as an expression Of gratitude.
Take il. and may il be UEsheathed in the
cause of freedom and our nations saliva
ti0n, striking down the foes Of our God
bequeathed liberties until no tTaitCTOuS
foot p1llutes the soil When peace re-
turns may you through many years OF
happiness look upon this gift 10 remem-
Der your noble companions of Company T.
whose affection is expressed not only in
this but in the fOndest hope Of your con
tinued prosperity.
To this Gen. Gilmore replied. thanking
the men for their affection for him. and
urging them to stand firm, my brovo
soldiers, in support Of our government
and fight for your commander as YOU
have ever done, and u generous God will
vet crown cur efforts with success
though some Of US may meet the fate OF
our fallen comrades
It was while he was yet captain OF
Company F that he was wounded for the
first time at West Point. Two companies,
Company T. with Capt Gilmore CON-
manding, and Company G, commanded
by Capt. Curtis. were engaged with the
enemy. They We're nearly surrounded
III fnsrrnt flair- tEr-.l.cr