The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-10-17
The Flag of the Fifth Georgia Regiment

that precious, loyal soldier fell dead.
But before the colors struck the
ground Lieutenant Whit Eason of the
Schley (Ellaville) Guards snatched
them from Mr.. Brantley's grasp, and
with flag in one hand and sword IN
the other placed himself in front of
the regiment, and while his voice
was drowned amid the roar of mus
kerry and booming of cannon he
was pierced through the head by
ball and fell dead. Another brave
and loyal life was sacrificed to his
country. Immediately after, Gus
Burr, of the Griffin Light Guards,
caught up the colors. In few mo-
ments afterwards he fell mortally
wounded, and again the flag went
down. Monroe Stevens, of the Cuth-
bert Rifles, seized the flag and bore
it CALAMITY aloft, unframed, until
the line fell back, repulsed under a
fire that was terrible in its results.
Capture and Return of the Flag.
At the battle of Coosahatchee, s.
c., on the 9th of November, 1864,
our regiment lost five color bearers
Captain L. C. Young, then private
in the seth New York regiment, who
is now a conductor on the South
western railroadf thus relates to the
Macon Telegraph the capture OF our
| flag:
1.-The fight began about noon, the
! loss being heavy on both sides. 1t
was in this fight that the flag was
captured, and no flag was ever more
nobly defended. We were immedl-
ately in front of the Fifth Georgia
regiment, who were supported on
one flank by the Third Georgia (Joe
Brown's) Reserves. They made a
gallant charge, driving us through
sedge field, but we came back by
strategic movement, overlapping
their left. 1t was at this juncture
the flag was taken. Five times its
bearer was shot down, but the flag
never touched the ground. AS soon as
one man was shot down another ran
forward and took his place. It's he
role defense evoked our most ardent
admiration, and the capture of such
a flag was the ambition of our men.
The last man that fell was so far in
advance of their line that there was
none to raise the colors. The re-
treat had been sounded, and the men
were pushing to the rear. When
our regiment reached the spot there
was a rush for the flag. fellow
soldier was ahead of me, and secured
the trophy, but it soon fell into my
possession, and | have treasured 1t
20 years with but one object, and
that was to restore it to the gallant
band that fought under it on the 9th
day of November, 1864"
The last man to bear this nag in
battle (though scarcely a man in
age) was Lieutenant VIM. G. Harp
of this county, though he was mem
Der of Co. X, Epson Guards, his un-
, Gle, VIM. G. Horsley, being captain
of that company. AS Tip Barnes OF
Co. G fell severely wounded young
= Harp snatched the flag from his hand
and moved forward so rapidly that
amid the roar of battle, he did not
hear the command to halt and re-
e treat, and was nearly half way be-
tween the contending lines when he
j fell; hence. it was impossible for us
e to recover his remains or the flag.
At a reunion of the Fifth Georgis
}, regiment at Macon in 1884 Captain
e Young returned the dear old battle
t SCARED flag and accompanied it will
e a fine speech so full of wit and hu
o NOR that it brought smiles to oul
g lips and so full of pathOs and sad re
e membranes that it brought man.
e tears to the eyes of the old veteran
: and the good citizens of Macon
d Ga, JOHN A. FULTON.