Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-10-08
Second Virginia Infantry Flag.

In 1905 it was sent to- the. Cover
nor of Virginia from the War De-
partment at Washing tomas one Of the
captured Confederate flags and in
June of that year gwen by him to
the custody of John w. Rowan Camp
No. 9O8, U. c. v, through the Hon
John Lamb, of the 3rd Congressional
District of Virginia.
The brave, gallant and intrepid Col.
Lawson Bolts whose name the locsl
chapter of the. Daughters of the Com.
federacy is honored in bearing, fell
amid whistling bullets and shrieking
shells in his death wound IN defense
of its honor on the storm swept plains
of Manassas on the R8th day of
August, 1862.
Then there was Ben White of Co.
G. and Dolph Rawlins of Co. A., two,
brave boys from this town. vel ed
up their lives under its folds on tn.
3oth day of May, 1853, at Chancel-
louisville, Va, and where Captain
This flag was given to the Second
Virginia Infantry, aStonewall Brigade
at Woodstock, Va, in the spring of
1867, after the Brigade had retired up
the valley from the battle of zKerns-
town, Va, which was fought on the
23rd day of March, 1862, and was CAR
ried by the Regiment after that in all
the battles it was in up 10 and in
Guiding the battle east of Winches-
ter, Va, where the color bearer fBane
or Reans( of Co. E. was badly wound
ed on the 19 day of September, 1864,
when the Regiment was sent to Win
chester, Va, for provost duty. There
they were quartered in the Court
House and were called from there
| for outpost duty Temporarily. The
flag was left standing in a corner OF
| the room they occupied, intending to
get it on their return, but the Yam
KEGS pressed them SO closely that
evening that they did not get back
to get it, so the next days ONE boys
informed the Yankees of its presence
in the Court House, and they went
l.and got it and sent it to the War
Department at Washington as one of
the trophies of the battle Of Septem-
Der 10Th, 1864.
Shriver of Company event to Ben
White where he fell and asked him
| If he was hurt badly. Ben replied,
"Say to him yes Captain Shriver,
Itell Pa fell at my post =
The hallowed memories that cluster
around the names of these heroic
spirits and the names of many Other
comrades who persisted in its de-
lfense, makes this flag priceless
treasure which. should be preserved
| for all time and encircles It with a
halo of glory which eternity will not
dim, nor will the sacredness of their
sacrifice be lessened BY. the lapse of
lagos.
On the 1st day of July, 1868, while
the orb of day was sinking below the
horizon in the west this flag was be-
| ing carried triumphantly down the
railroad across the streets THE
northern edge of Gettysburg around
to the foot of Culps Hill and at about
midnight of the End was carried to
the crest of that hill to position in
front of stone fence about SO yds.
to the left of the front now occupied
fby the Monument to the Maryland
Confederate Infantry where it remain
ed under fire until about a. M, Of
the 3rd, when the Regiment was or
dered to position to the extreme
left near the Tawney House where il
remained until about p. M, when
1.-THE movement began to get away
from that eventful field and on the
,'fiftieth anniversary of the terrible
istruggle it was again on that field tc
! fraternize with the heroic boys ir
blue, many OF whom had tried tic
shoot holes in it while ii its from
and on the latter occasion exhibiting
much interest in it and enthusiasm
for its appearance there to participate
lin celebrating the unusual anniveTsaTS
with fTaternd greetinsss