The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-10
THE HALL OF HISTORY
GETS BATTLE flag
Flag OF Seventeenth North Carolina
Regiment Placed Among Other
Relics by Wilson G. Lamb.

Relics by Wilson G. Lamb.
! The battle flag Of the seventeenth
North Carolina regiment, which has
for years been lovingly cared for by
Mr.. Wilson G. Lamb, of Williams
ton, was yesterday placed by him in
the North Carolina Hall of History
and officially received by Col. Fred
A. Olds, who is in charge of that
splendid depository of relics.illustra-
tive of the history of this State dur
ing all its existence.
In making the presentation Mr..
Lamb said:
I hold in my hands the battle flag
of the seventeenth North Carolina
regiment, Martin, kirkland brigade,
Hoke's division, army Of Northern
Virginia. Half a century has passed
stree it was furled at the final capt.
uiation Of Johnston's army at Cen
ter church, in Randolph county,
North Carolina.
This flag, sir, waved in triumph
in the first capture of Plymouth.
Thereafter it was planted on thu
captured fort of the enemy at New
port barracks and, borne by Ensign
Williams was first to wave again in
victory over tne entertainments OF
Butler when his army was bottled
up on the Bermuda Hundred penin-
sula. At second Cold Harbor it was
an inspiration to the brave defend
ers of Richmond who hurled back
Grants invaders in the bloodiest re-
pulse Of the war. It greeted the
morning sunlight at Petersburg and
nerved Hoke's gallant soldiers to
hold the army Of the Potomac in
check until the arrival Of their COM
rades of Lees army, which made
sure the saving of Petersburg.
Again, upon the northern front of
Richmond. at Harrison's farm and
81 Henr!co court h use. it bade def
1sEz.A A.c-1sc- -sc -l2eeiegin. :ascc-.
regiment being transferred to North
Carolina, its reputation for gallant
ry was illustrated at Wilmington,
! North River bridge and on the
I bloody field of Wise's Fork near
Kinston. At Bentonsville it with
stood the many furious assaults of
Sherman's legions and being with
drawn by order Of Johnston retired
to Smithfeld depot and passing
: through Raleigh marched to Center
church.
4 quote from the historian of the
seventeenth North Carolina regi
a ment: This flag was saved at the
IS surrender by Private Abel Thoma:
Of Company A, and was unfurled a
the unveiling of the Confederate
monument at Raleigh May 20, 1895
Beneath its tattered and bullet-rid
. died folds the survivors marched tt
honor their dead heroes and com
rades. With them marched Genera
: Robert F. Hoke, the beloved com
m ander of their division.'
Sir, as acting s,dju+ant Of tn
regiment it was my proud privileg
10 t, have the custody of this flag, an
IF ;monished by my declining years,
? ask the fav> Of your acceptance 0
it in behalf Of North Carolina"
Colonel O.ds in rec iving the fla
which shows ali the marks Of har
"a warfare, said:
"a ':NIr. Lamb, it gives me grea
pleasure to receive this flag. Their
m were "a reg meats Of North Cacolin
troops and happily we have now Sc
ID cured somewhat more than half {
'@ the flags borne bv ,hse brave mei
oa a Not only have they come from Mort
g Carolina hands, but the Unit.
= States has returned al it had in Gu
tody, one fas has 0 ne from tE
State Of Maine, another IS to COM
ma that Of the second North Carolln
Mt from New jersey, in January, al
the remaining flags held outside
North Carolina have been locate
and steps have been taken to hrlr
80 about their return to this Cor
.d monwealth.
, / "The flag of the seventeenth, "
may be sure, will occupy p ce
= honor here, for the regiment has
- fixed reputation for valor and dete
mination throughout its career.
ma Bentonsville, the last battle of t
ep- -o. - foced q Wisconsin regime
ost
an