Fighting For The Flag

It was last Decoration day, after they had retumed f rom beautifying witb flowers the graves oí the Union soldiers, who seemed to sleep so peacefully in the soft sunshine, tbat four former corapanions in arms were seated under the tender green of the trees in Central park. They were f uil of the sad yet precious memories of the war, and naturally rehearsed many of its incidents in which they had taken part. Their patriotism had been f reshly stirred by the ceremonies at which they had assisted, and, as they recounted scènes where gallant fellows had given their lives for their country, their eyes, that had often looked death in the face with a strong glance, moistened visibly, and were cast down to hide their emotion. While they were talking they caught sight of the stars and stripes on the oíd Arsenal building. A pufï of wind gracef ully blew out the banner of the f ree ; they instincti vely stood up together, removed their bats, and, as one of themsaid: "Bless the old flag I I would be happy to die for it to-morrowl" they fervently clasped each other's hands in recognition of a coinmon sentiment. The speaker was ex-Mayor Goodwin, a native of Connecticut, aged about 50, who had been living in St. Louis at the breaking out of the war, and had joined a Missouri regiment as soon as the government had called for troops. The other three were ex-Col. Masón, ex-Capt. Bennett and ex-Biigadier Gen. Wirtley. The first had made his home in Cincinnati, Bennett and Wirtley had sE;ttl(ïd in Chicago, and, as raartial representatives of Ohio and Illinois, had entered the field immediately nfter the fire on Sumter. They ven all bachelors then, nearly the same age, and having gone with their commands to Missouri, were soon dr. wn into acquaintance and friendship by similarity of opinions and testes. They had seen a good deal of service in different parts of the south; had all been wounded - Goodwiu and Wirtley several times each - and bad kept up the friendship joined in the early days. After the close of the struggle they found themselves in New York, where they are still engaged in business. The endless distractions of the city prevent their meeting asof ten as they would choose ; but on Decoration day they are alwaysin company, and are likely to be bound together by asscciations of the past while Ufe continúes. They are creditable exaniples of the citizen soldiere on whom the republic can always depend in time of need. They, in common with millions of their countrymen north and south, so revere the national ensign that they would sacrifice everything in its defense. "Goodwin," said Wirtley (the four had dropped their military titles, like sensible men, with the termination of the war), "we all feel as you do about the old flag, as you well know. I have been told that you showed your devotion to it by recapturing the colors of your regiment at W Uson's Creek. Can't you give us the story?" "It's not vvorth telling," replied Goodwin. "It was only one of the many incidents that oceurred on many battle flelds; and, besides, it is bad taste, you will agree, for a man to recite his own experiences. He is very apt to imagine himself a hero when he is a very commonplace mortal." "Let us have the story, Goodwin," exclaimed the three. "We are friends," added Masou, "and we know you too well to think you capable of boasting. On this day any one who has been a soldier is excusable for indulging in personal reminiscences. We bave all been doing it, vou know. Fire away, old f ello w." " "If yoü are bored, then it will be your own fault," remarked Goodwin. "The story is not long, anyhow; no, you won't suffer much more than you acticipate. I had forraed a high idea of Capt. Nathaniel Lyon when he broke up the secession camp formed by Governor Jackson in St. Louis, and I waa very glad to be in hÍ3 command. He had been appointed brigadier, and I was with him at Booneville, where he routed a Confedérate forcé that the governor had got together, and at Dry Spring, where hedefeated McCulloch. When McCulloeh and Price united, and threatened to gain possession of Southwest Missouri, I approved of Lyon's determiriátion to give them battle at Wilson's Creek, in spite of their superior numbers. I had enlisted as a private in St. Louis and was already a captain SO that my opinión had some weight, W were all so inexperienced then that a man who had participated in such skirmishes (we called them battles) as Booneville and Dry Spring was regarded as a tried soldier. "How vividly I remember the lOth of August, the day on which the engagement at Wilson's Creek occurred. The ground was rolling, like most of the land in Greene county , Mo. , with clumps of trees here and tuero and a forest in the distance. The weather was intensely hot, and the (lust from the movementa of the adverfe armies ahnost suffocating. Gen. Lyon, as ■ were drawn up for battle, rode along the line encouraging the meD. He told them how mueh depended on the result of the fight, to stand firni, to remember the flag of the country, to think that on each soklier' conduct the result miglit limit. I Rould see that be was auxious. but ne looked nopeful, cheerful and undaunteit. A braver, more patriotic man ncvcr fought In the Union cause. I feit that he would, if he should live, lcad us to victory; that he could not fail. So he seemed to affect everybody that came into his presonce. "My regiment was one of the first ordered forward on the enemy's right. We were ordered to withhold our fire until within fifty yards; but the men were so exeited and undisciplined that they began flring long before they could do much harm. The flre was returned when wo were near enough to see the faces of the Confederates, and appeared to be very destructive. My men seemed to bo falling all around me. But I soon saw that it was partially confusión in the ranks, caused by unfamiliarity with danger. The men were speedily rallied, and I observed that only a few had been strnck. I ordered my company not to mind the wounded and we rapidly advanced. I had had at the outset a keen sense of fear; I believed I should be hit every moment. But the fear quickly passed. I became intensely exeited, and yet I was outwardly calm. The dust and the smoke of the guns covered everything, for the air was clore and stifling. I heard the roar of the engagement, mingled with the groans of the wounded and their pitiful cries for water. I had a choking thirst myself. The field seemed like a burning desert. What wouldn't I have givpn for a drink of water, and there was water nowhere, the canteens being exhausted. "Notwithstanding my excitement, I grew steadily ealtner. I ceased to think of myself. 1 had no idea of personal peril, though I saw men dropping constantly. When it was one of our men, I was amuzed. When it was one of the enemy, 1 was rejoiced, and I found myself shouting like the rest with delirious joy at every casualty on the other side. I hungered for blood. Í was like a wild beast. If I could have slain a thousand Confederates with a blow of my blade, I should have been happy. One of our ofiicers rode before us. He waved his sword, and cried outsomething that I could not understanil. The words had scarcely left his lips when a cannon ball carried a'vay his head, and his Meeding trunk feil to the ground. The incident did not horrify ar startle me; it only quickened my tigerish pussion for revengo, and I yelled with glee, a minute after, as I saw a Confedérate officer reel in his saddle and tumbía. "The oddly unif ormed line opposite, in which butternut was a conspicuous color, showed signs of giving way. Just then our standard bearer, who was in advance, was struck and feil. A fresh Confedérate forcé had been ordered up to relieve the troops wo had been fighting, and bora down upon us in such numbers that we were ordered to withdraw slowly, our faces to the foe. A dozen members of our regiment had hurried forward to rescue the flag, which had already been torn from the staff by one of the enemy, a fine looking fellow, an officer plainly, and which he thrust into the breast of his coat. I marked his countenance and figure. I was sure that I should remember him. What pleasure I should have taken in killing him, in order to recover the colors of the regiment, which I feit it such a disgrace to lose in one of the first real battles of the war. "But tüere was no chance of recapturing it. We steadily feil back, and were soon relieved by fresh troops. Our regiment had lost heavily. Out of C00 or so, one quarter were killed, wounded and missing, and the remainder were in no condition for further fighting at once. I still mourned over the captured flag. During the first year of the strife we soldiere, you remember, thought the loss of a stand of colors as bad as a general defeat, and we never altered our opinión greatly afterward either. It may be superstition, but it is a patriotic superstition that every true soldier is inclined to cherish. The fiag of a country represents our highest interest. "I could not bear to bo off duty on that day. As soon as I had quenched my exeessive thirst in a pool of dirty water, where a score of men were half frantic and fighting for drink, I went to Gen. Lyon and offered my service to act as one of his aides. He accepted it, and giving me a horse sent me with an order to a distaiic part of the field. I delivered the order, but in doing so bullet after builet whistled near me, one of the bullets passing through the skirt of my coat. I already began to imagine that I might Vs destined not to be struck - constant danger makes us fatalists - and I galloped along to the music of the guns, fancying mself in a feverish dream. To be bevond the of cries and groans, the sight of blood and wounds was a great relief. "I seemed to be only m danger myself, and of that danger I was almost unconscious. I was in a part of the field away from the battle, riding fast to where I supposed Gen. Lyon to be, when my horse reared as if in pain. I believed that he must be mortally wounded by a stray shot. I disengaged my feet from the stirrups, and just in time, for I feit that he was falling. I tumbled headlong- I could not save myself - and then I was unconscious. How long I remained so I cannot teil. I arose with senses dazed, but the din of battle, the sight of dust, powder and smoke restored me. My horse lay dead a few feet distant, the blood stül flowing from his side, caused apparently by a grape shot. No one seemed uear me, and I was walking away somewhat lame, when a voice, sayIng 'Surrender, you d - d Yankee, or I'll blow your brains outl' drew my attention. Out of a cluster of trees had stepped a Confedérate offleer) whoru a glaílce disclosed as the captor of our colors. To allay any doubt, if there could be doubt, the silken end of the stripea was still visible in the breast of his coat. He was coming toward me with a revolver leveled at my head, perhaps flfty feet off. He doubtless believed me unarmed; but I reached instinctively toward my belt and drew my pistol, which had happily been unInjured by my fall. " 'ïtever,' I shouted. 'You have taken the colors of my regiment. I'll get them back or die.' '"Die then!' he responded, and a bullet whizzed past me. "I fired at nearly the same moment, protjably to no purpose, as he still advanced. I advanced also. The reeovery of the flag was far dearer to me than life. "We exchanged shots agaiu. It wos a regular duel. Once more we flred. I felt that I must be hit. But I was strong enough to discharge another barrel, and had the supremo satisfaction of seeing my antagonist fall. I was immediately at hls side, intent only on the stars and tripes, which I drew out and was trying to hide in my clothing when my head swam, darkness passed before my eyes and then oblivion. "1 wasfouucl unounseiouS; os i ieamert arterward, on the Lreust of tbe dead Confedérate, a captain from Kentucky. His ball had passed through my lungs; mine into his breast The flag was closely graspod in my hand and stained with my blood. It is at my homo and eounted amoug its most precious treasures. Agatn I say, 'Bless tho old flag! ïo-day every true son of the great republic, even those who fought so blindly againat it twenty odd yeara ago, is willing to givo his last drop of blood toguard it f rom dishonor.'"