Capt. Bailey Steele Nashville Daily Union FROM THE PEOPLE First Regiment Battle Flag. To the editor of The American: In the article in today’s American, noting the return of the “captured” (?) battleflag of the First Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, C.S.A., it is stated that “ten color-bearers were killed while supporting the flag at the battle of Mill Springs, Ky.” This is an error of your reporter or his informant. The First Tennessee was not at Mill Springs (or “Fishing Creek,” as the battle was generally called in the Confederate army), but was in the battle of Perryville, Ky Oct. 8, 1862, where its loss was terrible , amounting to an average of 68 percent, and much heavier than that of any regiment in the battle. The loss in Company “B,” which I had the honor to command, was 90 percent. It is to this battle that the article refers. I have never believed that our battleflag was lost on that occasion, or in any other battle during the war, until the regiment surrendered, with the balance of Cheatham’s division in North Carolina, April 1865, and probably our cold shot-torn flag was not then surrendered, as Wm. A. Allen, of our regiment, and now living in Nashville, has had in the possession for many years a tattered battleflag which is claimed to have the been the old flag of the First Tennessee, and which that regiment gallantly bore on many a bloody field, including Perryville. As to the flag at Perryville, where the Federals claimed they captured it, the facts are as follows, according to my memory: One regiment charged and captured Parsons battery of four brass 12-pound guns, which was supported by the First Wisconsin Infantry. The fighting was terrific, and the loss in our regiment fearful, as has been stated, though it inflicted even a greater loss on the Wisconsin regiment, and on the artillery company handling the battery. In charging up the hill on which the battery was posted, Color Sergeant Mitchell, bearing our flag, was killed, and everyone of the his eight Color Corporals fell about the same instant: four of them killed dead. One of the killed was Eugene (“Spludge”) Wharton, brother of Aaron Wharton, of Berry, Demoville & Co. I do not now remember the names of the other Color Corporals. At the fall of the flag, with its bearer and the eight other immediate supporters, Sergt. Maj. John W. Carter, who was fighting in the ranks of my company, sprang for the flag, followed by Sergt “Ted” James, also of my company. Carter had scarcely straightened up with the colors, when his right thigh was broken by a Minnie ball and as he reeled and was falling he shouted to Sergt. James, who had reached his side and had already grasped the flag. “Here Ted, take it. I am shot!” I was lying but a few feet distant, with my left thigh broke, and witnessed this scene, and heard Carter’s words distinctly above the roar and din of battle. Sergt. James moved forward holding aloft the colors, but had proceeded but a few steps when he fell, badly wounded. Adjt. T. H. McKinney, then caught up the colors and that was the last I saw of them, but as the battery was captured and remained deserted and alone on the hill only a few yards from where I lay, while our forces continue to steadily drive the enemy until the darkness of night put an end to the bloody conflict, I have never been able to see any possible chance for the enemy to have captured the flag of the First. Sergt. Maj. Carter died of his wound about a month after the battle. Sergt. James recovered, but was killed later in the war while on scouting service. Adjt. McKinney survived the war, and was in business for some time in Columbia, Tenn. B. P. Steele Tullahoma, Tenn., Sept. 17, 1908 From Nashville Daily American 1908 Made with Xara
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