CARRYING THE COLORS

                One of the most dangerous jobs in a Civil War army was carrying your unit’s flag into battle.  The colors, as they were called were carried at the front of the unit as it moved towards the enemy.  This made them a clear target for enemy fire, plus there was a lot of prestige which came with capturing them.  Why would someone volunteer for such a job?  Some did it for the honor, but most were interested in the perks.  A colorbearer was exempt from most duties.  They did not have to participate in skirmishing.  It might be a route to promotion, if you survived.  Some did it for redemption for some mistake they had made, like desertion.  Similarly, a soldier convicted of a capital offense might “volunteer” for the job to avoid a worse fate. 

                The record for the most color-bearers wounded in a single battle was the 26^th North Carolina at Gettysburg.  That day, Sgt. J.B. Mansfield started carrying the flag.  He was shot in the foot and Sgt. Hiram Johnson took his place.  Twelve yards later, he was shot.  Pvt. John Stamper carried it to the middle of a stream when he was hit.  Pvt. Larkin Thomas carried it a few steps, then Pvt. John Vincent for a few seconds before each was wounded.  Pvt. John Marley and Pvt. William Ingram were killed within a few minutes of each other.  Capt. W.W. McCreary waved the flag and was promptly shot through the heart and fell on the flag.  Lt. George Wilcox grabbed it, took two steps, and was shot twice in the chest.  Col. Henry Bergwin yelled “Dress on the colors!” and handed it to Pvt. Frank Hunnicut as he was shot through both lungs.  Hunnicut was shot through the head as he clutched the colors.  Lt. Col. John Lane was next.  He yelled “It is my time to take them now.  26^th follow me!”  He was shot in the neck, jaw, and mouth thirty paces from the enemy line.  Capt. W.S. Brewer then carried the flag to victory.  Later in the battle, Brewer was wounded carrying it and so were the next three.  The last was Pvt. Daniel Thomas who surrendered it at the end of Pickett’s Charge.  He was one of the 89% casualties for the 26^th North Carolina in the Battle of Gettysburg.

–  Men of War by Alexander Rose