Private Joseph H. Pickle of Co D was the regimental color bearer of the 50th Virginia Infantry; he was killed at the Wilderness on May 5, 1864 when the flag was captured.
Although Pvt John Opel of the 7th Indiana was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the capture of the flag of the 50th Virginia, there was some contention from fellow soldiers as to who actually overwhelmed the flag bearer and took the flag that day :
From the regimental history of the 7th Indiana Infantry ("Narrative of the service of the Seventh Indiana Infantry in the war for the Union" By Orville Thomson, 1910) :
Statement of Private Thomas M. Mozingo, Co. E, 7th Indiana :
"The facts, as to the capture of the flag, were that Perry S. Tremain, Robert L. Alyea and myself had a personal scrap with a rebel color-bearer. I was trying to get my gun capped, and found the tube was blown out; just then it was that Alyea and myself went at the color-bearer - Alyea striking the rebel with the muzzle of his gun, and I with the butt of mine, and in the scrap Perry got the flag, tore it from its staff, and then we become seperated. I was soon after captured, as the comrades know, along with Colonel Grover. Many times since coming home, however, Perry and I have talked this flag incident over, and he said on falling back from the place of its capture he met Captain Armstrong, who asked him where he got that flag, and on being informed expressed a wish for it, and Perry gave it to him.
These are the facts, and this is the way Captain Armstrong came to have the honor of capturing it. This happened near a branch that ran nearly parallel with the rebel line, on a hill where we, or lot of us went with Bob Curtiss, who carried our flag that day. I mention these things that you may know that my recollection is not so bad; you may consult any one now living, who was with me, among whom are George E. Gilchrist and J. T. Grayson, of Co. D, Abe Canary, George K. Covert and Nelson Richardson, of Co. F, and John Martin, Co. H."
From rosters of the 7th Indiana Infantry :
Thomas M. Mozingo, Pvt, Co E, Decatur Co
Perry S. Tremain, Recruit, Co E, Greensburg
Robert L. Alyea, waggoner, Co E, Decatur Co
Colonel Ira G. Grover, Greensburg
Captain Jesse Armstrong, Co K, Lawrenceburgh
Robert M. "Bob" Curtiss, Sgt, Co H, Hendricks Co
George E. Gilchrist, Pvt, Co D, Decatur Co
John T. Grayson, Pvt, Co D, Decatur Co
Abraham Canary, Pvt, Co F, Johnson Co
George K. Couvert, Pvt, Co F, Johnson Co
Nelson Richardson, Recruit, Co F
John S. Martin, Pvt, Co H, Hendricks Co
Bringing the