- Joined
- Dec 3, 2011
- Location
- Laurinburg NC
Expired Image Removed
"At the Battle of Gettysburg during the late afternoon of July 2, 1863, Color Sergeant George Branard of the First Texas Infantry was out in front of his regiment carrying the Lone Star Flag of Texas at the Devil's Den. Some 30 years later a short account in the Houston, Texas Tri-Weekly Telegraph Newspaper, published a short account of Sergeant Branard's gallantry in the face of Union regiments in the Army of The Potomac at Devil's Den:
It happened at the battle of Gettysburg. Branard had carried the colors in advance of the regiment and in the face of a shell and rifle fire which was raking the regiment in a terrific manner. Only one other color bearer, and he was with a Georgia regiment, dared advanced his colors as far afield as did Branard. As the Georgia sergeant planted his standard along that of Branard, the latter decided upon another advance. In the face of protests from every man who witnessed the act, he again advanced the Texas colors, and this time into the very teeth of the Federals. The daring act won the admiration of the enemy, and the command was passed down the line not to fire on the intrepid Texan. It was obeyed by the riflemen, but did not reach or was not heeded by the artillery. A screaming shell severed the flagstaff and a small piece of the missile struck Branard above the left eye. He still wears the scar and has never been able to use the eye since, the sight being totally destroyed. The wound did not cool Branard's fighting blood. With the shattered flagstaff still in his hand, he essayed to charge single-handed the entire Federal army, and would doubtless have done so had he not been captured by his own men and carried off the field."
Painting of Color Sergeant George Branard at Gettysburg, titled Branard's Pride by Historical Artist Mark Maritato.
"At the Battle of Gettysburg during the late afternoon of July 2, 1863, Color Sergeant George Branard of the First Texas Infantry was out in front of his regiment carrying the Lone Star Flag of Texas at the Devil's Den. Some 30 years later a short account in the Houston, Texas Tri-Weekly Telegraph Newspaper, published a short account of Sergeant Branard's gallantry in the face of Union regiments in the Army of The Potomac at Devil's Den:
It happened at the battle of Gettysburg. Branard had carried the colors in advance of the regiment and in the face of a shell and rifle fire which was raking the regiment in a terrific manner. Only one other color bearer, and he was with a Georgia regiment, dared advanced his colors as far afield as did Branard. As the Georgia sergeant planted his standard along that of Branard, the latter decided upon another advance. In the face of protests from every man who witnessed the act, he again advanced the Texas colors, and this time into the very teeth of the Federals. The daring act won the admiration of the enemy, and the command was passed down the line not to fire on the intrepid Texan. It was obeyed by the riflemen, but did not reach or was not heeded by the artillery. A screaming shell severed the flagstaff and a small piece of the missile struck Branard above the left eye. He still wears the scar and has never been able to use the eye since, the sight being totally destroyed. The wound did not cool Branard's fighting blood. With the shattered flagstaff still in his hand, he essayed to charge single-handed the entire Federal army, and would doubtless have done so had he not been captured by his own men and carried off the field."
Painting of Color Sergeant George Branard at Gettysburg, titled Branard's Pride by Historical Artist Mark Maritato.
Bringing the