Forum Host- Joined
- May 3, 2013
- Location
- Pennsylvania
From The Time (Richmond VA) of June 19, 1901:
SOUTHERN FLAG TO BE. RETURNED
Found in Philadelphia After Many Years.
THE FIFTH ALABAMA.
A Few Chapters From Its Noble Record.
HOW THE FLAG WAS LOST.
Carried by the Regiment from Manassas to Charlottesville, Where it Was Captured—Bravery at Seven Pines
and Bull Run — Faithful to the Last at Appomattox.
Confederates throughout Virginia and the South learn with the greatest interest and pleasure of the finding of the old battle flag- of the Fifth Alabama Regiment in Philadelphia after nearly forty years, and of the steps which have been inaugurated in that city looking to the return of the flap to representatives of the old regiment with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion, and expressive of the cordial feelings which now mark the relations be tween the two sections.
Virginia has a lively interest in the recovery of this flag, for no regiment battled more "faithfully and well on well nigh every Virginia, battlefield from Bull Run to Appomattox than the Fifth Alabama and Richmond in especial degree, as its gallant commander during the larger part of the war, Colonel Edwin L. Hobson, has been a, prominent citizen of Richmond since the war.
CAPTURED AT CHANCELLORSYILLE.
The battle flag of the Fifth Alabama, just recovered, was the regulation regimental battle flag of the Confederate service. It was carried by the regiment from Manassas to Chancellorsville, where by one of those strange turns of the fortune of war it was captured on the field where everything was favoring the Con
federates in the winning of probably the most notable victory of the war. The flag is now in the possession of Mr. Carl Frederick, of Philadelphia.
The Fifth Alabama Regiment was organized in early May of '61, and was made up of young men from in and about the town of Greensboro, which has since contributed another hero to another war — Richmond Pearson Hobson. Its first Colonel Robert E. Rhodes, was a man who proved himself to be every inch a soldier. He rose to the rank of major-general in two years, and was killed at Winchester on September 19. 1863.
Colonel Rhodes and his carefully drilled Alabamians came to Virginia before first Manassas. The fiery impetuosity of the young officers of the regiment in their nervous anxiety lest some other regiment should get into the impending clash of arms first all but lost to them the chance of showing at First Manassas of what stuff the regiment was made. For several days it was camped near the afterwards famous Lewis house on the Manassas battlefield. The officers appealed so insistently to be sent to the front that the regiment was sent over to an advanced position several miles away on the right. A couple of days later came the battle at Manassas and only a forced march in a terrible July sun brought the regiment back in time for a gallant share in the second half of the lighting, which resulted in the discomfiture of McDowell and the rout of the Union army.
FOUGHT AROUND RICHMOND.
The Fifth Alabama made a name for itself in the battles around Richmond. At Seven Pines it not only captured the redoubt against which it was sent, but turned the guns captured against McClellan's second line, and with their aid, broke through this line and breakfasted upon the carefully prepared but uneaten meal of the regiment which had held it.
The regiment was in all the later battles—Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In the last named fight the flag, just recovered, was lost. The men always said the flag was lost because Tom Nutting, the daring Alabama boy who carried it. would not retreat at a moment in the day's fight when the regiment had to give back. The part the regiment played in the sweeping Confederate victory of the day is a matter of record. It is one of which Alabama is, an may well be, proud, for the magnificent style in which Rhodes' Alabama regiments, among which was the Fifth, advanced, driving all before them, has been remarked upon by students of military science, both in this country and Europe.
LOSS OF THE FLAG
The 5th was ordered to take a portion of the enemy's works. They were stormed in gallant style and taken, but because of lack of support the regiment was forced back and in the confusion the flag was lost. The regiment quickly reformed for a second charge, and the works were retaken and held, but the flag was not recovered. The brigadier general, who with his own hands took the flag from little Tom, the color-bearer, was struck with his bravery and protected him. Tom was soon exchanged and afterwards killed at Gettysburg.
The division commanders of the regiment were Ewell, D. H. Hill, Rhodes, Ramseur and Grymes. The colonels of the regiment were Col. Robert E. Rhodes, Col. Allen C. Jones, Col. C. C. Pegues, who was Wiled at Gaines' Mill and is buried in Hollywood; Col. Joseph Hall, now a judge in Dallas, Texas, and Col. Edwin L. Hobson, of Richmond.
After the battles around Richmond the regiment was under Stonewall Jackson
until his death at Chancellorsville.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85034438/1901-06-19/ed-1/seq-1/
http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/flags/021.html
Last edited:
Bringing the