It is an example of how much importance was placed on a unit's battle flag, the pride that soldiers took in protecting their own or capturing their enemy's.
The Hero of Corinth - Private Orrin B Gould, of company G, Twenty-seventh Ohio, was the hero of the battle of Corinth. The following letter to Governor Tod, from Colonel John W. Fuller, commanding the Ohio Brigade, embodies a history of young Gould's resplendent conduct.
Headquarters, First Brigade, Second
Division, Army of the Mississippi,
Near Ripley, Miss., Oct. 9, 1862
To the Governor of Ohio:
SIR: I have the honor of forwarding to your Excellency the "Battle-Flag" of the Ninth Texas regiment, which was captured by a private of the Twenty-Seventh Ohio infantry, at the battle of Corinth, Oct. 4, 1862.
The rebels, in four close columns, were pressing with gallantry, amounting to recklessness, upon the Ohio brigade, with the evident intention of breaking our lines, when the terrible and incessant fire of our men drove them back in the utmost confusion.
The Sixth Texas bore down upon the left centre of the 27th Ohio, with this flag at the head of their column, and advanced to within six or eight yards of our lines, when Orrin B. Gould, a private of company G, shot down the color-bearer, and rushed forward for the rebel flag. A rebel officer shouted to his men to "save the colors," and at the same moment put a bullet into the breast of Gould; but the young hero was not to be intimidated. With the flagstaff in his hand and the bullet in his breast, he returned to his regiment, waving the former defiantly in the faces of the enemy.
After the battle, when visiting the hospitals, I found young Gould stretched upon a cot, evidently in great pain. Upon seeing me, his pale face was instantly radiant with smiles, and pointing to his wound, he said, "Colonel, I don't care for this, since I got their flag."
I have the honor to be, your Excellency's obedient servant,
JOHN W. FULLER
Colonel, Twenty-seventh Ohio, commanding
First Brigade, Second Division
Here is a story about the 9th Texas Infantry which claims theirs was not the flag Private Gould captured.
The below photograph is of Colonel John Fuller, courtesy of http://www.parkerscrossroads.com/Battle_Information/forces/fuller.htm
My 1882 copy of this book has "The Hero of Corinth" on page 463. Were there more than one printing in 1882?
ReplyDeleteNo, I apparently misread the page number. It is 463 in my version as well. Thanks for catching that.
ReplyDeleteWas at Corinth last weekend. Everything indicates the flag captured was the 9th Texas Calvary (dismounted). My GGGrandfather was in the 27th OVI, Co. H, and the history of the 27th OVI is quickly becoming a dear interest of mine.
ReplyDeleteWas at Corinth last weekend. My GGGrandfather was in Co. H, 27th OVI. The reg't and himself are becoming a focus of my interest right now. How awesome it was to stand on the same ground as the 27th at Battery Robinette, which is where the Interpretive Center is. The 27th captured the flag of the 9th Texas Calvary which were dismounted for the fight. It was a hotly contested battle! The Texas marker does specifically list 9th Texas Calvary as being engaged there for that fight.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you're finding your ancestor's story. Standing on the same land your ancestor did must be truly awesome.
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