Subdeacon Joe Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 pstSendrooac25186c261 mgt31rt91gtu0,a0g 25hufh19302aicM252ia · Shared with Public North Carolina Confederates onStdesoprcma92afi360m13tMtu4m4r27u0t,2hhu06hm72 ha 1f19m931 · During the first day's battle at Gettysburg, when the Federal I and XI Corps broke and retreated through Cemetery Hill, a man from the 97th New York, who had captured the flag of the 20th North Carolina, was carrying the flag to the rear. Captain Alexander of the 45th North Carolina saw the 20th's flag and went for it. The two men struggled, and in the fight the flag was torn into two roughly equal pieces. When they separated each man took half with him. Alexander returned his half to the 20th. The flag remained in two halves until the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Sgt. Henry M. Fitzgerald of the 97th New York strolled into the camp of the veterans of the 20th at the reunion. He was introduced to the 20th's color-bearer, J.D. Irvin. "The color-bearer!" cried Fitzgerald. "Thats better than I had hoped for. I've got the other half of your flag that we took away from you fifty years ago today, and I wanted to return it to somebody from the regiment, but I didn't hope to be able to give it to the very man we took it from." The two halves were united, and it was noted that the half still owned by the 20th had 27 bullet holes in it. Photo: Confederate guests at the 1913 Gettysburg 50th Reunion North Carolina Confederates 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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