"A Flag in Prison"

Battle Flag of the 48th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry (Probably the 2nd battle flag) Courtesy of Ohio Historical Society

The Adventures of the 48th Ohio Flag at Camp Ford, Texas.

Editor National Tribune: Thinking a correct account of the Stars and Stripes serving a term in Camp Ford (Texas) Prison would be of interest to the survivors of that rebel pen, I will give the details of its capture, prison treatment and escape. It was on Banks's famous expedition up Red River when the 19th Ky., 77th and 130th Ill., 48th Ohio, and Chicago Mercantile Battery were captured on the 8th of April, 1864, at Sabine Cross-roads, La. The color-bearer, Isaac Scott, as the rebels were closing in on us, tore the regimental flag of the 48th Ohio from the staff and gave it to his mess-mate, who concealed it in his haversack, where he kept it from detection all through his march to prison. He was taken sick on the way and did not reach the prison for some time after the others, but through all his sickness and marches he kept it safely until he arrived at the prison, when he delivered it to the officers of the regiment for safe-keeping.

A hole was dug inside their shanty, in which the flag was buried; but prior to burying it, and after due precaution had been taken to guard against detection, it was secretly displayed to several of the old prisoners, some of whom had been there two years, and their eyes sparkled and tears stole down their emaciated cheeks as they gazed on that emblem of liberty, and they went away feeling they could bear their captivity with lighter hearts.

But the rebel guards found out we had a Union flag in camp, and they searched for it on several occasions, tearing up the floors and digging up the ground in the shanties. Although each time failing to find it, they were always on the lookout for that flag; and when on the 4th of July following, while the prisoners were celebrating the day by permission of the prison commander (we having agreed not to refer to the "unpleasantness"), in the midst of the exercises a file of rebel soldiers, in charge of the Officer of the Guard, marched in front of the speaker, and in a tone of authority said:

"I understand you had an American displayed; I demand its immediate surrender."

But he was assured that no flag had been displayed. Still he insisted. He was told that it must have been a sign of some enterprising baker who had prepared some choice biscuit, pies, etc., to tempt the ravenous appetites of the prisoners. They finally left with this warning:

"You will be fired on by the guards indiscriminately should a flag be seen displayed."

He was answered, "Don't shoot until you see the flag up."

But to keep that beautiful silk flag buried would have ruined it; so it was taken from its hiding-place and sewed up in Capt. Gunsaullus's long blouse*, and it was worn by him all through the remaining term of our captivity.

When the 19th Ky. and the 48th Ohio were exchanged, Oct.23, 1864, at the mouth of Red River, many Union officers, with their wives, were present to witness the exchange. As the prisoners boarded the steamer St. Marys the old flag was torn from its hiding-place and hastily tied to a staff previously prepared for the occasion, and from the upper deck, as our band -from a signal- played the "Star Spangled Banner," the flag of the 48th Ohio was unfurled to the breeze, with the waving of handkerchiefs and amid the wild shouts and deafening cheers of the released prisoners and the groans of the rebels.

No words of tongue or pen can fully describe the emotions of that hour. It was an inspiring scene, and one that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Even the rebel agent of exchange, Capt. Bischett, on his return to Camp Ford said it was one of the most exciting scenes he had ever witnessed, and the regiment deserved great credit. Another rebel Lieutenant of artillery who was present, and who no doubt had not lost all the love for the "Starry Banner," said to me after it was over:

" I could not have had the heart to take that flag from you had I discovered it on your way to exchange, for it has been a pleasure to me to see your great joy at its safe deliverance from prison."

The flag was afterward placed in the flag-room at the State Capitol in Columbus, O., where it now remains. This is the only flag I ever heard of being in Camp Ford Prison, Texas, and its history is taken from notes made at that time. -- Thomas Montgomery, Captain, 48th Ohio, Lynchburg, O.

From: The National Tribune October 13th 1887

 

* A family story handed down in the Sowry family is that Captain James Sowry of Company E unraveled his socks to use as thread to allow Capt. Gunsaullus to sew the flag into his coat, as he was the only officer who still had a coat.

 

Many thanks to Larry Stevens who researched and contributed this article. Be sure to visit Larry's excellent web site, "Ohio and the Civil War" for more information and stories about Ohio Civil War soldiers.

 

"A Flag The Rebels Didn't Get"

48th OVI Battle Flag (probably the first) "March 10th [1864], in accordance with orders issued by Gen. McClernand, the following battles were ordered to be inscribed on the colors of the 48th Ohio Vet. Vol. Inf.: "Battle of Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Siege of Vicksburg and Jackson." 48 OVVI Regimental History Courtesy of Ohio Historical Society

by Isaac Carman, 48th OVI

At ten o'clock on the morning of May 22d, at Vicksburg, our brigade captured a fort, together with a number of prisoners. The colors of the Forty-eighth Ohio and Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry, were ordered to be planted on the fort, which was done by Sergeant Dave Vore and one of the Illinois men.

We were then in a very desperate position, and, in addition to the enemy's fire, received some of the shells of our own batteries, which fell short of their mark. To relieve myself somewhat of this uncomfortable situation. I unfixed my bayonet and dug a little trench near the top of the works, close by our flag. An Illinois man crawled beneath me into an excavation caused by the explosion of a shell. We arranged that he should reload our guns, while I continued firing at the enemy whenever one of them would come within my sight and range. This lasted several hours, when the rebels brought a battery to bear on my position, and, for some time shells were singing their song so dangerously near to my head, that my position became hardly tenable. A little letter the enemy began massing troops at this point. I was able to distinctly hear their commands and see their numerous bayonets. Then I thought it high time to notify our officers of the danger our flag was in. I noticed that our men were some distance behind, in the ditch but determined to rescue the flag, [I] rushed back, and received from Capt. Posegate [Co. D] the permission to get it, if possible. I seized it none too soon, for the terrific assault came sooner than I expected. "I reached the top of the bastion and grasped the Ohio flag; the Illinois standard could not be saved. How I got down and paced the hundred feet to our ditch, through all that tremendous fire, I cannot tell. In my great haste I ran right into the bayonet of one of my own company [Co. A], who was then in charging position. Driving its entire length into my leg and thigh. Although I almost dropped into a faint, I had enough presence of mind to run the shaft of the flag into the ground and hang onto it. My comrades pulled me down into their ditch and got the bayonet out of my leg. I was taken to the rear.
Isaac A. Carmen [Carman]

Besides the exploit which Corporal Isaac H. Carmen [Carman] here describes, he also saved the lives of a number of his comrades, by seizing a shell with a burning fuse, and throwing it back to the Rebels, whence it came, slaughtering them with their own weapon of death, intended for Union men.

W.F. Beyer and O.F. Keydel, 1903
Deeds of Valor: How America's Civil War Heroes Won the Medal of Honor,
Perrien-Keydel Co. Detroit. Michigan:
Reprint of above by Longmeadow Press. Stamford. CT. 1992
(pp. 201-202)

 

Excerpted from
History of Defiance County, Ohio.
Contributed by Denise Fox

 

HOW THE FLAG OF THE FORTY-EIGHTH WAS SAVED.

When the Forty-eighth regiment, to which Company F belonged, was overpowered and captured at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864, the color-bearer, Isaac Scott, in the midst of the excitement threw down the regimental flag, but an old man sprang forward and tore the old flag from its staff and slipped it into his haversack. He was left sick on his way to prison, and did not arrive for some time after; but through all his sickness he clung to the flag, and upon arriving at Camp Ford, Tex., to which place the regiment had preceded him, delivered it to the officers of the regiment for safe keeping, and it was sewed up in Capt. Gunsaullues' blouse (he then being Captain of Company F), inside of the lining, where he wore it in safety up to the time of their being exchanged, at the mouth of Red River, on the Mississippi, October 33, 1864, after an imprisonment of six months and fifteen days. Passing down the Mississippi a short distance, they left the rebel craft and were turned over to Col. Dwight, Commissar of exchange. He ordered them on board the St. Mary's, where a band of music from New Orleans, and a number of ladies--wives of Union officers-were awaiting their arrival. Upon boarding the vessel, they proceeded immediately to the upper deck. The old flag was then torn from its place of concealment (Capt. (G's blouse), and hastily tied to a staff prepared for the occasion. At this signal, the band struck up the " Star Spangled Banner," and the old flag of the Forty-eighth, was unfurled to the breeze, with waving of handkerchiefs, and amid the wild shouts and deafening cheers of the released prisoners.

The flag was afterward placed in the flag room of the State House at Columbus, Ohio, where it now remains.

The rebel Assistant Agent of Exchange, Capt. Bilchatt (who accompanied the prisoners), on his return to Camp Ford related to the remaining prisoners how the flag of the Forty-eighth Ohio, in his presence, was torn from the coat of one of the officers, after they were exchanged at the mouth of Red River. He said it was one of the most exciting scenes he ever witnessed, and that the regiment deserved a great deal of credit for preserving their colors during their imprisonment.

 

The Four Flags of the Forty-Eighth Ohio

by Stephen E. Williams

 

Our nations flag is important to us as a symbol today but it is hard for an average American of our time to even begin to conceive of the importance the regimental flag held for the soldiers of the Civil War. This banner was a tactical guide post which the relatively untrained troops in battles like Shiloh could rally to. When the flag retired the regiment was likely to be close behind and when it was carried forward troops followed often into lethal fire from the enemy. It was not uncommon for a commanding officer who's troops were balking to seize the flag and lead them forward. Color sergeants were the bravest men in the regiment. To carry the colors was an honor but it was also a dangerous and important duty. Its importance can be gaged by the award of the Metal of Honor to Corporal Carmin at Vicksberg for saving the regimental colors and the special wraith shown by Lieut. Col. Job Parker toward his color sergeant who abandoned the regimental flag of the 48th at Shiloh. But the flag was far more than a rallying point. Success in battle was often measured in the number of regimental flags captured from the enemy and to lose a regimental flag was a shameful event for a regiment. The honor of the regiment was at stake. June 22, 1863 when the 48th Ohio and the 77th Illinois Planted their regimental flags on the Confederate works at Vicksburg at terrific cost in life an limb, it was an accomplishment proudly announced in the newspapers and preserved in 48th Ohio's regimental history even though the assault failed to capture the stronghold. Men who rallied to the colors in such circumstances developed a very deep emotional feeling for them beyond anything we are likely to feel today.

The 48th Ohio marched behind four regimental flags during its five year history. These flags also each represent a distinctive phase of the history of the regiment so they gain yet another significance. One of the first two was in the Ohio State Capitol. It is very likely to be the second flag or "Flag in Prison" since the regimental history states that the first flag was lost, and several sources state that the second flag was in the State Capitol. Physical evidence also favors this view since the Flag that saw such battles as Shiloh, and the May 22nd, 1863 charge at Vicksburg would be expected to be full of holes while the flag that had been buried and worn inside in Capt. Gunsaullus blouse for months would show wear. The flag at the Ohio Historical Society, which we assume is the one which was previously displayed at the state capitol, shows wear, not holes from musket balls and shell fragments.

1. The Flag of the Forty-Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (October, 1861 - February, 1864.)

Col. Sullivan or Lieut. Col. Parker commanding. Shiloh, Chichasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Baker's Creek, Black River Bridge, Siege of Vicksburg, Siege of Jackson

This first flag was that abandoned by the color sergeant at Shiloh but carried on by others first in an organized retreat then forward in pursuit of the enemy. It was in the disastrous battle at Chickasaw Bluff and was carried in triumph over the Confederate works and into the fort at Arkansas Post. This banner was marched in mire around Vicksburg and carried in to battle at Port Gibson, Baker's Creek, Black River Bridge, the Siege of Vicksberg and the Siege of Jackson. At Vicksburg the 48th "in conjunction with the left of the 77th Illinois, reached the fort. Leaping into the ditch, and climbing the parapet, the colors of the 48th Ohio and 77th Illinois were planted on the fort. ..... At 4 P. M. the rebels massed their troops on our front, and attacked us with great fury, and re-took the fort, capturing the colors and fifty men of the 77th Ills. Ike Carmin, one of our color guards, with a bayonet-wound in the leg, clung to our flag and saved it from sharing the same fate." Isaac Carmin earned the medal of honor partly for this act. This flag saw as much shot and shell as any in the Union Army. It was described by the regimental history, upon its retirement, as tattered. How could it have been in any other condition?

Of this flag the regimental history states: "Sept. 20th, Capt. Tice having resigned, Capt. Bering resumed command of the Regiment. With Capt. Tice we sent our old, tattered battleflag to Columbus, Ohio, to be placed in the flagroom at the State House. After he arrived in Cincinnati he put it on exhibition in Wiswell's show-window on Fourth street, but it has never been seen or heard of since." Is this the tattered flag displayed today in the Ohio State Capitol?

2. The Flag of the Forty-Eighth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry (February, 1864 - January,1865).

Lieut. Col. J. W. Lindsey and Major J. A. Bering commanding in battle. Sabine Pass, Camp Ford Prison.

Reconstruction of first battleflag in the Ohio Historical Society collection

The Veteran Volunteers were formed from the members of the 48th Ohio who reenlisted and were entitled to wear a specal veteran volunteer medal. The entire regiment was taken prisoner at the Battle of Sabine Pass resulting in the "The Flag in Prison". The regimental history states: "When we were captured, our color-bearer, Isaac Scott, tore the regimental flag from the staff, and gave it to his mess-mate, to conceal in his haversack. He was left sick on the way to prison, and did not arrive for some time after, but through all his sickness he clung to the flag, and upon arriving at Camp Ford, delivered it to the officers of the Regiment for safe keeping. A hole was dug inside of our shanty, in which we buried the flag. But the rebels found out, through some means, that there was a Union flag in camp. They searched for it on several occasions, but failed to discover it. To keep our large, beautiful silk flag buried, would soon have ruined it, therefore it was sewed up in Capt. Gunsaullus's blouse. He wore it among the rebels, with the flag sewed inside the lining. The flag was shown secretly to a number of prisoners, some of whom had been in captivity for nearly two years, and their eyes glistened at the sight of that 'Emblem of Freedom.'"

The regimental history states: "Company E, which had been the color company during the entire service, delivered the flag of the Regiment to Col. Parker, who brought it home and retained possession of it until his death, which took place December 5, 1865. Mrs. Parker, upon the request of the members of Company A, delivered the flag to E. T. Rayburn, of New Lexington, Highland county, Ohio, where it still remains." This is the flag presented to Col. Parker. Is it the one in the Ohio State capitol today?

3. The Flag of the 83d Ohio Volunteer Infantry (The combined Battalions of the 48th and 83d Ohio Volunteer Infantry) (January, 1865 - July, 1866).

Lieut. Col. Baldwin commanding in battle. Escambia river, Fort Blakely.

The regimental history informs us that the 48th and 83rd Ohio were consolidated into ten companies, and designated as the 83d Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regimental officers and non-commissioned officers of the 48th Ohio were mustered out as supernumeraries and the field officers of the 83rd were retained. The ten companies of the 48th Ohio were consolidated into four companies, and those of the 83rd Ohio into six. Col. F. W. More became bergade commander which left Lieut. Col. W. H. Baldwin, of the 83rd Ohio in command of the Regiment.

The third regimental flag of the men of the 48th Ohio was thus the flag of the 83rd Ohio.

4. The 48th Ohio Volunteer Infantry once more (They may or may not have had a battle flag) (July, 1865 - August, 1866).

Lieut. Col. J. R. Lynch commanding.
No Battles.

Just before muster out the regiment regained its old Identity. "Under Special Orders No. 48, 13th A. C., dated July 19, 1865, the Regiment resumed its old name of 48th Ohio Vet. Vol. Infantry, and was placed under command of Capt. J. R. Lynch, afterward promoted to Lieut.-Col." Whether there was a fourth flag during this brief period is unknown.

 

The Ohio Historical Society
Save the Flags Campaign

A colorful part of Ohio's military history is in danger of crumbling away. The Ohio Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Foundation, in cooporation Ohio Historical Society's Civil War Institute, are working to preserve these beautiful remenants of Ohio's glorious past.

If you would like to make a donation to help with the preservation efforts, visit the Ohio Historical Society's web page:

http://www.ohiohistory.org/about/ohf/stheflag.html

Or contact them at:

The Ohio Historical Foundation
1982 Velma Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43211
(614) 297-2320
(800) 647-6921