I am writing you to tender my thanks for your favor in
assisting me in my search for the North Carolina Lieutenant who so generously
assisted the wounded Federal soldier J.L. Balsley upon the battle field of
Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
It is with much pleasure that I announce to you that we have
been eminently successful, and not the least of the pleasure comes from the
fact that the man who performed this noble act was one of our own county men,
and a member of our Confederate Camp, Camp Nimrod Triplett.
When we asked you to help us locate the man, it was more
than we dared to hope, to find him so near home, but I am in receipt of the
communications from Mr. Balsley in answer to my statements of the oft-repeated
statements remembered by Mrs. Hannah Brown, widow of the late J. Milton Brown,
having heard her husband relate, in which Mr. Balsley says, “I am fully
satisfied that Mr. Brown is the man.” So it is with pleasure that I announce to
his old friends and comrades that the late J. Milton Brown of Blowing Rock is
the Lieutenant for whom we have been hunting. All who had the pleasure of his
acquaintance will not wonder at his deeds of mercy, for it was very
characteristic of the man.
The following clipping from the Connellsville (Pa.,) Daily
News gives some of the details of the conversation on the field of battle.
“One of the main objects of J.R. Balsley’s trip to
Gettysberg last July, to attend the exercises in connection with the 50th
anniversary of the great battle, was to locate, if possible, the Confederate
lieutenant from North Carolina who befriended him after he was injured in the
first day’s fighting. Mr. Balsley’s efforts were successful, as the contents of
a letter mailed by H.A. Davis of Sands, N.C., to Mr. Balsley under the date of
December 8 will indicate.
“Mr. Balsley met Mr. Davis at the battlefield and they
discussed the incident. Upon returning home Mr. Davis inserted a short
statement of the facts in his country papers. In a short time the widow of the
late J.M. Brown of Blowing Rock, N.C., sent Mr. Davis word that the recognized
every detail of the statement as corresponding with that she had often heard
her husband relate, with one exception. She does not recall anything concerning
an extra blanket, but the water incident and the conversation, especially about
the desertion of the flag, Mrs. Brown remembered.
“’This incident about the flag,” wrote Mr. Davis, “is all
convincing. There was nothing in the
article published concerning any conversation between you.’”
“Brown was a lieutenant in the 37th North
Carolina troops. He was a member of Camp Nimrod Triplett, No. 1273, until his
death five years ago. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Brown were life-long friends and
acquaintances.
“On the first day of July, 1863, while trying to secure the
flag of his regiment, that had dropped from the hands of a smitten comrade, Mr.
Balsley was stricken down by two bullets. Three lines of soldiers passed over
him as they drove the Union soldier columns back, and he was with the enemy.
Late that afternoon a lieutenant of the Confederate army approached Mr. Balsley
and stopped to have a talk. He was very jubilant over their success and went on
to tell how they were going on the next day from Gettysburg to Harrisburg,
Baltimore and Washington and would wind up the war. After talking in this
manner for some time, he said:
“Sergeant, what did you come out to fight against us for
anyhow?” Mr. Balsley’s reply was: “Lieutenant, I thought it right to fight for
the old flag.” At the mention of the flag his countenance dropped and he walked
away a few steps. Then he came back and said: Well, sergeant, never desert the
old flag.” Then calling one of his me he bade him get Mr. Balsley a canteen of
water, and he himself procured a blanket and fixing him as comfortably as
possible said: “God bless you,” and went on.”
Again thanking you for your kindness, I am, Respectfully
yours,
--H.A.
Davis, Sands, Dec. 29, 1913
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