WHO RAISED THE FLAG AT YORKTOWN?–

To the Twenty-second Massachusetts regiment, Col. Gove, and to the Twenty-second alone, belongs the glory of first planting the American flag on the works at Yorktown: of the truth of the statement there is and can be no question. The following brief account can be relied upon:

The day before the evacuation, Saturday, May 3d, the Twenty-second regiment received orders to march to a position within one thousand yards of the enemy’s works. Spades were furnished each man. We were then deployed on a line six feet apart, and the order came: “Dig for your lives.” Considering that we were completely exposed to a direct fire in front, and to a cross-fire from a water-battery stationed on the opposite side of the river you may readily believe we hastened to obey orders. Fortunately, the enemy did not at once open fire, and our boys had a chance to do some little digging before the storm of ball and shell commenced; but long before the pits were fully completed, their guns were played upon us. Up to twelve o’clock, the enemy had fired one hundred and seventy-five shell and shot, and though none of our regiment were killed or wounded, there were many narrow escapes.

Lieut. Stiles, commanding second company sharpshooters, in the absence of Capt. Wentworth, barely escaped being struck by a shell. In order to be able to give his men due notice when to lodge at the flash, he bravely and fearlessly excused himself. In another case, one of the men was entirely buried by a shell striking the earth in front of the pit, and had actually to be dug out by his comrades.

During the whole day our boys kept themselves busy, while the sharpshooters took every chance offered. When evening came, we were ordered back to camp; but before we had got fairly settled, the rebels commenced shelling us again. A piece of a shell struck the Adjutant’s tent, and buried itself a foot and a half in the ground. The Adjutant and one of the surgeons were in the tent at the time. At twelve o’clock our siege guns commenced operations, and the enemy ceased firing. The next morning at five o’clock, the Twenty-second were ordered to go on picket duty in front of the enemy’s lines.

The regiment, having taken their position, soon discovered that the works were evacuated, and at once marched forward and took possession. There being no colors allowed with a regiment on picket duty, Col. Gove immediately sent to his camp for the American flag, and with his own hands planted it on the works at Yorktown. At this time there were no other regiments, or parts of regiments, present under their proper officers; there were simply only a few stragglers, who followed after the Twenty-second. Col. Gove raised the flag, and was within ten feet of the concealed shell, which exploded and wounded seven of our men.

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