In the battles of the Wilderness, the Twentieth Massachusetts regiment was in the thick of the fight, and one color-bearer after another was shot down almost as fast as the men could be replaced. But such was the eagerness to keep the flag aloft that at one time, two men,–Irishmen–caught hold of the standard at once, as it was about to fall, and struggled for it. Just then a shot struck the staff, cutting it in two, and leaving one man with the flag, and the other with the broken stick. “Bedad!” said the man with the short end of the staff, “the rebels have decided for us this time!” and went to loading and firing again, as coolly as if nothing had happened.