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SERGEANT
WILLIAM B. LAMB
Laurensville Herald
May 10, 1899
Transcribed by Nancie O'Sullivan |
May 10, 1899
STILL CARRIES HIS FLAG
One of the heroes of the Confederacy, who is here as a member of
Camp Garlington, Laurens, S.C. is Sergeant WILLIAM B. LAMB, who was
a non- commissioned officer of Company G, Third Regiment, South
Carolina Volunteer Infantry. The company, which went from Laurens
county, was known as the " BRIARS" and was the color company of the
regiment and LAMB, throughout the war, was its color sergeant. The
camp has with it the rent and battle-torn flag which, in SERGT.
LAMB'S hands, the regiment followed from First Manassas through to
Bentonville and until surrendered at Greensboro, N.C.
At the latter place a member of the " Briers" succeeded in secreting
it and sending it home to Laurens, where it has been since in the
custody of the survivors association of the " Briars". The flag was
carried in the parade this afternoon.
Sergt. LAMB at the breaking out of the war, was 31 years old. He was
without property and was employed as overseer by a large planter of
Laurens. He was one of the first to volunteer and the first fight
his coolness and daring attracted attention. At first Manassas a
bullet clipped a piece of his ear. Three times during the war he was
shot down and one of these wounds sent him back to South Carolina.
As soon as possible, he returned to his regiment and when he came
home again after Bentonville, he was on crutches. Once, in the thick
of a fierce fight, when LAMB was bearing the flag, his brigade
commander, GEN. JOSEPH B. KERSHAW, galloped to him and demanded the
flag, wishing himself to carry it for the time, and rally his troops
at that critical moment of engagement. The sergeant , who was
probably never excited in his life, saluted and with his
characteristic slow drawl replied " No, general, you can't get this
flag, it can't leave my hands, but tell me where you want !
it to go and I'll carry it ". The general recognizing that argument
was useless , gave LAMB his orders and the flag went where the
knightly KERSHAW would himself have borne it. The old sergeant ,
bent as he is under the weight of 70 years, carries his loved battle
flag with the same pride and adoration today that he bore it at
Manassas, Williamsburg, Maryland Heights, Sharpsburg,
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga,
Bentonville and many other hard fought fields and there's no risk in
saying not at the order of the President McKINLEY, or even Gen. JOHN
B. GORDON for that matter, would the old soldier lay it down now.
Charleston Post, May 10th, 1899.
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