. The story of American heroism; thrilling narratives of personal adventures during the great Civil war, as told by the medal winners and roll of honor men . bearers left hand; but he continued to cling desperatelyto the staff. I realized that what was to be done mustbe done quickly, and still retaining a hold with my lefthand, I struck the man a heavy blow in the mouth atthe same instant that I pressed my knee with all force on his naturally this compelled him to loosen his hold, and before I couldfully break away, the butt of a musket, which had been evidently intendedfor my he
. The story of American heroism; thrilling narratives of personal adventures during the great Civil war, as told by the medal winners and roll of honor men . bearers left hand; but he continued to cling desperatelyto the staff. I realized that what was to be done mustbe done quickly, and still retaining a hold with my lefthand, I struck the man a heavy blow in the mouth atthe same instant that I pressed my knee with all force on his naturally this compelled him to loosen his hold, and before I couldfully break away, the butt of a musket, which had been evidently intendedfor my head, struck me on the shoulder, the Confederate who had dealt thelilow pitching forward at the same instant witli a bnll through his body. When Sergeant Coyne recovered from the semi-mu-onciousness causedby the IjIow, he found the Confederate Hag in his hands, and his antagonistlying near by. Irostrate across the hitters body lay Sergeant .loliii Cook,grievously wounded, with his bayonet driven through the color-bearer. Hastily tearing the flag from the staff and wrapping it around his shouted triumphantly: I have it, l)oys ! 1 have got it!. ^^^Lr TiiK FiciiT FOR THE Flag. AMERICAN HEROISM. 89 This desperate encounter had been seen by General Heintzelman, whoordered a squad of men to the rescue, and as they came up on the double-quick a few of the enemy who had survived the conflict tied. Of the sixteen men with Sergeant Coyne only three escaped injury. Sergeant Cook, Corporal Henry Beekman, and Privates William Howard,James E. Merritt. and Patrick Lynch had yielded up their lives in thisdesperate struggle for the colors. Later in the day the sergeant took out his watch to ascertain the timeand found that it had been shattered by a bullet, which accounted for thesevere blow which he had felt in his side during the struggle. The watch isto-day to be seen in his cabinet, with a clipping from a newspaper of aboutthat date referring to it. For his bravery Sergeant Coyne
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