Identifier: storyofamericanh00wall (find matches)
Title: 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
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Wallace, Lew, 1827-1905
Subjects: United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives
Publisher: Springfield, O., J.W. Jones
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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pril 2, 1865. At the hrst tire of the enemy the color-sergeant fell, and I was wounded. The regi-ment was thrown into momentary confusion, andfell back a short distance behind an old breastwork,where they were rallied by our colonel, Robert L.Orr, who also received a medal for bravery. I hadthe honor to pick up a flag, carry it off the field,and, a few moments later, to plant it on the enemysworks for which service my colonel promoted meon the field to color-sergeant, and recom-mended me for a medal. My medal is in-, ^ scribed as follows: The Congfress to John C. Matthews, color-sergeant 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers, for braveryat Petersburg, Va., April 1, 1865, and for bearingthe colors of the regiment all day after beingwounded. Mr. Matthews was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1846. He enlisted in Indiana, Pa., as private in the 135th Infantry, August 1, 1862, and at the expiration of his term of service, reenlisted as sergeant in Company A, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry.
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J;^^ Jonx (;. .il 11 .iii.ws. JOHN C. EWING. John C. Ewing was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in1843, and enlisted at Latrobe in the .same State. August, 1864. in the 211thPennsylvania Infantry. AMERICAN HEROISM. 467 He writes nuder date of January 3, 1894, from Philadelphia: :- I was discharged in June, 1865. having lieeu in three engagements —Bermuda Front, Fort Steadman and Petersburg. It was at the latter placethat the event occurred which won for me my medal of honor. It was themost thrilling experience of my life, and I feel now that only by theinterposition of a higher power am I here to record the episode. On the2nd of April, 1865, we were called out to charge the works in frontof Petersburg, and formed lines of battle between the enemys forcesand the Union lines, being sixteen deep. Between four and five oclock the order came to charge, - and although losing heavily in killed and wounded, -^- we drove the Confederates out of their fortifica-tions to the right of

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