Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/74

62 Monaghan swam his horse across the river. Colonel Terry and a few others successfully swam across, but many lost their lives in the attempt. Leon Bertin, the color-bearer of the Seventh Louisiana, tore the flag from the staff and concealed it in his bosom. In fact, everything possible was done by the gallant fellows to render their capture as barren of trophies as possible, while in point of casualties it was a dearly-bought victory for the enemy.

The entire force captured numbered about fourteen hundred men, consisting of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Louisiana regiments, the Louisiana Guard battery, and about two hundred of Hoke's North Carolina brigade.

The capture was witnessed from the south bank by Generals Lee and Early, who accepted it as a sacrifice that had to be made, and under its cover successfully retired the remainder of the army across the Rapidan.

But the writer's mission is to record the daring and chivalric deeds of a member of the command that surrendered. The captured prisoners were marched to General Sedgwick's headquarters, and when assembled around the camp-fire at night, surrounded by Federal pickets, Leon Bertin, by the advice of Colonel D. B. Penn, the only field officer captured, threw the flag into the flames, as the most effectual means of preventing it from falling into the enemy's hands.

The following morning the prisoners were taken to the Old Capitol prison, where they were confined three days, when the officers were sent to Johnson's Island and the privates to Point Lookout.

As soon as the captured officers reached their future prisons, the buoyancy of their natures asserted itself, and during the winter months every species of amusement possible was indulged in to drive away the ennui and render prison life bearable.

A minstrel company was formed, of which Charlie H. Pierce was among the leading performers, and their entertainments were witnessed and appreciated by many outside as well as inside the prison, and by none more eagerly than the officers of the garrison, who invariably assembled to witness them.

They also organized base-ball clubs—the Southern nine, composed of those below the rank of captain—of which Charlie Pierce was captain and catcher, and the Confederate nine, composed of the higher officers. Their championship game was considered one of the best ever played, and was witnessed by upwards of 3,000