April 6, 1862Billy Caldwell, a redheaded fellow, was killed at Shiloh. He was the flag bearer for Denmark Danes. He died with the flag in his hand. The flag was shot to shreds and the staff that held it was hit twenty six times. The flag fell to the ground six times, but each time was secured by a member of the guard, and again waved on high. When the last of the guard fell, the tattered banner, red with the blood of the brave guard that lay dead and dying around it, was seized by Private Posey of Company A. Billy had made a short speech at the Denmark Church in which he said he would carry the flag to Washington and shake it in the face of Abe Lincoln, or something of that kind.
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