Dear Friends
Thomas J Higgins – Union Flag-Bearer
Higgins was a Canadian immigrant into the US – drafted into the US Army during the American Civil War. He served in the 99th Illinois Volunteer Infantry between August 1862 and July 1865 – when he was discharged. He entered his military service as a “Private” and left as a “Sergeant”. He fought at the Siege of Vicksburg and it is through the testimony of hundreds of Confederate soldiers that we know what he did. Flag-bearers are usually inspirational in function, unarmed in reality, and easily targetted by the enemy. Generally speaking, despite the enhanced danger, it is considered an honour to carry the flag.
On May 22nd, 1863, the well-trained, well-armed, and well-motivated 2nd Texas Regiment of the Confederate Infantry defended an area of the broad entrenchment known as a “lunette” (a “U” shape – or “half-moon” shape) – which the Union soldiers were tasked with reaching (through open-ground), scaling, fighting their way inside, and finally taking from Confederate control. The (Federal) 99th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was part of this slaughter – with the Union suffering hundreds of casualties very quickly in a relatively small area.
Thomas J Higgins, like most flag-bearers, was unarmed, and had been tasked to carry the Regimental-Colours into battle – simultaneously acting as a rallying point (and motivator) to the rest of the men. From afar, the Union Field and Staff Officers could see how far their Military Units had progressed, and where they were positioned on the battlefield – making ongoing (coherent) decisions premised upon this information.
The Texan Confederate soldiers (and their Officers) reported that on May 22nd, 1863, five Union Regiments from Illinois and Ohio struck the lunette they were guarding. These Confederate soldiers each possessed a Springfield Rifle and five (out of date) smooth-bore muskets already loaded with buck and bore (used to hunt bears in peace time). This was a clever move as the (modern and) very accurate Springfield Rifles were used for long-range work – whilst the defenders switched to the pre-loaded muskets for close-in work.
This immense fire-power (in a confined space) made a killing field of the redoubt. Those Union attackers that managed to survive the attack across open-ground had to climb a 18-foot breastwork (including trench) before even getting to grips with the defenders – who simply stuck the muskets out of fire-holes and opened-fire at point-blank range! On top of this, Confederate “Grenadiers” lobbed cannon-balls with five-second fuses into the mass of attacking enemy troops. Needless to say, bravery has its limit, and many Union soldiers broke-off the attack and retreated back to their lines – usually minus copious numbers of their friends and colleagues. Meanwhile, Confederate casualties were minimal.
As the Union men charged in good order (and solid formation) into the lunette-area – the Confederate Infantry casually opened a devastating barrage from right, left, and centre. Union soldiers dropped in groups of ten, twenty, thirty and more, some dead – many wounded. The bodies piled-up ten to twenty feet in places of maximum Confederate fire. Astonishingly, these Union soldiers reformed and led by their Sergeants (most Officers were now dead) continued the attack until all were dead or lay dying – often shouting “Vicksburg or Death”!
Thomas J Higgins marched, jogged and ran (unarmed) into this madness. As his colleagues fell around him, he jumped over their bodies – and then climbed the heaps of corpses, before standing back to attention – and then continuing the charge with the Regimental Flag held high! It is reported that in this section of the Confederate line – around one-hundred Texans were responsible for this death and destruction raining down upon the Union troops. The Confederates possessed such a good defensive position that the killing on this day was easy. These men kept firing and the “Yankees” kept falling – all except one man.
As he was positioned in the middle of the Union troops, as is typical of a flag-bearer, designed to grant maximum visibility for the flag, the bodies of his colleagues absorbed the incoming Confederate rounds – so that Thomas J Higgins was not hit once in the battle. After one particularly destructive volley – the smoke cleared to reveal that Thomas J Higgins was the only Union soldier left standing – and yet he picked-up his flag and kept-on coming!
All at once, up and down the Confederate line – every man lowered his gun (and ensured their neighbours did the same) – stating that this Union soldier was too brave to be killed in this way. The Confederates started cheering the Union soldier and encouraging him to reach the breastworks and climb-up – which he did. After firmly planting his flag at the top – he was taken prisoner by the Texan Confederate troops – congratulated for his bravery and treated with the utmost respect!
He was a POW until the end of the battle (three-days later) when he was released following the Confederate defeat. The Confederate States Army (CSA) wrote to the US Government – recommending Private (subsequently “Sergeant”) Thomas J Higgins for the “Congressional Medal of Honour” – but this was not granted until 1898!
Reference:
Samuel W Mitchem: Vicksburg – The Bloody Siege That Turned the Tide of the Civil War, Regnery History, (2018), Chapter 16 (Audible Edition)
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 