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The Hero of Corinth - Private Orrin B. Gould, Co. G, 27th Ohio

From Civil War in Song and Story: 1861-1865; collected and arranged by Frank Moore; Published in New York; 1882. Submitted by Stephanie Ebel


p. 463

Private Orrin B. Gould, of company G, Twenty-seventh Ohio, was the hero the battle of Corinth. The following letter to Governor Tod, from Col. John W. Fuller, commanding the Ohio Brigade, embodies a history of young Gould's resplendent conduct.

Headquarters, First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Mississippi, Near Ripley, Miss., Oct. 9, 1862

To the Governor of Ohio:

Sir: I have the honor of forwarding to your Excellency the "Battle Flag" of the Ninth Texas regiment, which was captured by a private of the Twenty-Seventh Ohio infantry, at the battle of Corinth, Oct. 4, 1862.

The rebels, in four close columns, were pressing with gallantry, amounting to recklessness, upon the Ohio brigade, with the evident intention of breaking our lines, when the terrible and incessant fire of our men drove them back in the utmost confusion.

The Sixth Texas bore down upon the left centre for the 27th Ohio, with this flag at the head of their column, and advanced to within six or eight yards of our lines, when Orrin B. Gould, a private of company G, shot down the color-bearer, and rushed forward for the rebel flag.  A rebel officer shouted to his men to "save the colors", and at the same moment put a bullet into the breast of Gould; but the young hero was not to be intimidated. With the flagstaff in his hand and the bullet in his breast, he returned to his regiment, waving the former defiantly in the faces of the enemy.

After the battle, when visiting the hospitals, found young Gould stretched upon a cot, evidently in great pain. Upon seeing me, his pale face was instantly radiant with smiles, and pointing to his wound, he said,"Colonel, I don't care for this, since I got their flag."

I have the honor to be, your Excellency's obedient servant.

John W. Fuller

Colonel Twenty-Seventh Ohio, commanding First Brigade, Second Division


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