A brave Pennsylvanian.
Cairo, June 23, 1863.--Permit me to note to you some of the incidents I witnessed at the siege before Vicksburgh.At the battle and capture of Port Gibson, Sergeant Charles Bruner, a Pennsylvanian, of Northampton County, with a squad of fifty men of the Twenty-third regiment Wisconsin volunteers, was the first to enter [19] said fort. The flag-sergeant being wounded, Sergeant Bruner seized the colors, and, amid cheers and a rain of bullets, planted the Stars and Stripes upon the ramparts.
Again, at Champion Hill, the Twenty-third was about breaking, when Sergeant Bruner took the colors in his hand and cried, “Boys, follow! Don't flinch from your duty!” and on they went, following their brave color-bearer; and the intrenchment was taken.
Again, at the battle of Big Black, company B, of the Twenty-third Wisconsin, got orders from General Grant to plant a cannon and try to silence a battery, which was bravely done, when the cannon was dismantled, captain and first lieutenant were gone and wounded. Sergeant Bruner again cheered on his men, and in a hand-to-hand fight the enemy were routed. The sergeant was made prisoner twice, but his captors were soon put hors du combat by his brave followers, who would die for their brave sergeant and now captain. The rebels were driven back, with lost colors.
Singular to say, Sergeant Bruner has now been leading on his men in more than thirteen battles, always in front, yet he has never been wounded. He captured with his own hands three rebel flags, which he handed over to General Grant.
Sergeant Bruner being the only Pennsylvanian in that regiment, he does the old Keystone State great honor.
