Asa Blanchard was the Sergeant Major of the 19th Indiana Infantry (and a member of the famed "Iron Brigade.)" During the battle of Gettysburg several members of the Color-Guard were killed carrying the colors. Soon the Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment grabbed the colors but was shot in the leg and forces to relinquish the flag. Blanchard, who could not find anyone else willing to carry the flag, ripped it off of the standard and wrapped it around his waist. As he turned to retreat he was struck in the groin by a Confederate bullet and soon bled to death. Before dying Blanchard managed to say, "Don't stop for me, Don't let them have the flag." His last words on earth were, "Tell mother I never faltered." Blanchard's body was sent home to Indiana and the flag was sent along in the casket. His body was later sent to Washington D.C. where his father worked for the goverment. On July 10th, 1863, he was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Asa Blanchard was the Sergeant Major of the 19th Indiana Infantry (and a member of the famed "Iron Brigade.)" During the battle of Gettysburg several members of the Color-Guard were killed carrying the colors. Soon the Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment grabbed the colors but was shot in the leg and forces to relinquish the flag. Blanchard, who could not find anyone else willing to carry the flag, ripped it off of the standard and wrapped it around his waist. As he turned to retreat he was struck in the groin by a Confederate bullet and soon bled to death. Before dying Blanchard managed to say, "Don't stop for me, Don't let them have the flag." His last words on earth were, "Tell mother I never faltered." Blanchard's body was sent home to Indiana and the flag was sent along in the casket. His body was later sent to Washington D.C. where his father worked for the goverment. On July 10th, 1863, he was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
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