The Gettysburg star

This article was found in the June 5, 1938 edition of the Daily Boston Globe:

Pittsfield, June 4 – A star shot out of a flag at the Battle of Gettysburg and for many years a treasure of Mrs. Minnie Lament of 31 Reed St., will be restored to the flag from which it came if Gov. Cross of Connecticut is willing.

Mrs. Lament, daughter of the late Patrick Norton, family of Company D, 17^th Connecticut Regiment of Infantry, and brother of the late Col. Paul J. Norton, commander of the 104^th Regiment of Springfield, has written the following letter to Gov. Cross:

“Seventy-five years ago my father, Patrick Norton, of the 17^th Connecticut Regiment of Infantry, Company D, was engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg for all three days. While he was fleeing for his life in the face of Pickett’s charge, the regimental flag of the company was shot.

One of the stars of the flag he loved so well was loose and floated down before him. He grabbed the star. It was blood-stained, yet in good condition. He carried it over his heart during the rest of the war – even through the horrors of Andersonville Prison, where he was confined when the war ended.

“I might add that he escaped, was pursued by bloodhounds, recaptured and returned in chains to that living hell. I have kept the precious souvenir framed through all these years, and as I am the last survivor among my father’s children it seems to me it would be fitting and proper that this star should be restored to the flag where it belongs.

“The emblem, I believe, is kept with the other battle flags at the State House in Hartford. I thought that if the suggestion appealed to you, I should send my grandson to commit the treasure of the great days to your Commonwealth through you.”

After 75 years the article bears a little truth and a little myth. Patrick Norton, a private in Company D, was wounded on July 1st at Gettysburg and captured by the Confederates, probably fleeing troops of Early and Gordon but certainly not Pickett. His record shows that he was paroled in July but shows no date. Most likely he never went south with many other soldiers of the 17th who were captured, possibly due to his wound and possibly because, like other Union soldiers, he was willing to accept a parole that may or may not have been legal.

Norton returned to the regiment and in 1865 was captured again at Dunn’s Lake, Florida. He spent 2 1/2 months in Andersonville prison before being paroled as the war ended and returning home to Connecticut.

Was the star from the regiment’s National colors? It could be – it was damaged during the battle. The story about the star being detached and floating down is a romantic one but perhaps a little too romantic. A later article mentions that the star was indeed returned to Connecticut. A story and research for a different time perhaps!