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Private Nathaniel McLean Gwynne

Portrait of Private Nathaniel Gwynne of Troop H, 13th O.V.C. From Deeds of Valor, v. 1, p 394.

One of the units participating in the assault of Petersburg was the 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, which was under the brigade command of Colonel Samuel Harrimon. After the mine explosion, the 13th assaulted the Confederate fortification, Fort Hill, commonly known to the soldiers as “Fort Hell.”

As the 13th prepared to charge Fort Hill, Private Nathaniel M. Gwynne joined the line. The captain noticed Gwynne in the line and ordered him to stay behind. Gwynne, only fifteen years old, had never been properly mustered into the unit. Before Gywnne could be forced to leave the line, the bugler sounded the charge. The troop moved forward and Gwynne followed.

The troop crossed the ravine and moved up the side of the hill, directly towards the cannons of the Confederate battery defending Fort Hill. The orderly assault quickly degraded into hand-to-hand combat. In the thick of the fighting, the color sergeant of the 13th was shot and the colors were captured. The 13th, realizing its assault had failed, started to retreat.

Gwynne Saving the Flag. From Deeds of Valor, v. 1, p 11.

Halfway to the starting point of the cavalry charge, Gwynne on his horse broke free from the line. Initially, the men of the 13th thought Gwynne had lost control of his horse, but soon realized to their fear and amazement that he had complete control of the horse’s reins and was headed straight towards the enemy.

From inside the fort, the Confederates immediately began shooting at Gwynne. Evading Confederate bullets, Gwynne headed towards the men who had captured the colors of the 13th. Arriving at their location, Gwynne seized the colors, and spun his horse around and headed back towards Union lines. With so many bullets directed towards him, it seemed as if every Confederate weapon was trained on him. Gwynne had not gone far when a Confederate bullet found its target. The arm holding the flag was almost torn from Gwynne’s body. Dropping the flag, Gwynne stopped his horse. Placing the reins in his mouth, Gwynne recovered the flag from the ground. As he was moving back towards his troop, Gwynne was struck in the leg. As he reached the 13th, he turned the flag over and fell to the ground, unconscious.

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