This post is part of the Donohoo Descendancy Project. Marsh B. Taylor was the husband of Sudie Bishop, the daughter of Sarah Ann (Donohoo) Bishop, and the granddaughter of Patrick and Sarah (Thornbury) Donohoo.
Thirty-five years after his death, stories resurfaced about Col. Marsh B. Taylor’s heroic deeds, when his son, William John Taylor, donated the Tenth Indiana regimental flags that had been in his family’s possession:
“Woman Receives the Flags of This State
_______
Mrs. Mabel W. Ball is recipient of a remarkable gift.
_______
(By Louis Ludlow)
Washington, May 21. – Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball, associate editor of the National Tribune, the national organ of the old soldiers, a woman noted for her prominence in the Women’s Relief corps, and as a defender and protector of the United States flag, was attending to the routine duties of her newspaper position recently when a man entered carrying two carefully-wrapped flags. He introduced himself as William John Taylor, whose father, Col. Marsh B. Taylor, was colonel of the fighting Tenth Indiana infantry, having taken charge of that regiment in the thick of the battle of Chickamauga when Col. William B. Carroll was killed. The visitor manifestly was in poor health. He told Mrs. Ball that he feared his career on earth would soon be ended and that he wished to present to her the two flags carried by the Tenth Indiana having heard of her work for the flag and feeling sure that these historic emblems would be safe in her keeping.
He then turned over the flags to her. Originally they were beautiful silk emblems, each about twenty-five feet long. One is the flag of the state of Indiana, with the great seal of the Hoosier commonwealth in the center of its blue field. Printed on it in gilt letters are the names of the battles in which the Tenth participated. The other flag is that of the nation- the stars and stripes. The ravages of war are plainly evident in the worn condition of the flags.
Mrs. Ball never had seen Mr. Marsh, though of course she was familiar with the history of the regiment. It occured to her that the proper place for the flags was in the keeping of the state of Indiana. She wrote to Governor Ralston and from the governor’s secretary, Mr. Johnson, she received a letter saying that the governor would be glad to receive the flags in behalf of the state of Indiana and turn them over to the state flag commission. By correspondence it was arranged that the governor is to go to Marion, Ind., and receive the flags from Mrs. Ball at the campfire to be held on May 27 while the Indiana G.A.R. encampment is in session. They will be taken to the statehouse at Indianapolis and placed in the collection of battleflags in the state museum.
Probably not five persons in the entire United States could have told what had become of the battleflags of the Tenth Indiana regiment. This regiment was one of the most notable regiments in the United States army in the civil war…
Mrs. Ball, who will make the presentation speech at Marion May 27, is known from coast to coast in connection with her work on prevention of the desecration of the flag…” [24]
Marsh B. Taylor was a born adventurer, of a roving disposition, soldier, gallant and brave gentleman. During his short life, he endeared many to him, loyal and true. While he was not often home with his family as he sought the next enterprise, they also were true and loyal to his memory once he was gone. His was a life worth remembering.
______________________________
Images used in this post:
Lieut. Col. Marsh B. Taylor. Shaw, James Birney. History of the Tenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry: Three Months and Three Years Organizations. Lafayette, Indiana: 1912. Accessed on 25 November 2015 at https://archive.org/stream/historyoftenthre00inshaw. Also accessed on 25 November 2015 at https://books.google.com/books?id=7K1xAAAAMAAJ&num=9. Page 123.
“Tattered War Flags of State are Found.” The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana). Friday, 14 May 1915. Page 2. Accessed at newspapers.com on 24 November 2015.
The flag of our union. New York : Published by Currier & Ives, c1861. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Catalog Number 2001699164. Accessed at loc.gov on 3 January 2016.
Sources & Research Notes:
[24] Ludlow, Louis. “Woman Receives the Flags of This State.” Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana). Friday, 21 May 1915. Page 12. Accessed at newspapers.com on 24 November 2015.
