"Fourth Virginia Its Battle Flag,' was written by John Thomas Howe, Captain, Company E, 4th VA Inf., and published in The Times Dispatch, Richmond VA, 11 June 1905, pg. 2C, cols. 4-7. The article concerned the actions of the regiment at The Battle of Chancellorsville. The following quotes relate to the regiment's color-bearers.

"When we reached the top [of the hill] we were met by a murderous fire, which literally cut us to pieces. The half-hour we held that hill our flag went down five times. Company E, "Montgomery Highlanders," was color company, and John Hodges was color-bearer. When he was wounded, it was taken up by Joseph Henderson; when he was wounded, it was taken up by Jim Kirby; when he was wounded, it was taken up by two others in succession whose names I cannot now recall. They, too, were shot down."

"When the regiment was ordered to move, we found ourselves minus a color-bearer, and no one seeking the honor, so that duty fell to me for the balance of the day."