It is of interest speculating what became of the flag of the 21st North Carolina that Private Jerry Bennett died with it in his hands.

It very well could be that which Oliver Rood found and gathered up. His tale may
also indicate that Bennett had been killed on July 2.

……

Flag of the 21st NC at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 was captured by Oliver Rood, Pvt., Company F, 20th Indiana Vols. then a Pvt., Co. F, 14th Indiana Inf.
Later awarded the Medal of Honor Dec. 1, 1864 See OR V27, Pt. 1, p. 459

https://www.fold3.com/image/271/35960622

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Oliver P. Rood

Residence Vigo County IN;
Enlisted on 8/27/1862 at Terre Haute, Virgo Co., IN as a Private.
On 8/27/1862 he mustered into "F" Co. IN 14th Infantry
He was transferred out on 6/6/1864
On 6/6/1864 he transferred into "B" Co. IN 20th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 3/12/1865
born in 1844 in Frankfort County, KY
died 6/11/1885 in Nashville, TN
Buried: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, TN
Medal of Honor Information:
He was awarded the Medal of Honor
for action on 7/3/1863 at Gettysburg, PA.
(Capture of flag of 21st NC Infantry)

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana
- Deeds of Valor. How our Soldier-heroes won the Medal of Honor
- Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994

Find A Grave # 20007

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High Water Mark Heroes, Myth, and Memory
D. Scott Hartwig

“ . . . So, although they were clearly aggressive soldiers and did their duty well, neither soldier performed a remarkable feat of valor other than that of picking up a fallen flag, which invariably had been dropped not in flight, but because the color guard and color bearers were all dead or wounded. The same is true of 1st Delaware Medal of Honor recipients, privates John B. Mayberry and Bernard McCarren. Both picked up fallen flags; Mayberry likely picked up the 7th North Carolina’s and McCarren probably got the 13th Alabama’s. The most unusual Medal of Honor winner was Private Oliver P. Rood, of the 20th Indiana Infantry, in the 3rd Corps. Rood received credit for capturing the flag of the 21st North Carolina “while charging the enemy at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.” But the 20th was not engaged on July 3, nor was Rood even in the regiment. He served in the 14th Indiana, in the 2nd Corps, and transferred to the 20th Indiana on June 6, 1864. The 21st North Carolina was in Colonel Isaac Avery’s brigade, which fought on East Cemetery Hill on the evening of July 2. Rood found its flag on the morning of July 3. During the retreat from Cemetery Hill the color bearer had been killed and the flag left behind in the confusion.[23] . . . “

[23] First Lieutenant John T. Dent, who assumed command of the 1st Delaware due to heavy officer casualties, reported only that the regiment captured five flags; he did not identify who captured them or what regiments they were from. See, OR, Series 1, 27(1):469; Rollins, The Confederate Battle Flag at Gettysburg, 194, 135; OR, Series 3, 4:815. Rood’s military service record can be accessed at www.civilwardata.com.