HERO SICK IN
MANCHESTER
Carrled the Flag Over the
Stone Wall at Oettysburg.
Mr, Robert A. Holt, color bearer of the
Fifty-slxth Virginia Infantry. Garnett's
Brigade, Pickett'a Division, Army of
Northorn Virginia, is very ill with pneunionla
at hls home on Portor Street, between
Thlrteenth and Fourteenth Streets,
He was a gallant soldier and carrled the
flag of his regiment over the stone wall
at Gettysburg in Pickett's lmmortal
charge.
Going only on this and what is listed in "Nothing But Glory" my guess would be that Robert Holt was acting as 2nd Sgt. for Co. I 56th VA, and that most likely Co. I was color company for the regiment at that time (this would put Holt to the left and rear of the color company, which would have the guard attached to its left flank...effectively putting Holt now behind the left of the guard itself). Given the number of casualties you mentioned they were probably all shot down leaving Holt as the closest NCO of the color company who probably then picked them up and carried them across the wall. At some point then being captured with the colors by the 71st PA. That's the best guess I can make until someone has more info to add.
Josh Bucchioni