Robert,
Thanks for your enlightening email. I did some digging in piles of papers, emails,etc. and found the letter and package that my distant cousin sent me.
It did include a photo of Colonel James Brown Forman and a photo of his first cousin, Samuel Tebbs Forman, Adjutant 4th Kentucky Regiment, CSA! Lt. Samuel T. Forman was killed at the Battle of Shiloh, on April 1862.
I did find the letter written by members of the 15th Kentucky after the battle at Murfreesboro (Stone River). It seems that I mixed up some of the facts. Apparently, when James Brown Forman was a Captain at the Battle of Perryville when the flag incident occurred. Here is the reporting:
"At the battle of Perryville or Chaplin Hills, all the field officers of the 15th Kentucky were killed and wounded, and Captain Forman, although the junior captain was promoted to its colonacy by Gov. Robinson for great gallantry. Major W.P. McDowell, of Louisville writes (May 1896): "The gallantry at Perryville alluded to was Co. C being the Color company had charge of the regimental flag, which was in charge of nine non-commissioned officers. These nine men were killed while in charge of the colors, the flag staff was cut in two by bullets, and the colors went down. Capt. Forman rushed to them, and finding the staff too short to display them, mounted a rail fence in front of the regiment and waved the flag therefrom, which must have inspired any wavering heart to deeds of valor."
This flag was presented to Col. Forman for his gallantry. He then in turn gave the tattered flag before his last battle back to Governor Robinson with the request that it be placed in the State Archives.
The following remarkable incident is related by Major W.P. McDowell. It should be stated that at the battle of Stone River (or Murfreesboro) Major McDowell was serving as chief of staff to Gen. Rousseau. Major McDowell writes: "Col. J. B. Forman was my friend from early boyhood. We were engaged together in raising Co. C 15th Ky., I as captain and he as lieutenant, and were always fast friends. He had a very stylish black horse which I admired and tried to buy from him. As I was ridingwith him and the field officers of the 15th to place the regiment in line of battle at Stone River, he remarked; 'Will, you have always wanted this horse; now it is my desire that after this battle you should have him. I will be killed in the fight, and I call on you gentlemen (addressing his field officers) to see that he gets him." Major McDowell rallied him and said "Jimmie, if you are going to be killed let me have him now and take my horse," but he answered "I am in earnest; I know what I am talking about and I want you to remember, I will be killed, and you will be wounded, and the horse will also be wounded, and I want Major Allen to see that the horse is cared for and given to you." All occurred as he said. He was killed and fell from his horse, the horse was wounded three times in the left hind leg, and Major McDowell was wounded in the left arm. While convalescent from his wound, Major McDowell was met in Louisville, by Mr. William T. Anderson, Col. Forman's brother-in-law, who informed him that the horse was in a livery stable at his disposal, Major Allen having conveyed the request. Major McDowell writes that he kept the horse until his death.
Colonel Forman was killed about 9 a.m. Dec. 31, 1862. He was buried at Cave Hill cemetery, at Louisville, and by his side rests his brother, Lieutenant Ezekiel Seabrooke Forman, who was wounded at Perryville, but survived the war. Lt, Ezekiel Forman died in 1867.
Both were tall, handsome young men, James over six feet tall, Ezekiel nearly six feet tall.
Now this letter is written by Lt. Colonel Jos R. Snyder and Capt. Noah Cartwright.
At a meeting of the officers of the 15th Ky. Infantry, January 31st 1863( The officers being unavoidably prevented meeting sooner on account of Constant Duty) Lieutenant Colonel Jos R. Snyder called to the chair and Captain Noah Cartwright appointed Secretary.
The chairman appointed Captain Wm. G. Halpin, Captain A. H. Chambers, and Chaplain W. C. Atmore a committee on Resolutions. The committee after conferring some time reported the following resolutions which were unaminously adopted by the Commissioned Officers of the 15th Ky. Infantry relative to the death of Col. Forman, Captain Bayne, and Lieut. Todd.
1st Resolved That in the death of our beloved Colonel James B. Forman! Captain A.L. Bayne and Lieut. Frank Todd on the Battle Field of Stone's River 31st December 1862! We mourn the loss of brave and skillful officers, true soldiers and thorough Gentlemen! The Regiment, the State, and the Nation have cause to lament the death of so promising Youths! Whose coolness, courage & daring on the Bluffs of Chaplin Hills and amid the crags of Stone's River won the admiration of their men and plucked a Laurel from stern fates! to add to the wreaths that garlands the brow of their Native State.
2nd Resolved. That the recollection of their Virtues and Noble Deeds shall remain Green in our memories in the hour of Peril to Sanctify the effort and nerve the armed for the restoration of the Union. Nor shall their blood go unavenged when next the 15th Ky. meets the enemy!
3rd Resolved. That the Gallant Dead? Nobly travel in the footprints of the Heroic Posse! (Unreadable) and like them died the death that Patriots love to die and when history's muse shall record this struggle and nations shall wonder at the folly that would rend assunder a country so great and happy, and perahance send the guardian soldiers of liberty a wanderer in search of an assylum. The historians that will record the names of these officers will often be embalmed with the sympathetic tear of sorrowing posterity.
I am going to try to scan the pages as they are too hard for me to continue read. I have had to guess on some of the words as the edge of the second page is not totally copied.