Serving Injured

Consider Flower continued to serve in the 1st Michigan Cavalry for three years after being wounded at the Second Battle of Winchester, but it does not seem likely that he fought with the regiment. The fellow soldiers who supported his later pension claim describe him as unable to easily dismount a horse, which was crucial to the way cavalry fought at this time. Consequently he was placed on "detatched duty," which meant that he served away from regiment with some other part of the Union army. One soldier, George Cramton, was more specific about what he thought Flower did: light duty at Headquarters, including carrying dispatches.

Flower's service record from immediately after the battle do record that he was detailed to special duty as a telegraph messenger in June 1862, but makes no other mention of light or detatched duty until July 1864. From July 1, 1864 to July 1, 1865, and again in December 1864 and January 1865, it does record him as on "On Extra or Daily duty, 1st Brigade HQ," an assignment consistent with Cramton's statement.

"He remained several weeks at Williamsport, excused from all duty after which he was being somewhat better but unable to do regular duty with his co[mpany] he was detailed for light duty at the Headquarters of the 1st Brig[ade], 1st Div[ision] Cav[alry] comp. in which capacity I believe he served until he was discharged from the Service. We often met during the time and talked about his condition & injury, he saying that as he could carry dispatches and perform other light duty he would remain where he was so long as he could."

"Subsequently and by reason of this injury and through the efforts of his Co[mpany] commander, (Lieut[ant] Snyder) said soldier was placed upon detatched duty to avoid dismounted service in which capacity he served nearly or the whole of his remaining time."

"Soon after the injury he was sent away from the company on detatched duty where he would not have to do dismounted duty. I did not see much of him after this until we both went home on furlough in the winter of 1863 and 1864." Morgan James

"Detailed and Absent on special duty as telegraph messenger"

July 1864, (Co. F) On extra or daily duty 1st Brig Hd Qrs

Jany to May 1865, On extra or daily duty 1st Brig Hd Qrs since May 1/64

June & July 1865, Absent Det. Serv. Brig Hd Qrs

Dec 1865 & Jany 1866, (Co. M. Vet. Cav.) On Daily Duty