The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-14
rhr Richmnnd Troon.


The Richmond Troop.
We are happy 10 learn that there are indiea-
,ions of greater vitality in the new troop, than
ever fell TO the lot OF any of it's predecessors
Outsiders, who are able to help, are taking deep
interest In IL. and the public generally seem
not disposed TO let il die. IL il he possible 10
keep ii alive Ii Is, indeed, an arm OF the ser
vice, so peculiarly adapted TO our SITUATION
that we never ought TO be without IT. Troops
might AZ any moment be required at points
not accessible 10 railroads or STEAMBOATS,, ana
under such circumst ances IL is easy to under
stand how important the services OF iight ca
xalrv might become. When the Southampton
instruction took place, the troop from this ci-
~. and that from Petersburg, were At once dis
matched TO the scene of action, and they APP
peared upon 1t IN marvellously short space
of time travelling all the way by land. The
weather was warm, august but we believe
but one horse died on the march, (that Of Mr..
HENRY L. BROOKE, still an esteemed fellow
citizen, though a trooper twenty EIGHT years
ago) The troop Of that day was commanded
by RANDOLPH HARRISON, Jr.; his first Lieu
tenant was SAMUxL s. MYERS, Esq, who,
became captain after the resignation OF Capt.
HARRISON
The writer OF this article has abundant oc-
casion to recoi,ect that insnrrection-the.' NAT
TURNER war" as it was called. On the Sat
urday evening before the Sunday on which it
broke out he was at great camp-meetiDg at
Providence, in the county of Chesterfield, of
which he was then resident 1t was in the
midst of a great revival in all the Churches
The meeting in question, had already continu-
ed from the previous Tuesday morning. The ex-
citement had been great throughout the week,
and more than one hundred persons had been
added to the Church. Suddenly, as the sun
began TO near the western horizon, it assumed
CHASTITY green appearance, and all nature
looked as though il were viewed through
pair of ,reen spectaeles. The phenomenon
was so sudden, and so unaccountable, that
many nervous persons were wrought up to
pitch not far below frenzy, believing that the
day of judgment had arrived The preacher
Tor the time occupying the pulpit, seized the
occasion TO make a tremendous appeal
The effect was awful. Screams of terror,
and yells Of despair were heard mingling
in the widest confusion. The scene OF it.
self, was one of those which ii is difficult to
forget But it was connected with circum-
stances which rendered 1t imperishable in the
recollection OF all who witnessed II. That
same blue Tor green) sun, which created
much terror among the camp-meeting people
at Providence, was the signal to NAT TURNER
in Southampton, for the commencement of his
fearful work. That blood thirsty fanatic ac-
copied the sign which he supposed had been
accorded from above, and on Sunday night the
butchsry began. Considering that there was
no telegraph at the time, the intelligence was
transmitted to this city with astonishing ra-
pidity. The massacre commenced on Sunday
night, and to the best of our recollection, Capt.
HARRISON was on the way with his troop
early Tuesday morning. They carried with
them, for their trumpeter, old DICK GAINES,
the was not old them lie was large, pow
erful man, as black az a patent-leather boot,
and rode large horse, as black, and nearly as
sleek. as he was himself His uniform was
flaming scarlet coat, blue pan falcons, boots |
and helmet, with horse-hair vest. He car |
ried his trumpet slung upon his shoulder, |
and had heavy sabre Gathering at his side. |
GAINES was the most formidable looking man |
OF the whole party, and regarded himself as |
more important than all of them put together |
His appearance was on the point of being the |
death of him, at the very opening of the CAM |
paign; for riding considerably ahead of the |
troop when they entered the infected region. |
he fell into an ambush of militia, who were |
out in pursuit of the insurgents, and who. |
taking him for their commander in chief were |
about 10 send him to "kingdom come" when |
the rest Of his companions appeared in sight |
The war was all over before the troop got |
there. Nevertheless, they were of great SER
vice in restoring the confidence of the people
who, very naturally, had been greatly alarmed |
by the terrible scenes of which their county |
had been made the theatre. They enioyed |
themselves hugely, in the meantime, and |
brought away hundreds of anecdotes connect |
ed with the campaign.
The writer of this article was at that time |
n member of the famous Chesterfield Troop |
of which Capt. JOHN HETH was commander
On the Tuesday after the fatal Sunday night,
about nine O'Clock in the day, he received an
order from Lieutenant W EIsIGER, who COM
manded in the absence of Capt HETH, then on
tour at the North, to repair to Manchester
as soon as possible. He was Immediately in
the saddle, and galloping away for the rendez-
vous, as though his life depended on his
reaching it by a particular hour. BY one
O'Clock the troop was formed, and by two it
had marched over 10 this city, and was drawn
up before The Northern gate of the Capitol
Square, in front Of the City Hall, awaiting
orders from Governor Floyd, to whom their
GER In IA little time the Governor himself
made his appearance, and delivered a short
address, in which he compiimented our
alertness, and told us that he should not need
our services. Upon that we adjourned. to the
Spring of CHAsTAIKE CLARK, Esq, on the
Chesterfield side, just above Manchester
where Commander, Lieut.. WEIsiaER
had provided a collation. sufficient to have fed
the whole regiment, with Old Tuscaloosa
enough to make us all feel rich. We scatter
ed, and returned home that night; but the
next day. upon another alarm, we assembled
once more, and remained in Manchester all
that nigh and the next day.
We mention these facts to show how quick
ly ii is possible to assemble a we'll organized
troop, and how important it is, therefore, to
have one always on hand. 1t may be proper
To mention, that Capt HBTH having resigned
the command Of the troop after about its
fourth year, Capt. WKIsIGKR was unanimous
ly elected In his stead. To the best Of our be-
lief the old troop never had bat these two
commanders. They kept ii up for nineteen
years. 1t ontliyed three Richmond troops.
Sermon Of Rev. DIR. Coxe.
The sermon Of Rev. DIR. CoxE in behalf of
the Church Book Society, was delivered to an
immense and delighted audience In St PauI,s
Church on Wednesday night. II was mag
nifieent production, embodying powerful
array ofreasonings and facts, and adorned with
the attractions Of elegant elocution, and OF