Shreveport daily news., 1861-07-23
He had not even had time to regu-

40 "os~A uOt OSCH A0N IlIAS W Ac9u>
larly join the company. He was
too brave and reckless. dashed right
into the ranks of the enemy almost
alone and the winged messenger Of
death found him too soon-too soon
for the Grays, who were proud Of
him-too soon for the cause, which nee
ded his strong arm and gallant spirit.
Yet his friends have the consolation
Of knowing that he died like u man !;
that his daring must have sent a
thrill of fear through the ranks of
the enemy. The loss of those two
men has hung our Battalion in mour-
ming"
Mr.. Robt. Lowe, who was one of
the twenty men detailed from the
Grays for this expedition, and who
came as an escort with the remains
Of Col. Dreux, tells me that all mill
tary honors We're paid to the memo
ry of the gallant dead. Peace be to
them, and may the sorrowing rela-
tives and friends of the heroic mar
tyrs to a holy cause be comforted
by the reflection that their lost ones
died doing their duty bravely-died
as true soldiers should. Two gallant
spirits arose together from the death
bed of fame-meet companions in
their journey to "the land of the
hereafter" Is.
RICHMOND, July 7th, 1861.
My Dear Friend: 1t is with sad
heart indeed, that now write. Poor
VIII was killed by the enemy on the
5th. There is one thing that palli-
a,es my loss-he fought them as few
but himself would have done-never
giving them an inch Of ground, al
though he had but one friend to stay
by him-a Mr.. Holcornbe. from near
Shreveport. You cannot know his
loss to me. 1t seemed as if it would
almost Kill me for while. 1t was
like striking off half Of myself.
Will joined us on the 3rd inst
On the 4th, we learned from q scou,
at our camp (Which is about Is miles
from Yorktown and s miles from
Newport News,) that there was a
party of the enemy, from one to two
hundred. in the habit Of going out
from Newport News, some two miles
TO a farmhouse to get their break
fast. Col. Dreux ordered each of
our five captains to detail 90 men to
be ready that night. he also took
20 Virginia cavalry, if they deserve
the name Our officers were afraid
for me to go, as l had been coughing
a good deal for few days-tear!ng
I could not control it while in am
bush. Our party arrived at the place
before daylight and concealed them
selves in the thick bushes few steps
from the road. The cavalry were
stationed so rs to attack the enemy
in the rear 50 soon as our men had
fired their volley.
Adintant Marks exchanged pistol
shots with an officer, when he, But
ler and Roll, fell back to the coInpa-
ny. Will and Holcombe kept their
position in the road in point blank
range of the whole body Of the enc
my's fire. They had shot twice
apiece at officers. VIII mad loaded
again, and was Gaping his gun when
he fell. Holcomhe fired, killing his
man, he thinks the one who shot Will
He was an officer, and at the fire fell
from his horse When Will fell Hol-
combe asked him if he was hurt
He answered that he was killed.
Holcolnbe then pulled him off into
the bushes. Mr.. II. says he talked
as quietly as he ever heard him, and
with a bravery and generosity true
to himself, told him to leave him and
save himself-that he could do him
no good. When they returned for
him some minutes after, he asked for
water. drank and died.
am now here for the purpose of