Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-19
wEDNEsDAY. pEcEnnER DO. lsee.
WAR REsIINIscENCEs.


For the Union and Dispatch
BELFAST, Tenn, Dec. IA, Is66.-A re-
collection Of the last and famous charge OF
the Texas brigade" and more especially
that Of the "Sih Texas" mentioned some
weeks ago, suggests 10 the mind the name
Of Major General Wharton. He assumed
command Of our brigade At Bardstown,
Kentucky, in 1862, and continued to lead
our column until the spring Of 1864, when
he was transferred 10 the West. His Ia
mentable death At the hands Of Colonel
Baylor is yet fresh in the minds Of all, and
yet We cannot pass over our old comHiander
without passing notice. Wharton was
emphatically the type Of what was once
known in the South as "chiyalry." He
was AZ once the accomplished gallant-the
bold dashing cavalier and the sagaciOus,
cool, intrepid officer. But few men could
ride horse as well as he-but few were
more entertaining among the ladies, though,
believe not "A a general thing, a seeker
after their society. He was lond Of horse
racing and a lover Of the dances and
yet but few men can be found who
were more temperate. Once our regiment
had been on the front, near Murfregsboro,
after the battle Of Stones River, and re-
turning late one cold rainy night 10 camp,
We halted in front Of the Generals quarters,
at Ransom's, 10 deliver our report. The
Colonel. (B s. entered the room and was
presented TO a canteen Of whisky. In con
sioeration Of the very inclement weather,
and probably not wishing 70 offend the
General, be took il. turned il bottom side
upwards, and took two or three heavy
draughts. Why, damn it, man, its not
water," thundered Sturai, as he tap
ped the Colonel on the shoulder
=" I'm very well aware Of that, General"
was blandly answered by our amiable Co
'lORel, who never allowed himself to be ex-
celled, either on the field or in the camp.
! have said that Wharton was the embodi-
ment Of chivalry. Those who saw him at
Shiloh, Perryville, Stones River and
Chickamauga know well what a daring
leader he was, when the clashing steel,
the deep intOnations Of cannon, and the
confused din and thunder Of the charging
sqnadrons, called upon him TO lead his old
brigade 10 the onset In many particulars
he resembled the great cavalry leader Of
Virginia, J. f. B. Stuart.
With a silent benedictiOn 10 the remains
of our old General, we turn again to our
youthful warriors who marched under him
and others 10 a glorious grave. In our last
we noted an instance or two Of noble dar-
ing on the part Of the youths Of our coun-
try, and while we know that thousands Of
just such instances can be given, we only
allude 10 these as having come under our
own observation, and 10 the end that all
may know who are the deserving and true.
On the Sd Of October, 1864, was fought the
battle Of Saltville, Va. Gen. j. s. Viii
liams-alias "Cerro Gordo7-commanded
the Confederate forces. Here, for the first
time, we fought face to face against the
negro. and here we drove them from the
field, after a hard and unequal contest
Private Jack Carder, Co. Of" was fighting
valiantly in the front line, when, in resist
ing at the knife's point, charge Of the
black regiment, he was struck over the
head by breach Of gun, in the hands Of
a negro, and died a day or 50 alterward.
The black fell instantly at the hands
of one Of Jacks friends. Private J.
5. HarbrOugh, Company "A, was caught
very rudely by the back of the head by a
stalwart 4" boy in blue" and unceremsni-
ously called upon to surrender. Var
brough not recognizing this Officer or
possessing an unusual amount of courage
declined the proposition, and a struggle
for life ensued among the bushes and briars
The Federal fell, shot through the body by
a ball from Us carbine, and the unpre-
tending trooper brought of the arms Of his
no less valiant foe as a trophy. Both these
young boys were under the age prescribed
for military service at the beginning of the
war, ard yet they fought in the very front
rank, and in the very embrace Of death.
Noble youths The grass will grow green
above your hastily made graves and your
valor, second to none, will be forgotten by
many Of your countrymen. Yet few who
witnessed your daring, will moi forget your
many virtues. The historian will write Of
Generals, campaigns, battles and sieges; be
II our humble privilege 10 relate yoiT ex-
ploits and preserve yonr name if but for
time. Your names may appear among the
unknown" but you viii not soon be for
gotten by those who stood side by side with
You in the bloody van Of battle sE.
"ERGNIUs"