The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-02-02
GEN. RICHARD STODDARD
EWEk.lI.

pass from the scenes OF earth with
nothing more than bare paragraph.
lie was a native of the District of
Columbia, born i'm 1920. He entered
West Point as a cadet from Virginia,
in 1886, in class of one hundred and
twenty, of whom only fOrty-two
| graduated, in 1S40-he standing thir-
teenth in the class. A portion of the
time he was among the first five.
Among his classmates were General
Sherman and General Thomas, ofthe
Federal army Governor Paul o. Her
bert, of Louisiana, Generals Bushrod
Il. johnson, Thomas Jordan and j..
=. McCown of the Confederate army.
After graduating, he was promoted
in the army to brevet-second Heuten-
ant of the first dragons, July ], 1910.
November LIST, of the same year he
was promoted to second lieutenant.
He served Oh frontier duty at Fort
WAYNE, i'm the Indian Territory, in
IS4042; Fort Scott, Kansas, 1928 ;
escorting Santa Fe traders, 1S43; Fl.
Scott, 1915. lie was promoted to
first lieutenant, First dragons, Sep
TENDER Is, 1915; marched to the Ar
kansas river, 1915; Fort Scott, 1915 !;
on coast survey, April II to May 10,
1916; on recruiting service, 1916; in
the war with Mexico, 1S46-4S, being
engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz,
March go, 1917: battle of Cerro
Gordo, April 17-lS, 1917; battle of
Contreras, August 1920, 1917; battle
of Cherubu.co, August 20, lS47 ; bat
tie of Moline del Rey, September s,
IS47. lie was made brevet-csptain,
August 20, 1871, for gallant and meri-
tofiOus conduct in the battles of Con-
treras and Cherubusco. lie was en-
gagged in the storming of Chapulte-
pee, September 13, 1871; on recruit
ing service. 1S4S-5 80 on frontier duty
at Fay ado. in New Mexico, 1851 ;
at Fort D' farce, New Mexico, 1851 {.
August 4, 1919, be was promoted to
captain of the First dragons. lie
was at Los Lunar, New Mexico, ISL
ii: Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1854 es-
cOrtipg the commanding general to
FL PaSo, 1851 scouting, lS54-55; Los
Lunar, 1856 ; escoriing the governor
of New Mexico, 1856; marched to
Fort buchanan, New Mexico, 1856
81: Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1857 ella
expedition, 1851, being engaged
against Apache Indians in the com
bat of ella river, New Mexico. June
u, 1851 Fort buchanan. New Next
co, lS5I-59 expedition against Pinal
Apaches, 1859, being wounded In a
ski:Inish December Ii, 1883: Fort
Bliss, Texas, leGO-G1.
While on duty in New Mexico, in
June, 1857, he greatly distinguished
hims elf among the Indians, and in
the following Year commanded the
troops that garrisOi.ed Fort Buthan.
an, in that L, riitory. That his SER
vices were highly appro ciated by the
Government is shown by the fact
that he was kept Oh frontier duty
for Il ir.ean successive years.
When his native State seeded
Captain Ewtll was stationed at Tue
con, in Arizona. lie at once resign
ed his commission and fastened
home. The first time, we believe,
That he came prominently into notice
vas at. Fairfax Courthouse, eighteen
miles from Washington, the night OF
May 81, 1851. lie then held the rank
Of colonel. The enemy made dash
upon his pickets and drove them in
TO town. lie rushed ont of bed, and
Without waiting to dress himself,
rallied the small command by which
the place was garrisoned and beat
the Federals back. During the Skin
mish he received wound in the
shoulder. We next find him in COM
N md cf camp of instruction for
cavalry at Ashland, where bis servi-
ces were invaluable. His discipline
was stern and rigid, but humane, and
out of raw mounted militia he soon
formed Il most Efficient body OF
troops.
In June, 1861, lie was made a brig
adicr general, and at the battle OF
Black burns Ford, July Is, in tina,
year, was stationed OH the extreme
right at Union Mile. Gen.. Beaure-
gard said in his official report Of the
affair: Thanks are due to Generals
Bonham and Ewell for the ability
shown in conducting and executing
the retrograde movements OH Bull
Run, directed by my orders-move.
ments OH wi ich hung the fortunes
of the army"
General Ewell's position at the
principal battle of Bull Run, the DIST
of July, was also at Union Mills,
and he was 10 have advanced on the
enemy's falkland rear at Centreville,
but the order miscarried.
In February, 1862, he was promot-
cd 10 the rank of Major General
Until April of that year he was en-
gagged in no movement of particular
impor ance. but during that month
be was ordered to join stOnewall
jackson in The Shenandoah Valley.
Then commence the brilliant ,areer
which so conspicuously marked his
name. Front Royal having been
captured May -, Gen. Ewcll pro-
ceetled on to Winchester snd bore q
prominent part in the defeat of the
encmy at that place. He then fol-
lowed the rctreaiing forces, under
Ddnhe. W tuC otOIiiuS, tho vi tiC
return of jackson from the pursuit,
was ordered to hold Fremont in
chick at Strasburg. This was suc-
ccs>fully done, until Jackson, with
the main body of his forces, had lcfl
that town.
Tie next day General Ewell made
a stand at Fishers Hill, and impeded
the progress of Gen. Milroy. lie
then returned gradually toward Har-
risouburg, forming the rear-guard of
the Confederate army. Passing to
Cross Keys, on the road to Port Re-
public. he defeated Fremont, and the
next day, June 9Th, marched to join
jackson at Port Republic. There
the battle between Jackson and
Shields was already raging holly, but
General Ewell's arrival checked the
advance of the Federals on General
Winder, though he was soon after
driven back with some loss. His
command was, however speedily
rallied and materially aided in the
final defeat of the eueny. The sub
s.sucnt movements Of Jackson's ar.
ms are IA familiar part of the history
Of the war. General Ewell accom-
panied it 10 The battleficlds around
Richmond, and his men shared in
the heaviest engagements there.
At Cold Harbor, June q, he was
in the advanced center of Jackson's
corps, and maintained a desperate
fight with the enemy, charging in
the face of a terrible fire and fight
| inr with that dauutlcsS bravery