The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-06
The HGwitzerS' Tnrget-Prac cttcc--A
Field.Day at Strawberry Hill.

Yesterday the Howitzers had their yearly
target-practice at Strawberry Hill, the beau
tiiul farm of Mr.. Walter Edmond, and had
it been within the power OF the committee
OF arrangements to make requisitiOn upon
old Prob. for the kind Of weather they
should have they could not have selected a
more pleasant and beautiful day. The COM
mittce under whose supervision all the ar
rangements were so we'll carried out and
guests handsomely entertained were Lieu
tenant r. c. Wortham, Lieutenant L. j.
Bosher, George A. Lyon, W. c. Ammons,
A. L. Johnston, and w. Il. SimOnS.
The company, numbering upwards OF fifty
men and commanded by Captain Carter, left
the city early yesterday morning and arrived
at Strawberry Hill, about three miles from
Richmond, on the line OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad, at 8 O'Clock. The target
had been placed at much shorter range
than that OF last year, the distance being only
about $50 yards, and measured six by ten
feet. TO suit the shortened range the car
tridoes were reduced to half the charge. The
firing, taken all in all, was very fine indeed,
and, Notwithstanding the shortening OF the
range, was much superiorto that OF previous
years. :.
At II o'clock the noise began, and it
really seemed an echo, as it were, OF tnal
which shook those historic hills IN !SG2,
when the memorable seven days hghl
around Richmond was begun. The flrlne
was continued until half-past1 O'Clock, When
an intermission for dinner was given. Inc
best shots, so far as those which struck the
target, were-first, that OF Gunner William
CoWardn, OF the second piece, which struch
the black: second, John Waldrop, an cX
member OF the UoWitzers; third, D. H.
Walthal, of the first gun; and fourth, Gun
ner Kirby, OF the third gun. \ fifth shot
struck the target, but it was not KNOW
whose it was.
4 sumDtuous banquet was spread IN tht
barn Of Mr.. Edmond, and the members o
the company, on this as on former occasions
seemed to give their entire energies to the
entertainment OF their guests, which they
did in a most polite and becoming manner
There was no speechifying, but all seemed
to enjoy themselves to the greatest extent
and many were engaged in recamng wal
"reminiscences. Mr.. Fuller Gaskins added
no little TO the enjoyment OF the feast OF tht
day by his jolly good humor and ready wit
After dinner the veteran Sergeant Blacka
dar sang a war-song, and George l.. Chris
tian told war-story, while others were en-
gagged in an improvised game OF baseball
Then followed number OF warehouses
when the battery resumed their firing, VIII
the following result: Best shot, Llcutenan
Wortham, who hit the bul's-eye; second
Charles Clinely; third, }. Foster; fourth
Kirby; fifth, Lynch; sixth, Habliston
seventh, Stone; eighth, Glazebrook; ninth
Captain Carter.
There was large number OF invited
guests present, notably among whom were
General Dabney Maury, George L. Chris
tian, Esq, Judge Christian, Judge GulSon
Colonel William f. Tanner, High-Constn
ble-clect Thomas l.. Whiting, DR.. Charlie
Brock, and Captain A. w CARRIER.
A large proportion OF the HowitZcr AS
sociation, which is composed OF member
OF the old battalion, were present. The!
were: Judge Guigon, Frank D. Hill, L. X
Baker, Charles PoindeXter, William II
Blackadar, James #. Gray, u. 0. Davis
Charles E. Wingo, w. p. Smith, Polk Mil
Ter, Thomas Booker, Robert Bosher, J. Is
Lambert, Edward Moore, Daniel 5. Nc
Carthv, George Smith, James A. Grigg
Thomas L. Whiting, r. X. Roberts, WI
liam Page, E. A. Winn, Edward Gray, Johl
Waldrop, John Il. Jones, George II. Pom
dexter, and E. NJ. Crump.
After most delightful day, both guest
and soldiers returned home well please'
with their visit and anniversary celebra
ton.