The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-13

able spirit was filed with dc much zeal in
April, 1865, as when hesfirst took up arms
four years ago, and the freedom with which
he exposed q long life ladeniwith honors
proved he was willing to sacrifice it If It
would conduce towards attaining the lib
erty Of his country" 4t.,ffl!gI 5iss.s
OTHER FACTS CONCERNING HIS MILITARY
LIFE! i-atii5t. i5:l@Y
It is probably not known to many persons
that the inner defences at Chafin's Bluff,
which were constructed by Genernl Wise'S
men while his brigade was lying there, were
the means of not only saving the Coniede-
rate stronghold at Chaffn's but really kept
the enemy from the city Of Richmond!jr: il: He
was opposed to his, men being idle, and
these works were put up mainly with a
view of keeping them occupied. General
Ewell wrote him q letter after the fight
there and told him that his inner works had
saved the city. -.
Whenever his men were in camp for any
length Of time he made them cultivate gar
dens, which supplied the soldiers with yege-
tables and added to their health.
Upon the return of the brigade from the
South General Wise and his men had really
to fight their way from Wilmington to
Petersburg. t i.s9..t =.
1t is proper also to record the fact that to
General Wise is due the credit OF having
established the Hewlett line OF defences;
that on the occasion Of the fight with Gene
raj Smith General Wise opposed with his
men about %, 900 of the enemy, and he held
the battery with lot OF cid cannon, which
the artillerymen loaded with oil sorts of mis-
slles, using f6 lce-rails for ramrods.
General Wise commanded, towards the
close Of the war, what was known as the
First Military District OF Virginia, which
extended from Petersburg to Danville, with
his headquarters in Petersburg. ~
.t @.' IN THE TRENCHES. -
Early IN 1865 General Wise and his bri-
gade went into the trenches at Petersburg,
and remained there until relieved by Cor
don's division. The Generals command
occupied what was known as the Baxter
line, Immediately in front Of the Crater.
When General Gordon came in with his
force he took up position to the right,
near Burgess's mill. Just before the battle
Of Five Forks two attacks were made upon
General Wise's brigade, but the enemy
were repulsed each time, the gallant Gene
raj being at the head of his men.
HIS LAST CHARGE. -.
On the retreat OF the army from before
Petersburg his brigade was continually and
hourly engaged in fighting the enemy, and
on the very day OF the surrender 10th OF
April, 1869 he made charge at the head
OF his men, which will long be remembered,
But it is needless to prolong this notice.
The distinguished gallantry of General
Wise is too we'll known. ~
Any sketch Of General Wise's military
character in this form must necessarily be
imperfect. Other hands will in proper time
do justice to it. 1t would be improper to
close, however, without adverting to the
fact that he was completely
IDOLIZED BY HIS MEN.
This was due not alone to the eXtraordina-
rily magnetic character OF his personal pre-
sence and speech, but equally so to the con-
sideration that every man of his command
felt that he had an individuality in General
Wise's thoughts, and that that individuality
was ministered to with q most atfectionate
providence. Every one OF them had his
anecdote Of personal encounter with the
cold General" Some of these anecdotes
were interlarded with expressions such as
are commonly imputed to old-fashioned Vir-
ginians when they were called upon to re-
buke the faults Of their subordinates but
every one concluded with the statement Of
the idea "that he could say or do anything
he pleased to US, because we knew he cared
for u.s."
It is not generally known, perhaps, If at
all remembered, that during his service as
Governor he recommended to the Council
of Richmond, as measure Of great COM
mercial Importance, the cutting OF the
Dutch Gap canal. He foreSaw thus early
the significance OF rapid passage to the
sea for this city. Nor is it credited to him,
although it is undeniably the fact, that to
him was due the origination of the Merri-
mac. During his service as chairman Of the
Committee of Naval Affairs in the Congress
of the United States Commodore Barron
presented to him the plan OF r
...- A "MARINE CATAPULT,"
similar in nearly all respects to the Merri-
mac as she fought and conquered the navy
OF the United States in Hampton Roads.
Recollecting wildly this plan, he sketched
and suggested it to the naval authorities at
Norfolk, and materially aided in the practi-
cal development OF the idea which culmi-
mated in undying glory to Admiral Bu-
chanan. sr..... y,
General Lee was urgently and persis-
tently advised by him at the time OF the
conference in Hampton Roads between
President Lincoln and the Confederate au-
thorities to take the responsibility of insist
ing upon the acceptance OF Mr.. Lincoln's
terms as the sole remaining hope OF the
South this only, however, after he had
learned from General Lee that the latter
then utterly despaired Of success to the
Confederate arms. p. .t's 's.-- .s...
AS AN AUTHOR. slE
General Wise was we'll known throughout
the country as the author OF the work,
"Seyen Decades Of the Union "a book
which had very extensive sale at the
time Of its publication and since. he was
also the author, we believe, OF another work.
Besides these he wrote several lengthy, dis
uuisitions on slavery about the year 1860,
which were widely read, besides several
valuable literary and political articles:
General Wise was extremely fond OF
good joke, and knew well himself how to
tell one. He always had full store OF anec-
dotes on hand, and his many friends wiz
long remember with extreme pleasure his
quaint and agreeable stories. ''y5
SINCE THE WAR.
After the war General Wise spent nearly
all Of his time in this city, in the practice OF
his profession. He was appointed by the
State one of the Virginia-M Maryland Bound
anytime Commissioners, and rendered valrl-
able service in the preparation OF the report
on the subject which was submitted to the
General Assembly. fT,"gs
ARRANGEMENTS FoR THE FUNERAL, 4. q.
The arrangements for the funeral-which
is to take place from St. James church to-
= - Ill III