The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-15
What an Old Soldier Knows abous Hol'
lsday. Walker, and Field.

| for our leaders from tnat nuIseiy VI heioe6
and statesmen the grand old second corps
Of the Army OF Northern virginia flrsl
comes Colonel +. W. M. Holiday; Whom j
| first met at Winchester in 1861. In. every
battle and upon every march after that TIL
disabled, I never missed bimirom the post q
duty. General Jackson trusted him so much
1 that he offered him staff appointment,
1 which he declined to stay with his com.
pany: but this did not keep the General
! from using him on detached service at head:
quarters frequently. Upon taking command
OF the Valley district, he found some hun
I.dred or more non-combatant Union men
Ouakers, Dunkards, and the ike--in the
| guard-house. .-,.....:. ....
{ Colonel Holiday was put in charge Of the
| Provost Department upon our retreat up
1 the Valley to Swift.Run Gap, and bad to
carry these mostly feeble, sickTy old men
along through that terrible winter weather.
At the Gap he could only find shelter fol
them in an open barn, and called on us for
clothing, blankets, and shoes to protect
them from the weather. It was o hard
case, and sight pitiable enough to have
wrung'a sterner heart; and well DO I re-
collect Colonel Holidays efforts to better
their condition. At last he could stand
it no longer. and. determined to face
even olu JaCh -nno h"u nv i'S
lfor traitor or deserter, and be-
Ilieyed in furnishing them seVerely-tu
get them released, He did SO, and after
hard pleading succeeded in sending them
back ioyfulIy to their homes, pledged not to
take sides against us again, and nearly all
kept their oaths; and If any are living to this
day they must call down blessings upon the
head of big-heartcd Fred: Holiday This
was not only just, but great RELIEF to our
movements. He also brought the deserters,
&C., to trial, and cleared out the guard
house by his, energy and great executive
ability, and then returned TO his command.
| This is but one instance OF many that
came under my eye in which Colonel
Holiday showed he was the "right man
in the right place." and whenever wanted
Jackson knew and appreciated his abill-
ties and used them. Colonel Holiday never
drank, played cards, or swore, during all OF
our hard life (Which made some of;the best
" emphatic" at times); but he was no hide-
bound Puritan or bigoted religious zealot,
who carried around face as long as the
moral law, to cast gloom over camp lie,
but lively, cheerful, sociable mess-mate, q
genial companion, fearless soldier, and
true friend, and much beloved by all. TN
him Virginia will have Governor worthy
OF her past. and can rest easy in the assured
trust that he will safely guide and guard her
honor through every peril. r:.-. -.
Next on the ticket comes that big-hearted,
bie-5rained, manly, and courageous soldier
"Stonewall jim" Walker, the only COM
marder the old brigade eyer gave that hon
ored title to after Jackson. He Is one OF
those happy sons Of fortune who was born
TO be loved, "nicknamed," and successful.
When he went to the Virginia Military In
stitute the cadets called him "Augusta
Jim - till he challenged Jackson and then
it was " Jackson's Jim." From thereto
Pulaski, and it was "Pulaski's Jim -; tlIen
into the army, and it was "GaIlant Jim
walker OF the Thirteenth" until, he took
command OF the onewail4brtgade; Upon
special recommend datioh :of dJackSoh,. then
he honorably earned the title that be viii
carry to the grave and which, should DE
put upon his tombstone. Tn AT the walks
OF life lie has proved himself worthy OF
his descent from the brave Walker OF
West Augusta, and will worthily fill the
second Office in- the gift OF the people.
| have known General Nv alke9 since my boy
hood, but during the war / was thrown
with him almost every day, and found
him in all business matters a thoroughly
practical man and the best proyider for
soldier, and won the hearts OF soldiers by
| the frank, open-bearted way he bad OF
treating cyery one: i 50 know him; Is to
love and admire him, and he would be a
Ehsrd-hearted enemy even WHO could re-
lsist the manly grasp Of bis hand and the
twinning sweetness OF his genial, smile.
He will as worthily fill the position OF
Lieutenant-G as. he, did that OF
muior-Senerah and, when say that, lam
guage fails in attempting more in hispraise!
Last, but not least, comes Major james G..
Field, the 60 fighting! quartermaster OF A!
p. HIPS corps. I utterly repudiate the
" meiish" title OF. ssGeneral !" with which
some enemy tries to cover up the "Ma-
ior's" honorable title and record, earned
by four years. hard service in the field, from
First Manassas, to Appomattox. To his
old Second-corps comrades he is and shall
lever be s'.Major:n,, Field, one Of the. kind
est Of. gentlemen, ,, and most thorough
Of businessmen. Ny duties, u. as. corps
quartermasters2 when Major Field was
chief qHartermaster OF q division, and
afterwards when he was chief quartcrmas-
ter efsA.hPs Hilps ThirfEeorpss gaSeslne pes
culiar opportunities for judging, him as, q
businessman and soldier. Always prompt
and on time, his divisiopwas one Of the best
SuUUtlcu Ill SuS COlpS3 huu UuL 3OI
ming of into nearly every battle, till he lost
his leg at Cedar Mountain. dora whick he
was near being court-martialled), there was
nothing could be found wanting in his way
OF doing business !.,4,si ,"2nr irs'.ts
This habit Of the Majors led others to
do the same, or at least go from their
posts to look on the fights. So tonstop 10
the General bad an order issued command
ing ouartermasters, cominissaries, doctors,
ordinance officers; to stay at their posts,
unless specially ordered to the" front
the only-order of the kind ever issued
-or: found necessary in any. other army
] ever heard of. Major j.. &. Field is
a man Of decided character, and law
yer OF the first Abilities His, energy
is untiring, and his devotion to old Vir-
ginia second nature. On the debt ques-
ton, as be, paid every dollar he owed
personally since the war without cad
justing ~ lby which be was heavy loserL the
people can safely, trust him TO see that the
State does the same, as iar as he Is con-
cerned. We heartily congratulate our old
friends upon their success and the people
upon the choice Of our; party.i Three such
men, the pick and choice Of HJaekson's vete-
rams, make ticketta be proud Of end work
for. With them the honor andwelsare Of