Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-06-12

CRY and barefooted, he always kent his
men well clothed, shOd, and provided
Tor this was on account of his untir-
ing energy, devote on to the cause. and
pride he felt in his command. 1t is
true he was a strict disciplnarian, and
at times appeared rough to quarter
masters, commissaries, etc,-m d e
them "toe the mark ), bat i'm doing
this he had an eye single to the wei.
fare OF the gallant privates who fol-
lowed him like Napoleon's Old Guard
and almost worshipped HIM. re-
member well how, when the bloody
tight was over, and tired and worn
they went to camp, they delighted in
talking over the brilliant movements
of the little man who had steel
! springs aud iron nerves. When L
read Col. Stewards truthfulaud graph
ic account of the battle near the Cur
| ley House 1t thrilled me, and my
thoughts wandered back to that memo
rable day. | was not at that time q
member of Mahone's division, having
! been by Gen. Mahone's kindness APP
pointed to place on Gen, A. p, Hills
| non-com missioned staff, but l well re-
member h consultation between
| Generals Lee, Hill and Mahone.-
| Generals Lee and Hill both thought
the undertaking too hazardous, as
there was great danger of being hem
med in between two army corps of the
enemy, but seeing how bent General
Malone was upon making the move
ment they reluctantly yielded, and
Colonel Stewart has told you better
than l can the results of the victory.
L will only add that after General Lee
had congratulated General Malone he
turned to General Hill and said, Gene
rel, what would we do without Ma
hone There is no need of my tell
ing how CALAMITY he led mot follow
ed) his men at second Manassas, and
fell severely wounded and what Con-
tederate soldier will ever forget the
battle of the Crater. The fact is, Ma
hone n ever knew victory
perched on his banner in the first fight
he went into and remained there DUR
ing the war, and when Lees army,
after evacuating Petersburg, scattered
like autumn leaves, Malone kept his
men intact and surrendered 200 men
-one-fOurth of the number eurren-
dered from the Army of Northern
Virginia Now who can find fault
with his military record ? Not one.
AS civilian the Conservative party
y
man in Virginia. He and that distin-
guished of Halifax, John II. Edmunds,
who has Como to his rest, are really
the fathers of the Conservative party
in Virginia. Edmunds sounded the
tocsin, and Malone engineered the
battle which resulted in the election
of Gilbert g. Walker. AS q railroad
man | can only say that he took
charge of the worst road in the State,
and in few years made it the best,
and If it Is pecuniarily embarrassed |
would like to sire one that il not. !
have fead the Dispatch time ter
time and other papers who seem to be
concentrating all their artillery and
boldly pIoclaiming anybody but Ma
hone, and / CAN see 70 point in their
accusation: The old couplet about DR.,
Fell will applp to them
~ do not like you, DR.. Fell,
The reason why cannot tell"
! am for the nominee of the COnser-
vative party whoever he mey be, and
l think our papers display bad taste
in their attack on any of the gallant
gentlemen mentioned they are all
good, and l believe old Halifax will
roll up big vote for any of them, be
it Daniel, Holiday, Malone, or Fitz
Lee.
Can you tell me when the reunion
of Mahone's brigade takes place, and
where? l am anxious to attend for
know the boys will have rousing
time" j. f. r.