The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-04-26
GEN. CHAS. w. FIELD.
The Present DOOr.kecpcr Of the House
of Representatives..

Woodford county, KY, In 1918, and Is
consequently sixty years old, although
he carries his age we'll. His parents
were from Culpepper, Va, where there
are still many of the family. In Ken.
lucky, Henry Clay took a great fancy
to young Field, and the whole Field
family were ardent friends of "Harry
of the West" In 1916, Field was APP
pointed to West Point through the in-
fluence of ex-President Jackson. He
graduated In 1s49, and was assigned to
the Second Dragons. In 1855, he was
promoted to Lieutenant in Il regiment
of which Albert Sidney johnson was
Colonel and II. f. Lee Lieutenant
Colonel. The year following, he was
assigned to West Point as comma nder
Of the cavalry of that institution. He
remained until 1861, when the war be-
tween the States admonished him that
he must take sides. He resigned, and
cast his lot with the South. Going to
Richmond, he rendered his services to
the Confederacy, and was assigned 10
the command of the cavalry school of
instruction, near Richmond. Shortly
afterwards he was given command Of
the Sixth Virginia Cavalry. At the
second battle Of Manassas ne was made
Brigadier General for gallant and mer-
itOri0us conduct, but the battle cost
him wound which came very near
taking his life. 1t is said that no gem
eral officer in the war received such a
severe wound and recovered. He WAS
confined to his bed for nearly year.
In February, 1864, he again took the
field as Major General, and was given
command Of Hoods old division, In
LOngstreet's corps. He made II very
gallant and capable General Of Division,
and Is nearly always spoken Of with
praise in Lees official reports.
a Southern historian speaks as fol-
lows of Field and his division In the
closing days OF the rebellion: cit was
in the last days OF the Confederacy that
Fields division shOne In its greatest
and most peculiar glory. TO the very
day of surrender it was remarkable
that this body of troops was in prime
condition, compact and brilliant, par
taking of none of the dis0rganizatiOn
around it, animated by its glorious
memories, and retaining its2 arms and
spirits to the last"
A short time after the surrender, Gen.
Field himself wrote t1 am proud Ot
my division, always was, but never so
proud of it us on that black 9th of
April when, for the first time on the
retreat, our army was altogether, and
could compare their soldierly appear
ance and numbers and bearing with
the wrecks about me-"
He surrendered nearly 5000 men,
nearly One-half of Lees army, in arms.
During the memorable last retreat his
division was the rear guard. At the
time of surrender, Gen. Field relates
the following incident: Gen. Meade,
whose army was in the rear, sent II re.
quest to Gen. Field to conduct him
through his lines to Gen. Lee, who was
Il mile in front. AS Meade, at the head
of his staff, passed through Fields di-
vision, the men gathered along the
route in squads, attracted by the spec
taclc. The two Generals were side by
side, conversing, when Gen. Meade
turned to Gen. Field, with the remark,
"Your troops are complimentary to
me-" "Huw SOP" asked Field. "Why,
they say I look like rebel" "Do
you take that for u compliment ?' said
Field. "ro he sure l do,' replied
Meade "any people who have shown
the courage and spirit you have, must
have their admirers everywhere
Since the war, Gen. Field has been
floating about, some of the time in
Georgia in the insurance business, and
often in Virginia with his relatives and
those of his wife. lie lived II few years
in Egypt, having IL command In the
Egyptian army but returned to this
country to spend his declining years
and the better to educate his children.
SUIT FOR LITTLE ROCK..$2O, ,OOO, 900
AT STAKE. ...