Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-03-25

ana Martin was soon able to take
morse Tor home, when, in few brie
months he was well enough to Join hi
company.
The Martins, of which Josh. is tn,
youngest, are truly fighting family. A
the breaking out of the war, a stranger
would see. nestled away in quiet nooB
IN Fauqulsr county. cosy, snug sub
stantial farm house, whose broad anC
wei! cultivated acres. stretch around in
rolling pasture and wooded hills. An
old gentleman named Martin lived
there. a noble, honest man, as pure
minded as child. He had three sons
Robert, Richard, and Josh. All three
Joined the Black Horse Cavalry, and
no stauncher warriors ever sat at the
round table of Morte d'Arthur or fol-
lowed Richard Coeur de Leon to the
Holy Land. Living in the heart OF
Mosby's Confederacy, being familiar
with every inch of ground, knowing
every hog path and cattle trail in that
famous dsbatable ground, they passed
four years as scouts within the enemies
lines. Their exploits read like romance,
and their deeds were so full of deadly
daring as to almost defy belief. Riding
like Mamelukes, deadly shots, with ut
ter fearlessness and unshaken nerve
they would raid and foray among the
small detachments of the enemy, until
their name became terrer aud house
hold word among Stoneman's cavalry
men. 1t was Robert Martin who re-
ceived the elegant rifle, sent by Brit
ish nobleman to be given to the bravest
man in the Confederate army; 1t was
Dick Martin who carried Stonewall's
dispatch to Lee, announcing the fall of
Harper's Ferry, and who returned with
simple scrap of paper from Lee that
saved his army at Sharpsbug; and it
was Josh. Martin who killed Meigs after
half ounce bullet went crashing thro,
his body.
These three Martins during the war
did not kill, capture, or place hors de
combat less than hundred of the enc
my. Robert captured ten at one time
alone and unaided. They were new
levies, and Dutchmen at that, and were
playing cards in the woods short dis
tance from camp. The three Martins,
at another time, captured some twenty
Federals who had slipt away from
camp to forage among the farmers. I
believe the record of damage inflicted
upon the enemy, from one family, is
unequaiied; and to old Mr.. Martin, |
were he alive, should be given the palm |
of having family of sons whose deeds |
were unsurpassed by any IN the history |
of the great war, and who, as a family, |
inflicted more damage upon the enemy,
by their individual bravery, than any
that history gives an account of.
Such deeds, Mr.. Editor, should never
die, and merely write this to contrib
ute my mite to give honor where honor
is due, as well as to prove that all his
tory is not lying Jade. I know the
Martins well, and was a Black Horse
man myself, and know whereof write.
In a public hall of Washington CITY
there is life group in bronze by the
artist Mills. 1t represents horseman
prone on the ground. his eyes turned
toward heaven, in the fixedness of SOL
emn death the face wears a look of
perfect peace, with no warning emotions
marring its calm rigidity; one hand
clutches the heart, the other clasps a
pistol which has just been discharged.
The whole figure is one of perfect rest,
rest of warrior who has fought his
asst fight, The horse looks down with
startled eyes, dilated nostril, and uuiv-
ering form The statue is Lieut.. Meigs,
and represents thes as he was found
by his friends short time after he was
lead, Martins bullet having pierced
1ls heart. "CHASSEUR."