Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-12
An Heroic Artist In Captivity
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At the battle Of fredericksburg, in
December, 1862, Major Eschelman, o.
the Washington artillery, in command
of the series OF the batteries on Lees
and Morgan's heights, observed man
sitting below the guns engaged in
drawing a sketch Of the battle then 10
full blast. The position was the most
exposed one on the whole line Of the
Confederate defenses A tempest OIL
bullets from the advancing host Of the
enemy swept over, around and about
the intense sketcher. Shellsand round
shots from the enemys batteries tore
great ravines over the hill, and scat.
tered the earth around so as nearly to
bury the canoneers, and render invis
ible the man plying his crayon in the
most exposed position.
Major Eschelman sent q man to or
der the reckless artist and historian
away from bis position. The reply
was that he was engaged on the finest
sketch he had ever produced, and thai
he had the authority Of 0olenel Wal.
ton to chose the most favorable posi-,
ton Tor It's execution. Major Eschel
man called the attention OF the Colo,
mel to the great peril and exposure o.
the crazy sketoher, Whereupon tn,
Colonel sent an imperative order "a
the artist TO abandon the position
In obeying this order the artist plain.
lively expostulated with the Colone
for spelling the finest sketch OF grea
battle any artist had ever enjoyed q
favorable an opportunity TO execute
He had hardly moved off into one o
tbs batteries when heavy she'll fell OF
the Very spot he had vacated, anC
tore a great hole large enough to hlv,
buried halt dozen men.
You are too genial and Jolly goot
fellow to DO blown up 50 early in oui
guardianship Of you, the Colonel re
marked to the mortified artist, VIII
had been assigned by Gen. Lee to III,
care and hospitality1of the Washing
ton Artillery.
This was Frank Vizatelle, an Eng
lish artist, sent out by the Londor
Illustrated News, TO make sketches o
the battles and other incidents OF GU
great civil war.
he is the same who has, recently
marvelously escaped the reported an
inhalation Of Hicks Pasha's ARMY II
the Soudan, and is a prisoner a
0beida, where be is no doubt plyint
his pencil on portnits and, sketches o
the False Prophet and his chieitains
and putting the finishing touches Of
his pictures Of the startling ilcldent
o. the conflict between Hicks ant
Mahdi. Vizatellc. whilst sketchinI
battle scenes during our civil war
made a deep and vivid impression OF
his Confederate hosts aud companion
accompanying the artillery aud Long
streets corps through their campaign
in Virginia, in Maryland and Penn
sylyanias At the battle Of Ohickamau
e he secured as favorable q position
for sketohing that brilliant struggl
as he occupied at Fredericksburg, an
accompanying LOngstreet 10 his un
successful and sangainary enterpris
against Knoxville, was in the front 0
the gallant but unsuccessful attemp
at an escalade Of that town. Gettys
burg terminated the sketching caree
of Vizltelle for the Confederates, as
came near terminating the war. II
returned 10 Europe in tim
to engage 10 the perilou
pursuit Of his profession in the shor
and decisive war between Austria an
Prussia, and subsequently In the grea
Franco Prussian war, Of course I'll
Egyptian war could not dispense wit
his services, and all the marine Incl
dents OF that campaign we're faith
fully embodied in admirable sketche
from the pencil Of Yizatelle, whic
were published in the London Graphic
There can be little ground for ap
prehension that Vizstelle will no
escape from bis present captivity an,
resume his position Of the war arts
Of tie Times, which will greatly reliey
and crafty his old associates and host
Of the Confederate army, BY whom h
was so highly appreciated as q genia
companion, true soldier, and III
most heroic artist Of his age.