The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-28

MI. M0untcastle was engaged 10 take tne
men out TO the battle fields in his wagons,
and at 1915 O'Clock yesterday morning
everything was in readiness and the march
was commenced.
A four-in-hand team carried part OF the
command, and in the front Of the vehicle
floated the tattered remnants Of the old
baitle-flag Of The Crenshaw Battery. No
foeman ever laid his hands upon this time
honored and sacred emblem. II waved
over forty-three battle-fields on Virginia
SOIL and when the dire hour came it was
stripped from the proud flagstaff whcreon
il had floated so often, hid in the bosom OF
one OF the command, and saved from the
hand Of the despoiler.
The line Of march was out along the Me-
EVANSVILLE turnpike, and as the men neared
the places made famous in the war their
tongues became looSed, and mention OF
men and events famous in history became
frequent. Among other things, an old
member OF Crenshaw's Battery told a
story about General MaXey Gregg, than
whom nobler and bravcr man never
lived. He said that the command
was once encamped near Fredericksburg
that an advance of the enemy was hourly
expected; that the orders came from Cen
cautiously: that the command moved for
ward with great precautiOn; that Gen
eral Gregg and Captain Crenshaw were
riding side by side, and that occasionally
| Captain Crenshaw would say: Which
road now, General?" and that General
Gregg would invariably put one hand to
ms ear. and say "Speak a little louder,
! Captain -: and that after while
the advance was found to be needless, and
! that on the movement to the rear Captain
Crenshaw reminded the General that the
day had been one of severe fatigue, and
mildly suggested, in moderate tone OF
voice, that he had left ir his canteen few
drinks OF whiskey, closing his remarks
with an invitation to the General to try the
| efficacy Of the canteen's contents. With
| out once asking repetition General Gregg
replied, "Thank you, Captain, thank you;
| believe | will"
While the army OF Northern Virginia was
On the march to Maryland, after the battle
at Cedar Mountain, an aide from General
Jackson's headquarters rodeup and ordered
Captain w. G. Crenshaw under arrest.
| When asked for the reason, Captain Cren-
shaw was told that ii was OH account OF
allowing his men to carry their knapSacks
on the caissons OF the battery. Captain
| CrenshaW ayerrel that this was not the
case that he had only allowed his men o
take their overcOats, blankets, and gum
coats. But the aide could not excuse him,
and pointing General Jackson out referred
! CAPTAIN CrenShaW TO him. A talk followed,
pending which an old lady came out to the
! road and asked:
| Whar'S General Jackson!"
CAPTAIN Crenshaw pointed him out, and
the old lady, approaching. offered General
jackson basket Of luscious peaches. lie
accepted them, and as q matter OF course
offered the officers part OF the fruit. Az
ter Captain Crenshaw explained that he
had not violated Jackson's orders, he was
told that the order for his arrest was re-
scinded, and in the subsequent engage
ments he commanded his battery. Almost
every other commanding officer in the bat
TALON was placed in arrest for similar
cause. but when it leaked out that Cren-
| shaw had been excused. some Wag in the
battalion circulated the report that he had
! been excused because he had treated Cen
eral jackson t. basket OF peaches.
The veterans reached Mechanicsyille
about 1890 O'Clock, Just about the same time
| that they, Just twenty-five. years ago eX-
actlv. passed that point in moving to atta"k
McCleiIan's right flank. Beaverdam creek,
the scene Of a bloody attack on the 26th OF
June. 1862. was carefully scanned. IL Is
RIGHT at Mechanicsville and was an almost
| impregnabIe position. 1t was not the plan
of The battle for A. Z. Hill to attack this
position without aud. General Jackson vas
! Supposed to be on hand, and 10 attack the
right flank OF the enemy at the same time
that Hill moved forward. Owing to the fact
that his march had been retarded by the
/ Telling OF trees across the road, and the
/ blowjnr up of bridges. General Jackson did
NOT arrive on the 26th Of June, and the at
| tack OF Hill fell fruitlesS. The position OF
| the enemy was impregnable. They occu-
MED the brow Of an overlooking eminence
| that fringed meadow and deep morass
The base OF the hill upon the summit OF
/ which the guns of the enemy were pOsted)
was bordered by a mll-race fifteen feet
wide and ten feet deep. This water turned
| Ellyson's mill, now ruin, but at that time
grinding grst for a large community.
/ General Hill carried out his orders promptly
and made the attack. Here the first men that
fell in the Crenshaw Battery bit the dust
Here they saw for the first time Confede-
rate dead. Night put an end TO the hghi,
and the next morning General jackson,
oftor delay Of twelve hours, turned the
dank of the enemy and caused them TO fall
back. ~ sa,,.
MANY OF the participant; in this light
pointed Yesterday TO places that twenty
Two wears ago were less desirable as add
ing places than they are now.
on TO Gaines's Mill, now ruin-on,y
the barren remnants OF the Drich Walls
being left-the eXcursionists next went.
Here one OF the officers told OF the burn-
ing OF two stores on the NIL; now ne Or
dered his battery horses 10 DE walereu'
and sent q boy up to the burning stores ~
Get some OF the scorched cheese ana crack
crs, and how General Gregg came up pe
Tore the hoy came back with his horse and
ordered him 20 take his battery to the
front i'm a gallop, telling him, "The Yam
kees are justtin front, Captain" ana now
no rushed up on foot and commenced the
fight. ,o,,,oeo,d .,
Caines,s Mil, and the officers pointed out
the nosition taken by the battery. The
field is now in high tilth, growing mag
niticent crop of sweet potatoes. On TINS
very ground fell Major Wheat, OF the
Louisiana Tigers, with the words on his
lins. "Bury me on the field, boys d"
A great deal could be said about the
change produced in the last twenty-five
years No signs OF war now appear In this
'lismal-looking locality, The half.rlpe black
berry, and the sour, reddish maria ns ehefry ,h.n
bore more semblance OF gore man
ANYTHING else thereabouts. The dove
nntterrd over the wheat-shock', the crow
vino ed lazy 6ight from one dead pine 70
another; laxy free negroes fought ieeD,y,
hoe in band, the aggressive grass, snd
from The cedar clusters on the rosas'de