National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-22

that portions of our line of battle were
falling back nearer to us. Provost-guard
duty In tho rear of a heavy fight is tho
last place that man Of ordinary courage
would seek IL no knew what he had to
contend with. Most men would rather
fight on the battle line in any battle, no
matter how hotly contested, than under
take TO attend to the rear. When night
closed on tho field of Spottsylvania we
had as many, and for thar matter many
more, prisoners than the battalion could
safely guard, and We were therefore or
dered to escort them to Hanover Junction
aud put thom on train for Richmond.
About as disagreeablo and vexatious
duty as man can be called on to per-
form Is to act IS officer of tho guard to o
large number Of prisoners on tho march,
especially in tho night time. On taking
charge for twelve or twenty-four hours
tour Of duty ho must count his prisoners
and give receipt to the officer whom ho
relieves. That receipt is put in the ad-
jutants hands, and If during the march
no loses one or half dozen or moro of
his prisoners II is accordingly counted
against him. Now an officer has greatly
to depend on his men in this sort
of work, and IL no should happen to
have incurred the ill-will of two or three
of his guards they might ruin him with
out detection by wiuking at tho escape Of
any considerable number of prisoners,
especially at night. In our corps an of
ficer who appeared to DO negligent of tho
escape Of prisoners would be considered
unfit for tho position and good subject
for court-martial and q cashiering.
After Gen. Lee had fallen back behind
tho North Anna river, as / was going
along tho road from tho Junction to our
bivouac, / saw in wall tent, tho side
walls of which were raised, pitched on
the greensward near the roadside Gems.
Lee. Jeb Stuart, and breckenridge. Lee
was seated on q folded horse-blanket on
the ground, with tablet and sheet of
foolscap on his knee. and spectaclas on
nose, seemed to BIO writing dispatch.
Breckenridge was lying fiat on the grass
on his portly stomach. his chin resting on
tho palms Of his hands, while Stuart ro-
clining on his left elbow, was tanning
himself with his plumed hat as he related
some story to Breckenridge, Mt which
they both appeared to BIO much amused.
Their talk and laughter did not seem to
| disturb Con. Leo in his writing in
the least 1 stopped to look at the group,
as had never seen Breckenridge before
II recognized him from his photography
pressed on my memory, because 1t was
the last timo l ever laid eyes on Stuart,
though day or 10 aftorward, while Oh
tho march, the battalion passe the am
bulance bringing him MORALLY wounded
from tho field of the Yellow Tavern
where he lost his life by bullet from {
sharpshooter, while cheering on tho Skin
mish line of tho 4th Virginia cavalry, 4
/ am not mistaken. At the time he wa
borne past US, however, the fact that ht
was MORALLY wounded was concealed
from the army.
1t was here that first met during tn,
war some of my old college-mates q
Georgetown college, in the ranks Of tn,
cadets Of the Virginia Military institut,
and in Dement'S Maryland battery
John +. Hanna, Samuel S. Shriver, Jane
M. Caperton, and others, resident or vol
known in tho district whom l do not
recollect at present. The insti
tute boys, who had come dow
with the division of Gen. Breckinridg
REINFORCE s,were as proud as peacocks
for, although they had been in but on
battle-New Market-they had charge,
and fought like veterans under Col
Smith, superintendent of tho academy
and, while the bulk of them were as oil
or older than many Of US, who were tn
veterans of three years and many battles
they had many young fellows in the rank
under 16 years of age; but one and al
knew how to handle q rifle with in
domitable pluck, as Gen. Siegel found GU
when they charged and took his stronges
position in the battle aforesaid, an
forced Siegels immediate disorderly re
treat, and caused the succession to tn
command OF Con. David Hunter, who, b
the way. was not much moro of SUI
cess than Siegel
OF Cold Harbor and tho succeedin
days until the opposing armies stood iron
to front before Petersburg to begin an
endure the long siege, / recolleot no inc
dent worthy of special mention. If
have given even dim notion of wha
went on behind the curtain in the las
great pitched battles in Virginia sha
| be- satisfied