Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-19
u.rT,E or DnEwRY.s BLUFF.
A Confederate scouts Report To Gen
crsJ Is. Y. BatIer Probably saves
Richmond.

BATTLE OF DREWNhs nIsF''
A Confederate scouts Report to Gen
crsI Is. Y. B1tIer Probably saves
Richmond.
Graham Davis, of Newberne, N. g.,
writes to The Philadelphia Times:
If the accounts were written Of the
many acts Of daring and devotion done
nv pIivates and men Of humble rank on
both sides during the war between the
States ~ suppose that even the world
itself could not contain the books. y
Not the least distinguished Of these
unnoted heroes was the subject OF thu
sketch, to whose braveSy the safety OF
Richmond was perhaps in great measure
due Of the time General Butler at-
tempted the capture Of that city in
May, 1864.
Flax. Wood, Of Yadkin county, Y.
c., enlisted as private in the Con-
federste army before he was fifteen
yesIs of age. At the first battle Of
Manassas. OF Bull Run, he was wound
ed. and in 1868 he vas transferred
from Wharton's North Carolina bat
TALON 10 serve as courier to Briga-
der General r. F. Hoke. The staff
officers Of General Hoke, finding that
Wood bad had no advantages OF educa-
ton and that he was very DESTROYS TO
improve himself. taught him to read
and write, and bright pupil he proved
himself TO be. I'm 1864, when llOke
was promoted to mojor-general. Wood
was made division scout, a position for
which he had proved that he was vel
fitted, though be was then only eigh.
teen years old. Sometimes, however
he made the very unusual error IL
Judgment Of capturing too many pri.
sonefs. Many were bis success nj.
forays upon the Federal outpOstS, and
on one occasion, when single-handed,
he bad compelled the surrender Of nine
men and brought them safely into
camp. be had to be told that inforua.
ton and not prisoners was what ne had
beer sent for, and that however desi-
rable the latter might be, the former
was often Of moro importance.
SAVING RICHMOND.
In Nay, lsG4, when General Butler
landed at Bermuda Hundreds with two
army corps. the Confederate forces a
fist ia bis front wero entirely insult.
Gent TO resist successfully his march
upon Richmond. lie advanced to tfa
neighhcrhocd cf DIewry's Blu1, and.
going into position, extended his left
until it seemed inevitable that be
would enycl,p the RICH. Of the Con-
fcde,ite position aud get possession OF
the road to Richmond. This move
ment Il was es entail to check. Bat
how? The troops then a. hand Tefo
not equal 20 the task, and TO got re
H. foIcsIeuts time was necessary. the
question wa how to got this precious
time. general HOko who commanded
on Che Confederate right. determined
10 .otAapt its solution by Ture as
: oil as unusual. Nigh. va not far
tG ard il vas fel. that if Buffers
further movement could be delayed IN
III Darkness f.ll all would be well.
Calling 10 Wood, General Hoko cX-
p'airod 20 bin the position fully and
asked if no were willing 70 give his
Iilo. if need be. 20 save Richmond.
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