The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-02

the Tost causes ON the leld Of battle, cites the
series of articles by Generals Johnston, Beaure-
gard, Early and others, published in Harpers
Magazine shortly after the close Of the war. in
which they attribute the defeat of the Confed-
eracy to the inordnate egotism and ineapacity
OF Davis. For some time Immediately
after after the close Of the war" says Mr.
kept store It became something
Of a resort for the men, and tho war
was the usual subject of the conversation. One
of my frequent visitors was ex confederate
soldier named John Brady, highly educated
and very intelligent man, who was an officer
in Virginia regiment A woman came into the
store one evening whileswe were talking, with
child. inquired its name, and she replied that
it was Jefferson Davis. My God. madam
don't you give your child name that
can be respected. Call him jack
son, Johnston, or Robert E. Lee
but not jeff Davis, a man who is despised
after jefferson Davis. replied the woman, be-
cause he was President, and want the boy to
hate a Yankee as fur as he can see one OF en-
From all that heard said in the South, imme
diately after the close of the war; says Mr.. Per
ry, II am satisfied that the people had no kindly
feeling for Davis personally, and that they then
believed that his interest in what is now called
the lost cause was nothing more than selfish
one.
morning about 10 o'clock, distinctly remem-
ber.' says George Spahr, ''of orders coming to
the camp to pack up two days rations for man
and horse. Bye o'clock our entire cavalry d.
vision was on the march and headed in the direc-
ton of Upperville Where we were going. and
what we were going for was to most OF
us a mystery. We had not proceeded
far, however, on our journey until we discovered
that the euemy's cavalry was in our front, and
yvo do iharo tolu fol- hoaly
~ for some purpose. 1t soon became apparent
that the rebel General Stuart, with his COM
mand, had come from out the Shenandoah val
ley, crossed the Shenandoah river and come
Blue Ridge just what his intentions
were we never learned. We knew, however,
that 1T was expected of us to entertain him and
to take of him. He was considered our
guest, and we marched out to meet him. He
was not left long in ignorance of our coming,
and he began preparations on an extensive scale
to meet as. He gathered his forces in line
of battle. about mile long, just outside the vii
lage OF Upperville, and there awaited our com
ing. AS we drew nearer and nearer the
signs of battle became more apparent.
Our line grew longer and stronger, until
we found ourselves in line of battle at a stand
STILL face to face with the enemy We had with
us brass band, which moved off to small hill
just in the of line of battle. 1t was
about o'clock in the evening, in the summer
season. Both forces were in full view, and the
sight was grand one Everything was
quiet. Every man then in line meant
business He was looking well to the
certainty of his seat in his saddle, the
security of his trappings and the safety of his
sword and firearms Soon the soul-stirring
music from the band began to float out on the
air. and from the mountains near it was echoed
back The band was playing. Columbia, the
Gem of the Ocean" Slowly, and in
deep earnest, came the command, all
along the line, Forward" and we were in
motion. Then came the command, loud
and clear, Draw sabers," Charge and, in an
instant ten thousand sabers we're glstening
in the evening sum- and as many men and horses
were rushing to mortal combat The crash came.
The mingling Of that music with the noise of
battle and the wild shouts of the victors, nerved
every man and made him an army unto him
self. This was, believe, the grandest sight of
art was whipped and his command was flying to
the mountains. and here and there lay many
dead cavalryman."
After the Wilson raid, in 1854, while following
his command, which he had fallen behind,
George Spahr happened to overtake on the road
Lieutenant Shannon, of Company E, of his regi-
ment, who proposed that they Should stay
under a tree until the boys passed and hurry
them up." .We stopped, dismounted, and began
to eat lunch" says Mr.. Spahr, "as it was then
about IL o'clock and we had not yet had our
breakfast. AS the boys came riding by in small
squads. we hurried them on. Presently they
quit passing and after little while I said to
Shannon: THE boys have all gone by, let us go.
He assented and we started side by side to
mount together. AS struck the saddle also
struck my horse with my spurs, and
away I went flying down the road.
kept up the conversation, talking about the sit
uation of affairs. supposng that Shannon was
by my side Receiving no reply, Hooked around
and found that was alone. checked my horse
and looked again. Shannon was gone l now
felt sure that something wrong. What had
become of Shannon could not understand, and
so hurried on alone. That was the last saw of
him until after the war, when he walked into
my Office one day. He had been captured while
mounting, and it Is mystery to both of US to
this day how I got away"