Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-20
A WAR INCIDENT.
Graphically Told by General William III.
Payne, of Warrenton, Va.


General William II. Payne, of Warren
ton, Va, who served with distinction on
the Confederate side in the late war, con-
tributes the following graphic war incl
dent to the Vrginiai, of that town:
Il was delighted to see an account in
the last No. of your paper OF my
much-esteemed friend, DIR. Pendleton.
There is no man living to whom | proba-
bly, owe q greater obligation. If life is to
accounted valuable, and | have always
endeavored TO keep up a connection with
the Doctor, but for the last few years /
have lost sight of him, and am glad TO have
struck his trail once more. His con-
duct to me at the battle of Williams
burg was one of those unregistered acts
of heroism which so conspicuOusly
marked our war. The Doctors account
is substantially correct, but does not do
full justice to his own generosity and cour-
age. He is mistaken in supposing that his
regiment was posted by General Stuart I'M
der fire without an object, and that appl-
cation was made by me TO withdraw it. IL
was not until after was hurt that this APP
plication was made. Summers corps was
pressing a small fragment of the Confede-
rate army, think August or Kemper's
regiment, in the edge of the wood in front
of Fort Magruder. 1t was expected that
they would break in before achievements
could be gotten up. Stuart ordered the
best armed squadron OF the Fourth
regiment TO be detached and formed
for instantaneous attack as soon as
the Yankees appeared. The Bachelors
company, which was the best armed. was
ordered to be turned out and formed for
the purpose. Pendleton's company was
some three hundred yards in front. having
been on picket that morning. galloped
down to where it was halted with the in
tention Of adding it TO the Black Horse
Orders were left with the Black Horse to
move forward as soon as the signal Was
given. 1t was whilst l was forming Com
pany + that the volley was fired which up-
set me, and killed and woundedsome others.
! thought the yolley was not fred at us
particularly, but the truth Is the ar was
filled with bullets from every direction. and
you could easily have caught hatful bv
holding one up. The men around us dis
persed under the heavy fire, but Pendle-
ton leaped from his horse. pulled me be-
hind The only tree / remember TO have
seen in the plan, and thrusting his FINGER
into NV mouth arrested the hemorrhaee
which would have been fatal in few min
utes. He sat there behind this little tree
clutching the throbbing artery with one
hand and holding my head with the other
whilst the air and the very earth under
him and the tree. itself were filed with
balls. He not only sat placid and und;s-
turbed. but never loosened his hold
the a.s., men ses, s syspSdss snd I. sds
10 hurry US out OF our per;inus
nos;tion' / recollect after beins. '' ,,,s
IA the blanket, and whilst being tafen To
tho.ambulance the firing rose again and
one Of the men dropped the corner Of his
blanket. The others picked me I'D and "a
ried me 10 the ambulance. During ths
walk TO the ambulance Pendleton moved
by NV side, never relaxing his ernsn
When we got to the vehicle he was 1ifssd
in with me, and it was not until / was a.
iiyered 70 my friend. Dr.; Dorsey Cullen.
did Be release his bold. The strain q 81