The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-29
RICHMOND H0WITzERS.
CONTINUATION OF THEIR INTER
ESTiNG HISTORY.

Sir Pieces.
Although the slst Of July had been one
of the warmest days Of the season. the
morning after the battle was ushered in
with n cold rain. This atmospheric phe-
nomenon was frequently observed later in
the war. and was attributed 10 certain
meteorological changes produced by heavy
cannonading. so II was that early
on the morning Of the 22d the right
section OF the Howitzers was again
ordered 10 join Bonhams brigade TO
follow and observe the enemy, pick up
stragglers, secure such property as had
been left and report results the same
night. The section left the Entertainments
at sunrise in pouring rain, and advanced
as far as Centreyile. vast quantity OF
army stores and wagons, sixty artillery
horses with harness on them, -FOUR calssons
full Of ammunition. and one hne brass rlhe
gun were found, besides about forty prison
ers taken. An entire encampment was
found as the enemy had left IL with us
equipages, baggage and wagon loads OF
rubber clothes and haycrsacks, and the I'M
used coffee in the cups Of panic stricken Of
fcers.
FROM JOY TO GRIEF.
Champagne baskets and the debris OF q
fete champetre too suddenly left by amateur
campaigners told how thorough had beer
the change from Joy 20 grief The day before
Affer a hard DAVIS work, and wet 10 The
skin. the command returned 20 spend thelI
last night in the trenches without tents
and having in ~ meantime had nothing 70
eat but the Crackers captured from the
enemy. on the morning Of the sd the leii
section Of the battery, under Lieutenant
Ed. :. Mccarthy, was ordered 10 move ior-
ward as far as practicable in the direction
of Fairfax Courthouse, 10 reconnoitre the
roads and country and report any informa-
ton Of the enemy that might be gotten.
In the meantime the right section. under
Captain Shields, in company with General
Bonham's brigade, took the road to Wen
ma, n small village in the upper part Of
Fairfax county. 10 which place thls
officer had just been ordered. The marcl
Of twenty miles was aade in the
night At Germantown, place made IA
nous by Pope's disastrous defeat at the
second battle Of Manassas, the second sec
tOn Of the battery fell into column. Lieu
tenant Mccarthy could only report evidences
Of the precipitate retreat Of the enemy.
Along the route from Centreyllle 10 Vienna,
and in the direction Of Fairfax, the smoking
ruins Of private houses and desOlated fields
told Of outrages committed by the Northern
troops in their late advance 10 Manassas
The company did not remain long mt Wen
ma. Suddenly, on the 9th of July, orders
came 20 join Longstreet, then at Centreville
20 whom our captain reported at nightfall
while the men biyouaced within his lines
Next day they were comfortably encamped
on the neighb0ring heights. Several weeks
were spent at this place, during most OF
which time Captain Shields was obliged "a
be absent on THROUGH on account of a severe
injury received from vicious horse, whilst
in the lines at Bull Run, but which did not
prevent him nom being present when duty
required.
VISIT FROM "PLoN-PLON.'
During the stay at Centrevile, the tedium
Of camp life was relieved by the excitement
and novelty consequent upon the visit OF
Prince Louis Napoleon, commonly known as
"Plon-plOn." He was cousin TO Napoleon
Ill, then Emperor Of the French; was
travelling in America, and having known
General Beauregard, had been allowed to
pass the Federal lines TO pay his respects
TO the latter. He had been met below Falls
Church, under flag Of truce, by the Black
Horse TrOup, who had been detailed as his
personal escort. Col. George W. Lay, who
was a good French scholar, had been sent
10 conduct him 10 Beauregard's headquar-
lers. On his return towards Alexandria he
was 10 be entertained by grand review OF
Confederate troops. Accordingly five brig
AIDES, numbering about 1900 men, cavalry,
artillery and infantry, all under command
of Gen. LOngstreet, were present on the oc-
casiOn, The HOwitZers occupied the right
of the review next 10 the commanding gen.
eral and his staff. For five hours the troops
stood in broilng sun awaiting tie ap-
proach Of the Prince. The line extend
ed several miles over the country. At
last, upon signal, amidst the roll
ing Of drums, the blare of bugles,
the clangor Of martial music and the dipping
Of colors, the princely representative OF the
Napoleon dynasty appeared in an open
carriage with some other French dignitaries,
and accompanied 10y Beauregard and his
staff. Having alighted from his carriage
the First Regiment Of Virginia volunteers.
was selected TO go through the battalion
drill before him. He seemed particularly
interested, and expressed his qualification
at the precision and alacrity with which The
movements were made. The personal ap-
pearance Of the Prince strongly suggested
the Napoleonic mould, although incumbereG
with fat, and on this account rather un.
graceful.
ACTIVE SERVICE.
1t really appeared that the Howitzers
To any command. On the 9th of August, the
Captain having just returned from turlough
received orders TO report at once for "actiy,
service" TO General Evans, whose column
was already on the road TO l.essburg, il
LOudoun county, about twenty-five mile,
distant. Owing 10 unavoidable circum
stances the company could not move al
once; but before sunrise next morning the
battery was in motion, on its way TO jOT
General Evans. The day was excessively
hot, and although it was long march fol
artillery, inasmuch as the order had beer
"fOr active service" the Captain managed
To report 10 General Evans at Il. NJ. of th'
same day. 1t had been rumored that tbs
enemy was in force on the Maryland sid'
Of the Potomac, aud was threaten
ing 10 occupy the town Just refer
red TO-. Fortunately, he had not don,
so. The possession Of Loudoun county wa
necessary 10 the Confederate forces at thi
time. Ii abOunded in provisions and wa
capable itself OF supporting quite an army
Besides this the inhabitants, with few eX
ceptions, although Immediately on thu
northern frontier Of the COnfedcracy, wer,
devoted TO the Southern cause. The com
pany had scarcely gone into camp when ri
mOrs Of the enemy having occupied the vii
lage OF LOvettesyille. some fifteen miles uI
the Potomac, caused movement by Gen
eral Evans in that direction. A column
composed OF the Thirteenth and Seventeenth
Mississippi regiments, a squadron of dra
gOons from Balls Chesterfield and AleXan
der's cavalry, with the right section Of How
tiers under Lieut.. Palmer, was organized
for this purpose. General Evans desigI
was 30 surprise and capture the enemy'i
forces IL possible, the village being on The
south side Of the river. After a forced
march through a pouring ram, the column
reached its destination only TO find that tn,
enemy having gained information Of its ad
vance, had retired TO the Maryland side o
the river. The Confederate troops entered
the town unOpposed. Most OF the inhabi
tants being hostile to the Southern cause
fed the village. Unfortunately the Genera
allowed his troops 10 sack their deserted
stores aud shops. This had bad effect
both on the other inhabitants as well as OF
the troops. The men Of the HOwltzeIs tool
no part In this foray. The next day Genera
Evans retired by the way of Waterford, q
pretty Quaker village, where he halted two
days. The Howitzers occupied an ole
Quaker Westinghouse, which, according I,
the date inscribed over its portal, had beer
built in 1861. The column returned TO Lees
burg the following day.