Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-12
AN HISTORIC SCENE.
STONEWAlL JACKSON At THE BAT
TIE OF PORT REPUBLIC.
A Communication from Rev. Dr. Paul
Whitehead Replying to General Tslia-
fsrro and Captain O'Baunou.
To DC Edi,or Of the Dispatch:

AZ HF fSNsV W VIC ItePhtNs
My delay to writo again since the ap-
pearance of General Tsliaferro's article in
the DfsrATcB of June 26th, and Captain
O'Bannon's. has been because have made
the attempt (successful. as will presently
appear TO find some living eyewitness of
the scene of that morning. Ascertaining
through friend that few members Of
Carrington's battery were in Charlottes-
vile. communication with them has elected
O most interesting letter 20 one of the
men. which j give in full below with dia-
gram II refers to drawn by the author OF
the letter, who has kindly given permits
sion to use IL in this way. A clearer,
stronger paper could not be penned. and
when II is known to be from the pen OF Mr..
James DInwiddie, president Of Peace lnsti-
tute ut Raleigh, n. C.. Presbyterian
school OF distinction. its great value may
be easily estimated. Mr.. Dinwiddie Is an
educator OF ability and high reputation. an
NJ. A. of the University Of Virginia, and
before gong to Raleigh conducted school
at Gordonsville for several years as we'll as
holding elsewhere high positions
do not regret having opened this sub
ject. The correction in several respects Of
"hisiOry." so-called. IN reference to that
eyentful day which confirms my remark as
TO the way it often gets itself written"
Is Of deep interest u a student Of human
life at great epochs. Save 20 close search
ing and patient investigation many most
significant things do not reveal themselves
at all. General Taliaierro had never so
much as heard Of the matter narrated.
And in the remarkable mistake by which.
on Saturday night CsrringtOn's guns were
not. ~ designed, at" Kemper's fill. :" north
west OF the bridge over the Shenandoah,
but beyond Or. Kemper's house, south of
Port Repu bic. between the rivers and be-
tween the trains and the enemy who cross
ed into the village. one can but sec the
marvellous Providence that shapes our
ends" append note To one part OF Mr..
Dlnwiddie's letter, which dlspOses OF the
story narrated by Cooke of General Jack
sons personatng q Federal officer. etc.
presume no controversy" will now DO
needed to refute that account, unsupport-
ed as il always has been alike by testimony
and By the probabilities Of the case. 1t
was an idle report similar TO many which
obtain circulation about heroic men. and
never should have been inserted IN grave
Military Biography" That Dr. Dabney.
who was on Jackson's staff, his warm per-
sonal friend. and had access 20 bis letters
to his farily and private papers, gave 1t no
mention even in his " Life and Campaigns
sufficiently stamped il as apocnrvphal.
Inc defects OF the account given by me
az coming from Lieutenant 1imberlake
when compared with the full statement Of
MIR. Dinwiddie ere TO be charged to my
recollection Of things told me many years
ago. Mr.. Dinwiddie's letter throws no
light Of confederation on Captain O'l}an-
mons. If tho picket referred to by the
latter gentleman were not the twelve men
under Captain Campbell referred TO by Mr..
Dinwiddie as the headquarters guard
which is not likely. il - PLAIN that their
fire, though Il may have checked the Fede-
raj cavalry. did not stop Thorn long, for
they got beyond IT and were riding
furously" up the pike beyond the town
when they received the dose Of canister
which caused them TO melt away and re-
treat.
need not call attention 70 the interest
ing testimony of Dir. Dinwiddie * 10 the
conversations with Crutchheld and rs 10
General Jackson's comment Sunday eve
Mug on the firing Of the raw artillorlsts."
On the whole. am clad TO have been tho
instrument Of bringing ont this valuable
historical matter. And though Mr. DIM
widdie still go modestly says Iimberlake
"seemed TO me TO be the hero of the held,"
prefer 10 say now that the heroes Of that
priceless service Of SUNDAY morning were
the Charlottesville Artillery" led and
directed by their gallant lieutenants, Din
widdie and 1lmbeTlake.
PAUL WHITEHEAD.