Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-02
THE GUN INCIDENT.
MAJ w. s. kRcHeRs CONTRIBUTION
ON THIS HISTORICAL SUBJECT.
The Corrobora;ive Story Of Yankee Ser.
geaut About Gen. jackson and the
Gun Mt Port Republic.
Written for the Dlspstch.l


Anent the discussion a. TO the incident
at the battle of Port Republic, in which
General Jackson is said to have taken such
prominent part, 1 desire to add one
word. At this time l was sergeant in
Company F (old F Company, from Rich
mond). Twenty-frst Virginia regiment,
Second brigade. Jackson's division. The
Twenty-frst had participated in that ex-
citing Valley campaign. OF hard marches
and great renown, until just after the final
rout of Banks at Winchester, when 1t was
detailed to take charge of the prisoners.
nearly two thousand in number, and carry
them TO Lvnchburg. We marched them
with the utmost rapidity to Waynesboro',
where we were to await transportation by
rail.
OFF TO LYycHBuRG.
About 4 o'clock one afternoon some
cavalry galloped into our camp and IN
formed our commander, Colonel X. II. Cum
ningham, that the Yankees had gotten
into Port Republic between Us and General
Jackson. The Colonel at once started MS
on the march over the mountain to North
Garden, where We took the cars for Lynch
burg. In the mean time General Jackson
was drubbing the Yankees first at Cross
Keys and then at Port Republic. A few
DAYS after the lsst-named battle the
prisoners. about 600, taken since we left
the army, arrived in Lynchburg. My
company being off duty at the time l went
down to the depot and saw the tram come
In.
REMARKABLE STORY.
One Of the cars stopped opposite to me
and just behind the guards. vino were sit:
ting in the door. was Yankee sergeant OK
al hx.a nj
dressed me as follows:
Did you ever see General JacksonI"
Often" replied.
docs lie wear cap pulled down some
what over his nose?"
p" He does"
docs he ever wear long b!uish-black
cape?n
1 replied that had often seen him with
such q cape on.
The Sergeant then made the following
statement:
ORDER TO LIMBER UP.
my battery was with tho advanced
cavalry which made dash into Port Re-
public early in the morning. Ono OF our
guns under the first lieutenant was placed
IN the road bearing on the bridge. We bad
just numbered and were placing the gun
when Just such en- officer as have de-
scribed dashed up a. q gallop and in quick,
sharp tones ordered the lieutenant TO linz
Der up and move his gun to another POSI-
ton. pointing 1t out. The lieutenant
obeyed without hesitation.
GENERAL JACKSON.
THE man riveted my attention and it
was difficult for me 10 take my eyes of him.
As we went off Mt gallop turned to take
another look at tue oIbcer and saw him
put spurs to his horse and dash for the
bridge. in a very short time a regiment of
infantry was seen pouring down the slope
to the bridge at double quick. thought
then it was General jackson. lam certain
OF II nOw."
And am I. How could this Yankee ser
geant have made up such tale to gull mo
with in Lynchburg just few days after
his capture at Port Republic?
This incident was Characteristic OF Jack
son, and in absolute keeping with the
genius of the inan-great in fighting bat
terry in Mexico. great in fighting an army
in Virginia. For whilst he marched u
nearly OF our feet, yet when the pinch
came tho enemy were almost always beaten
before gun was fired. and Banks at least
never stayed long enough to stand single
push We made at him.
HIS GREAT POWER.
For one believe in the Yankee sergeant's
tale. like to think of jackson Us great in
small things as well as IN large ones, |
like TO think Of HIM az the man who had
the power when he rode by me. toot-sore,
wearied almost to exhaustion, as was ire
quently the case, to make me spring 10
my feet toss my hat i'll the air. and cheer
HIM to the echo a. he spurred old Sorrel
into a canter. And / always felt better
afterwards, too. OLD 4.