Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
flank, nor could he particioste in ~
Seven Days battles around the city.
PROMOTED TO COLONEL.

Deen 80deu 70 the army, IL Woo OE8ou-
lied into two brigades. The distin-
guished South Carolinian. Wade Hamp.
ton, was placed in command OF one and
Fitz Lee the other. while Stuart COM
manded both. Lees brigade then com
sisted OF the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth
and Ninth Virginia. Wickhsm had
been promoted to be colonel OF the
Fourth for meritorious conduct and il
the campaign that followed did his 80.
customed good service as q regimental
commander. At the Second Manassas
he received special commendation fron
his commander. AT Sharpsburg he well
discharged the part assigned to the
cavalry of covering the withdrawal OF
the Confederate army and confronting
the advance Of Mcclellan. At Frede-
ricksburg he was on the right flank b.
yond Hamilson's Crossing supporting
the horse artillery under the gallant
Pelham. when Jackson said every army
ought 10 have q Pelham on each flank.
At Charlottesville he WAS assigned TO
watching the right flank Of the army
there, and in 1868 he accompanied the
march of Stuart's column TO Gettysburg,
where in the exercise OF discretion
given to him by the army commander
this officer crossed the Potomac but
short distance above Washington. and
fighting his way through Maryland and
PENNSYLVANIA with tho Federal army be-
tween Lis cavalry and his own army suc-
ceeded in reaching General Lee during
the second days fight at Gettysburg.
On the third day Wickham was engaged
in the cavalry combat on the left flank
OF the army, and there his men and their
commander won additional renown.
Some time preceding this he had been
elected to the Confederate Congress
from the Richmond district, but pre-
ferred to keep his seat in the saddle to
taking seat in that body and remained
in active service in the field.
After thereorganization OF the cavalry
in 1863 Wickham for active and brilllane
services was promoted t. the grade OF
briQadier general and to his command
was assigned the First. Second, Third,
and Fourth Virginia cavalry. He was
entitled to the stars added to the collar
of his coat and had fairly earned the
distinction of being transmitted to pos
teritv in the uniform Of a general officer.
Then Grant crossed the Rappahannock
on the 4th OF May, 1864, and began his
operations, known as the Wilderness
campaign, Wi,kham with his brigade
constituted portion OF the cavalry
charged with checking his advance, SD
as TO allow General Lee to secure
strategic positions such as Sp0tsylyania
| Courthouse and Cold Harhor before
| Grant could reach aud occupy them by
the prolongation OF his left flank.
Some of the hardest aud most brilliant
combats OF the war took place dunng
this period. After reaching Spotsylvania
| Courthouse, when Sheridan was de-
tached with large force composed OK
three divisions of cavalry. Wickhama
brigade, with one other, was sent with
orders to try and interpose between his
advance and the city of Richmond,
which was successfully done at Yellow
| Tavern. There six miles from tho
portals OF this city his brigade and
Lomax's brigade wrestlod nearly all day
| with the superior hunters OF Sheridan.
The safety of Richmond General
Bragg. then the commander OF the lines
here, said was assured by the gallant be-
| hayior of the troopers at Yellow Tavern,
| because il enabled him to move the in-
fantry brigades from points along the
| line below Richmond to the threatened
| poiut. and thus secure the safety OF tho
city. The fight at Yellow Tavern will
ever bo remembered, not only Oh this
account and for the prowess OF the troops
engaged there, but because at that point
the commander of the cavalry corps, who
had become so greatly distinguished AS
TO extort from an opposing army COM
mander the confession that he was thd
best cavalry officer in America, laid down
his life to prevent the occupation OK
Richmond by hostile forces
The brigade under Wickham also par
ticipated in the operations under Early
in and around Winchester, IN tho Valley
of Virginia. and il was due to the steady
and formidable stand of the cavalry un-
der Wickham, in the Luray Valley,
which prevented largo forces OF the
Federal cavalry from advancing mp that
valley. and thus getting in tho rear OF
General Early's army. q,
OF course, in an address OF this kind
il is impossible to go through q cam.
paign extending through nearly four
years of war. 1t will be sufficient to
saw that Wickham not only Ia the larger
battles inst named, but in the innume-
rable cavalry combats, Fleetwood, Aldie.
Middleburg, Upperville, auckland.
Brandy Station, Irevilians, and many
others maintained the high reputation
which he and his command had SO
rapidly acquired and displayed upon
every occasion-capacity and courage as
a cavalry commander In many re-
spects he was fine outpost officer.
and when entrusted with the picketing
in front OF the army he thoroughly
understood with the instinct OF soldier
that the safety OF the camps. 80 Tar aa
his part OF the line was concerned, de-
pended upon his activity and vigilance.
Farmers would frequently complain
TO his Immediate commander that their
cattle could mot get down to water on
the Rappahannock or the Rapidsn on
the line OF Wickhams pickets because
he had placed them not only at the main
points along the river, but also on every
hog-psth, as they expressed 1t.
90 IN THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
| On the 5th Of October. 1864, six
months before the war ended, Wickham
left the army and for the first time took
his seat in Congress, which had been "a
long vacant. The prolongation OF the
unequal struggle was then but q quss-
ton of time. The life-blood Of the Con-
federacy was slowly ebbing out aud ita
war-cradled career drawing to close.
1t was Wickhams sincere desire to 50
shape legislation that in tho event ol
the surrender of the Confederate armies
q peace might be made from which great
benefits should flow to his comrades oi
tho South.
When at last after four years OF wal
the southern sun sank behind the hill
of Appomattox, il was his earnest hops
, that the rising rays Of restored Unior
should spread alike over oil parts OF
!. reunited country. he earnestly labore<
to restore friendly feeling between tha
, sections and conscientioasly devoee(
| L..~,solS 20 haalipr tna sore spOfa Of tbl