The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-20
THE OLD TEXAS BRIGADE.
Memorial Stone 10 Their HerOism Erected
10 the Wilderness.
THEIR DEVOTION TO GENERAL LEE.
Their Conduct Daring the war-Lot Around
tho Stone to DO Decided to the Ladies' OF
the Southern Memorial Society.
For The Times

On May G. 1864, tho advanced forces OF the
Army Of Northern Virginia confronted the
army of General Grant in the Wilderness Of
Spotsylvania" in its grand move ION to Rich
mond."
General Grant had two days before success
fully. without opposition. crossed his army
over the Rapidan at Ely's and Germanna
fords and was marching towards Gordons-
lville Ewell with the Second corps-Stone
wall Jackeon's old command-occupied the
left OF the Confederate front. covering the
old turnpike. and in his advance was first to
meet and check the enemy. Ills corps
had been IN winter quarters ABOUT
Orange Courthouse, and hence was nearest
TO the enemy Longstreet, with his corps,
was in winter quarters about GordonsViAe,
and did not arrive upon the scene OF impend,
ing conflict on the Confederate right, until
May 9Th. when he arrived in time TO give
much-needed relief to the troops OF A; /.
Hill. who had been. fighting steadily
The 6attle-lne of Ewells corps extended
across the old turnpike, which was
about his centre, and on which was their
heaviest fighting A. Z. Hill and Longstreets
troops marched down and occupied the
Orange pIank-road. The turnpike and plank
road each runs from Fredericksburg to Or
ange Courthouse Palmer'5 old field on the
turnpike and Tapps old field on the Orange
plsnk-road. the site Of the memorial stone
Just erected, are about five miles apart. and
were toe centres OF heaviest lighting IN the
battle of the Wilderness.
HERoIsN AND DEVOTION TO LEE.
In commemoraton of their heroisrn and de
votion to General Lee shown by the Texas
brigade this stone was erected. The scene,
81 4, nj
tuate, is graphically described by Rev. j. VIII
liam Jones in his Personal "reminiscences OF
General X. H. Lee" 1t was crisis in the
battle when Longstreets corps first came upon
the field, headed by the Texas brigade,
led by the gallant Gregg" General
Lee rode to meet them" and was advancing as
their leader in the charge The soldiers per,
ceiving this shouted: go back. General
Lee" DO go back" General Lee to the
rear" "A ragged veteran stepped from the
ranks and seized his bridle-rein.' The COM
mand refused to advance until their beloved
chieftain had retired Then those gallant
Texans nobly rushed forward and
Around the hallowed spot where this
stone now stands are the open graves of about
forty of that fearless and devoted band who
attested their love for General Lee and their
country. Their remains were removed and
now sleep in the Confederate cemetery or
soon after wounded by his own men
near this spot while leading q. victorious
charge Had the record of him then been
Dead on the Field of Glory"-his happy
fate would have been like that OF Wolfe
falling in the arms of victory on the Heights
of Abraham"
THE STONE.
This stone. four feet high, of massive white
field quartz lay on the side OF the old turn
pike Just on the advance battle line and breast
works of wells corps Subjected TO q 'bapho-
metic IRE bapt SIN" of battle. it became
fitting memorial tribute from the hard fought
and victorious lines of EwelPs "Secord corps"
to her sister corps under Longstreet to now
and forever stand as battle monument above
these graves of the Texas brigade.
PLEASING SPECTACLE.
twas pleasing spectacle to see with the
Confederate veterans of the neighborhood
their children and grandchildren with zeal
and enthusiasm assisting in the noble work
of removing and erecting this memorial stone.
1t stands upon and is buttressed by quartz
rocks, which were used as part of the rife
pit breast-works on the skirmish line III Their
front. Ii is beautifully shaded in grove OF
oak and hickory, pine and cedar IN Tapp's
old field. and is sixty feet north OF the Orange
plank-road aud eighty feet in rear OF the
Confederate breast works 10 the east.
Near to that great forest known as the
Weird Wilderness Woods" where, like
shells buried in ocean depths. that have
caught from the roar of contending waves
and cliffs perpetual murmurs, SO here the
myriad piney-tops have caught from the din
of battle and tho shock of arms requiem
which they whisper in musical monotone
over the graves of our martyred dead.
GROUND TO BEDEEDED.
A lot surrounding this stone is to be decided
by the owners of Ellwood estate to the a
dies Southern Memorial Society to be held in
trust forever for the sacred uses and objects
for which this memorial was erected, believ-
ing this Society to be the best custodian for
the battle monuments of the South.
The writer is not of the number OF those
who 30 rejoice in reconstructed and re-
stored Union that they are ever singing paans
for centralized Government being estab-
lished by subversion of our dearest consti-
tutional rights and liberties, but sees IN the
spontaneous erection of these simple monu-
ments to perpetuate truth, yalor and patriot
ism the evidence that the spirit which
animated the heroes of old still burns
in the hearts of their children. Some one has
rightly said that "a country without monu
ments is a country without history TO
which we would add that o country without
heroes in her past remembered. revered and
loved in her present, is without hope for her
future. hopK
"Wilderness," Spotsylvania county, Va,
September 10. 1891.