Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-07

taken prisoner March 9, 1885. at Harpor's
Farm or HArpcr's Ford Che does not re,
member exactly whether il was named
farm or ford). and was carried 10 Point
Lookout and did not return home untii
tho 9th of July, 1865. He belonged TO
Company (under Captain Dock CHAP
mani, Hunton's brigade. Picketts diyi,
sion. He received two wounds at Coia
Harbor-one in the band and the other IN
the leg--after which he was granted O. fur
Tough. and remained at home sixty days,
that being the only time that he was az
home during the war. He also informs me
that he was in the fight at Gettysburg.
Yours. 8c. G.. A. MISIfEE.
ENLISTED gEYoIE HE WAS THIRTEEN.
MAnysvrLLE, Mon.
Hon. J. Taylor Eayson:
Dear Sir.--I see from The RICHMOND
DrspArcu they are anxious TO ascertain VINO
was the youngest soldier in the Conteus-
rate army. Think Richmond can clam IL.
/ ENLISTED in the Twenty-fifth Virginia bat
taiion--Company ID, Captain John +. y.
Potts-Colonei Wyatt M. Elliott, COM
mander, in September. 1862. before was
thirteen years old. Henry Muller, orotnef
Of Polk Miller, was a lieutenant in the com;
pnny. I was transferred TO the Second
company of Howitzers in the winter OF
1863. and was with that command
until the 9th day of April. 1863.
whcn I was wounded by the Sixth
army CORPS at Sailors Creek holding the
rear of Lees army. / think you saw me
get the shot, for You were Just to my ieita l
was born on the 9Th day of April, 1S4g; Inc
family Bible is in my brothers fanny 10
Richmond. My occupation now is mining
and has been for number OF years. nope
10 strike il rich some OF these days ana
roma hack TO old Richmond.
Hoping YOU will give this your attention.
lam. yours truly. JAMES Il. BISroRD.
L. S.-Love TO old comrades.
ZONE OF THE BoYs."
PENDLEroN, Ky.
To he Editor of he D'spotch:
Having noticed several "reminiscences in
your paper of the boy soldiers wish 10
send the name of my father, Thomas Z:
Winr6eld. While not the youngest, yet
ne was one OF the boys. He was native
of Hanover county and was mustered INTO
service January 20, 1864. being hfteen
years three months and seventeen DAYS
old. He enlisted under Captain .. Wat;
Drew in Company + of the Iwenty-third
Virginia cavalry. commanded by Colonel
Robert White. and Lieutenant. Colonel
Charles O'Farrel. He participated IN the
battles Of Winchester, Fishers Hill, and
other less important battles and sklr-
mishes.
He was taken prisoner by Sheridans
cavalry near keswick March b. 1868, ana
confined in Camp Hambleton and at Point
Lookout until released on the ga OF june
of the same year by President Johnsons
amnesty proclamation. Respectfully.
OSCAR II. WISGfIELD.
THREE GALLANT YOUNGSTERS.
HANOVER.
To he Editor Of Rie Dispatch:
want to give you the war record of three
boys who were born in your city and
raised on their mothers farm at Mechanics
vile, Hanover county. IL was on TINS
farm that the battle of Mechanicsville was
begun. w. J. Binford. the eldest. who Ii
well known in your city, entered the Han
over Troop, which was Company &. Fourth
Virginia cavalry, in January, 1862, being
fifteen years and five months old. Tie was
knocked of his horse with sabre Mt
Kelley's Ford 18th March. 1868, when Gen
eral Fitz Lea. with seven hundred men.
whipped General Averill with three thou
sand. ] consider this the grandest cavalry
fight ever made. He was shot IN
the foot at the battle of TrevilliaD's, and
was on crusches for FIVE months. He was
a courier for General Robertson when he
was colonel of the regiment, and scout,
guide, and courier for General FitZ Lee
the last twelve months of the war. He was
an active participant in every fight OF the
Army of Northern Virginia except when
disabled from wounds; and on the retreat
to Appomattox he might have been seen
assisting that gallant Georgian, j. Is. Cor
don, rallying his corps at Sailors Creek.
He had carried General Gordon message
from General Lee, and reached him just as
his troops had been scattered by the enc
my.
In the very last charge made by any
portion of the army after the surrender
had been announced his command would
not surrender, but charged the enemy's
line. broke it, and escaped. In this charge
an oil-cloth was shot from behind his sad
die. His experience during the war was
very exciting, and he had several very
"cfose calls" The writer knows person.
ally of several of his trips within the ene-
my's camps that would have sorely tried
men like Mosby and Morgan.
Writ Montgomery his second brother,
was In McEnerney's battalion before he was
fifteen. Whilst out in the trenches before
Fort Harrison on one occasion he was with
young Tom Hudgins and your own Carlton
Mccarthy, when they agreed that they
would go into the regular service. Bin
ford and Hudglns went TO Mosby's CON-
mand and Mccarthy went to Second COM
pany Richmond Howitzers. Hudgins was
killed Mt Berryville and Binford in Mosby's
last fight at Harmony church, III Loudoun
county. His family knew nothing of his
death until the morning of the evacuation
of Richmond. His brother was anxious to
know now he acted in battle and he made
inquiries of some of his comrades. They
told him not TO give himself any uneasl-
ness about it, that he had died like SOL
der in the front of the charge.
James H., the third and last one, entered
the Twenty fifth Virginia battalion when
he was thirteen years and four months old,
and was transferred TO that gallant old
company, the Second Howitzers. in the
winter of 1863. know nothing of his
record as a soldier, but ! do know that on
caisson of the Third Howitzers with bull
let in his thigh that he had received at
Sailors Creek. That day his brother w. j.
raw him, and Jim asked him if he wanted
something to eat. He told him he did. He
ran his hand in his haversack and pulled
out three small ears Of corn that he had
received as rations that day. He made
FIRE, parcbed the corn, and ate it.
hope you will not consider this too long
for publication, as it is true record OF
three rs gallant boys as ever went to their
country's rescue.
MKMBER OF OLD HANOVER Troop.
AnE RVA SShf INN DADA 'NHHNNs's
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
The Presidents Guard, afterwards Com
pany G.. Twenty-ffth Virginia infantry,
was certainly the boy company OF the VIZ
ginia troops if not Of the Confederate
army. Mustered into service on the 18th OF
March, 1862, for the war. there was not
man received who was known to be over
twenty-one wears, and some, am sure, were
not over thirteen years OF age.
There were two privates who deserve
especial mention for youth and devotion
10 the South-Cyrus Jordan, OF Norfolk,
and John Padgett, of Alexandria, who
came through the lines and served till the
end OF the war. don't think either was
over fifteen years old.
Then there was Tommie Lipscomb, who
was drummer for the Fifteenth Virginia.
who joined us. His brother told me he
was only twelve years old, and think he
certainly was the baby soldier.
Upshur Bass was o heutenant at about
eighteen years.
Don't this look like the boy company, at
least Of Virginia. If not the southern army.
One OF THEM.