Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-19
BOYS In BATTLE.
YOUTHS WHO EARLY ENLISTED IN
THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.
Incidents of n Stormy Period I'm This
Country's History War
"Reminiscences
Hrsnrco COUNTY, VA, May is. 1891.

Al the ago of seventeen enlisted IN the
Crenshaw Battery, OF your city, under
command of w. q. Crenshaw as captain
and James Elicit first lieutenant; was
mustered into service on the 18th oil Marcn,
1862 and remained with my company until
April 0. 1865. when. by order OF the late
General r. Lindsay Walker. commanding
the artillery of the Third Army corps, we
spiked our guns and cut them down. and
with cad hearts bid farewell TO the Lost
Cause. 5;-oo
ton of the firing on General Lees lines,
,rhich we reached in time TO surrender
with that noble band, and was paroled
kpril 10. 1865, which parole | now have.
I was present with my company ana
took part in forty-one battles ana sklI-
mishes, was struck only once, lost oniy ven
5avs' dutv from sickness, was never reprl-
,nanded but was put on light extra duty
once for missing roll-call, being TOO lnde7
nendent 10 ask the captain 10 excuse me.
AZ The battle of Fredericksburg was ap-
nointed n special litter bearer by Lieuteh-
ant LANES EIlett an hour or so before ne
was killed, was the first one TO reach MN IN,
after he fell and helped carry him on tne
field Ont of the four litter-bearers ap-
nusly wounded, one killed, and ! came out
after the battle with bullet-hole through
AZ lead driver carried the first piece OF
artillery into action on our side at the pat
tle of Gettysburg, Pa, on the morning OF
July I. 1868. Rushing down macadainlzea
road at fearful rate OF speed 10 "ithln
few Yards Of the enemy turned 70 one
side, Jumped my horses over ran renee
and carried the gun INTO neiu "hu SOO-
had il in position. ,,.
was present with section Of my bat
terry near "Stonewall Jackson when ne
felf at Chancellorsville on the night OF
Nav 2. 1863. and had the honor OF helping
drive back the enemy who charged over
his fallen body. "
was with the Army of Northern Viz
GINA and took part in all its battles, from
Gaines's Mill to Appomattox, and had some
very close calls, but, thanks TO klnd
Providence. live to tell the tale, and am
now ENJOYING the best OF health.
| honor and respect the Stars and Stripes,
hut there is a dear old banner furled for
ever shall love as long as life lasts.
1ate Of Crenshaw Battery, Pegram's Bat
TALON Artillery. Third Corps, Army OF
Northern Virginia.
VALIANT SOLDIER.
CHASE CITY, Va, May Is, 1891.
To he Editor Of the Dispatch:
1 can furnish you the name of young
Confederate soldier who, If not the young
est. can certainly show record as credlta,
bic as any who fought under the stars ana
Bars. Mr.. Richard T.. Haskins, now living
in three miles of this place, a native of
Necklenburc, enlisted on the 23d OF May,
1861. in Company +, Fourteenth Virginia
regiment of infantry, at the age of fourteen
wears and nine months. serving as a prl-
yafe under Captain Robert ID. Baskerville,
bearing arms in the field the entire war,
and was paroled at Appomattox Court;
House. He never had or applied
for furlough during the time. lie
passed through various battles ana
was never seriously Wounded. soon
after the war he married and was lett
a widower with six children. In a few
wears he married again, this time to a
widow with six children. He has recently
lost his second wife, and IL now wldower
with thirteen children, seven of his own
and six of his second wife.
During this time MIR. Haskins had TO
contend with adverse fortune but has al
ways been able 10 live comfortably, and he
thinks fighting Yankees was not O greater
struggle with him than contending with
nnverty. He is now forty-four years old
and actively engaged in agricultural opera
lions. l. ~ o.
YOUNG CAPTAIN.
DANv1LLE, Va, May IA, 1891.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Captain r. P. Jennings, Of the Brooklyn
Grays, from Halifax county, Va, entered
the army in May. 1861. He was fourteen
wears eleven months and twenty days old.
I'd ar nj oil of his nrnt hers who
were of serviceable age had enlisted, and
he worried and importuned his mother SO
much that she, thinking he would get
tired and come back home as soon as the
novelty wore of, decided TO let him go.
He went to Richmond and the enrolling
officers refused to accept him on &C
count of age, but with a dauntless
spirit he went to see Governor Letcher,
who said to him, " My son, You are too
young, and this war Will last long tlIhe.
60 back home TO your mother and when
the country needs your services We Will call
YOU" But he would not be satisfied, and
the Governor at last consented, remarkng
TO him that the army life was hard one
and no would soon want the comforts OF
home. He Joined the regiment IN Car
nett's Cheat Mountain" retreat, was
never at home during the war except on a
wounded furlough, was IN all OF jackson
hard-fought battles, was wounded seven
times. and the last two years OF the war
was captain of his company and com
manded the regiment in number
of engagements. lie was not only
one OF the bravest, but one OF the
most popular officers in his command. de
is now a resident of Elk Greek, Neb.. and
is as popular with the northern soldiers as
he was with his old comrades. l think he
deserves place in your columns.
II. F. J.
p. s. The Brooklyn Grays were in the
Twenty-third Virginia regiment, Colonel
Taliaferro commanding.