The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-30

and men. Lieutenant Colonel Wickham was
wounded by sabre thrust and tlken pris-
oner. but was afterwards paroled and ex-
changed. In consequence OF this wound no
could not ride with stuart whea later he
made the entire circuit of McClellan's army as
IL lay in front of Richmond when he blazed
the way for JacksoB's attack Oh Mcclellan
right flank, nor could he participate ia the
Seven Days battles around the city.
TWO BnIGADEe.
In July, 1862. more cavalry having been
added q the army il was organized INTO Two
brigades. The distinguished South OaroIln,
ian, Wade Hampton. was placed III command
OF one. and Fitz Lee the otner. while Stu
art commanded both. Lees brigade then
consisted of the First. Third. Fourth, Fifth
and Ninth Virginia Wickham had been pro
NOTED 20 be colonel OF the Fourth Tor merl-
torous conduct. and in the campaign that
foil wed dii his accustomed good service a. q
reeimental commander At the Second Man
asses he received special commentator from
his commander. 80 Sharpsburg he we'll dis
charged the part assigned 10 the cavalry of
covering the withdrawal of o Confederate
army and conf, nting the advance az Nc
Clellan. At Fredericksburg he was on the
night flank beyond Hamilton's Crossing. sup
porting the horse artillery under the gallant
Pelham. when Jackson said every army ought
TO have Pelham on each flank
~ ChancellOrsyllle he was assigned 70
watching the right flank of the army there
and IN 1863 he accompanied the march OF STU
arts column 10 Gettysburg when in the OK
erciso Of discretion given to him 10y the army
commander this officer crossed tle Potomac
hut short distance above Washington and
fighting his way through Maryland and Penn
sylyana with tho Federal army between BIS
cavalry and his own army succeeded IN
reaching General Lee during tho second days
fight at Gettysburg On the third day Wick
4 LIT,
the left flank Of the army. and there his men
and their commander won additional renown.
ELECTED 40 CoSGREss.
Some time preceding this 10 had been
elected 20 the Confederate Congress from the
Richmond district but preferred TO keep his
seat in tie saddle TO taking seat N that
body, and remained N active service in the
field. Alter the reorganization Of the
cavalry in 1868 Wickham for active and bril-
liant services. was promoted 20 the grade or
brgader-general and to his command was
assigned the First, Second, Third and Fourth
Virginia cavalry. He was entitled to the stars
added 10 the collar of his coat. and had fairly
earned the distinction OF being transmltted 10
pOsterity in the uniform of a general officer.
When Grant crossed the Rappahsnnock on
the 4th Of Nav, 1864. and began his opera
tons known az the Wilderness campaign
Nckham with his brigade constituted por-
ton Of the cavalry charged with checking HE
advance so as 70 allow General Lee 90 secure
strategic positions such as SpOtsylvanlG
Courthouse ard Cold Harbor before Grant
could reach and occupy them b. the pro-
lOugatiOn on lbs left flank.
AT YELLOW TAVERN.
Some Of the hardest and most brilliant COM
bats Of the war took place during this period.
After reaching SpOtsylvania Courthouse, when
Sheridan was detached with a large force
composed OF three divisions of cavalry. Wick
hams brigade with one other was sent with
orders to try and interposs between his adj
vance and the city OF Richmond. which was
successfully done at Yellow Tavern There
six miles from the portals OF this city his
brigade and lOmaX's brigade wrestled nearly
all day with the superior numbers Of Sheridan.
The safety of Richmond. General Bragg
then the commander of the line here-sad.
was assured By the gallant behavior of the
troopers az Yellow Tavern, because II enabled
him 10 remove the infantry brigades from
points along the line below Richmond TO the
threatened point and thus secure the safety
Of the city. The fight at elbow Tavern Will
ever be remembered. not only on this account
and for the proves of the troops engaged
there. but because az that point the com
mandeT of the cavalry corps, who had become
80 greatly distinguished as to extJrt from an
opposing army commander the confession
that lie was the best cavalry officer II Amer
lea laid down his life to prevent the occupa-
ZION OF HlCuluOlQ Dy uOslio loIctS.
The brigade under Wckhsm also partici-
pated in the operations under Early
in and around Winchester in the Val
lev OF Virginia. and il was due TO the
steady and formidable stand Of the cavalry
under Wickham IN the Luray Valley which
prevented large forces of the Federal cavalry
from advancing up that valley and thus get
ting in the rear Of General Early's army.
II OTHER BATTLES.
OF course in an address of this kind it
is impossible b 90 through campaign ex-
tending through nearly four years of war.
IL will be sufficient to say that Wickham. not
ONLY in the larger battles Just named, but in
the innumerable cavalry com bats, Fleetwood.
Aide. Middleburg, Upperyille, Buckland
Brandy Station. Ireyillian's and many Others.
maintained the high reputation which he and
his command had 80 rapidly acquired. and
displayed upon every occasion capacity and
courage as cavalry commander. In many
respects he WAS a 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 50 far as his part of the line was
concerned depended upon his activity and
vigilance.
Farmers would frequently complain to his
immediate commander that their cattle could
not get down 10 water on the happenannock
or the Rapidan on the line Of Wlckham's
plcketS DeChusc Nc hht pihNtN tHChi uOb
only at the main points along the river, but
also on every hog-path, as they expressed it.
IN CONGRESS.
On the 5th Of October. 1864, six months be-
fore the war ended, Wickham left the army,
and for the first time took his seat in Con-
gress which had been 80 long vacant. The
prolongatiOn Of the unequal struggle was
then but question of time. The llfe-blood
az the Confectionery was slowly ebbing out
and its war-craded career drawing to
close.
II was Wickham's sincere desire to shape
legislation that in the event of the surrender
of the Confederate armies peace might be
made from which great benefits would flow 10
his comrades of the South.
When. al last after four years of war the
Southern sun sank behind the hills Of Apo
mattox. il was his earnest hope that the rising
rays OF a restored Union should spread alike
over all parts Of a reunited country. He
earnestly laboled to restore friendly feeling
between the sections, and conscientiOusly de-
voted himself to healing the sore spots Of the
conflict.
He had been Wing and Union man ss
stated His party had disappeared. it had
been buried under the tramp OF the bloody
hoof of war He felt as if he no longer had a
party. It's true the Democratic party. against
which he had directed so many blows for 50
many years was still proudly marching under
its tlme-bonored anners, but ITS opponent
was no longer T. e Wing, but the bepuOl can
party and lie therefore enlisted IN the ranks
ot the latter organization. believing by such
course he could best subdue the fiery flames
r. IL 80 affs.r - n