Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-28
Confederate War Anecdote.
ErfuxraNr. Va


To he Editor Of he Dispatch:
Frequently have been called upon TO
relate my experience ia war incidents, and
90 one Of some interest has presented
itself 10 me. | will, with your consent, sub
init 70 10 your readers.
At the battle OF Charlottesville, when
"FIghting-Joe Hooker was driven from
the Wilderness by Generals Lee and Jack
son, 1t WAS the fortune of the Rich
mond HOwtzers to play CONSPICUOUS
part IA tho entertainment. and az sur
wing member OF the old Third Company
(Which at the time was attached to Jack
sons cOrps) well remember an occur
renee when have been requested 10 give
your readers the benefit Of.
After severe and bloody contest (Which
you have not fOrgOtten) Hooker and his
army were driven 10 the Rappahannock
aud doubtless but for General jackson 5
beng. as he was. wounded the night OF
the second days attack. Rockers entire
army would have been captured or driven
into the river. The morning Of the third
dag General Jeb Stuart succeeded General
Jackson IN command OF has corps. and
drOye the enemy 10 the river after cOnnd-
cradle severe fighting. They In their
hasty retreat set fire 10 the broom
straw OF the field upon which lay
our wounded. (many OF them as well
as their own. As lar az practicable the
fire was quenched and the wounded were
provided fer. During n cessation OF hrlng
lstill IN line of battle) cry of distress
WAS heard from a wounded Federal and
Mason. The writer, recognizing the cry,
left his position and advanced 70 the sol
dIer between the two Ines and found
him desperately wounded, begging for
help ana water. and representing himself
TO be q nephew Of President Lincoln.
Implying my canteen administered as
far as possible TO his comfort, but was
suddenly admonished to leave by
shower of grape and canister, winch
forced me back to my position ut the
guns.
Poor fellow He died. / am sure. upon
the field. ns he was fearfuliy manged by
shell. and from his wounds blood flowed In
steady streams. In a short time the
enemy were driven back, and, waiting for
orders. prospecting tour was INDUCED
IN.
At the Chancellor house q Federal col
onel was discovered, stlii, and IN the cold
embrace OF death, clothed III the most
elegant trAppings known TO the United
States cayalry. The writer, having pass
ed through Valley campaign clothed
III q rough. unblea ched-cotton shirt, with
wooden buttons peculiar 10 the COnfede-
rate army, aud with hardly anv pants or
IACAtt NJ hi. iasstu hht NH W ""
not slow TO exchange clothing; ana
with skeleton Confederate brogans, not
especially baLdsOme, could not resist an
exchange for "a pair of magnificent cavalry
boots on tho feet of the Colonel,
as well as q Mcclellan saddle, with the
usual trsppiugs, which was Just what was
wantgi. Quickly ! made the exchange
though with some difficulty in removing
the boOts-then and there upon the field
But when on my feet / found the latter SO
comfortable 1 felt IN my own estimation OF
greater Importance than the COMMANDER
ln-chlef. 1ne boots and the cape we're
things of beauty. aud to the Colonel felt
very grateful. but | could not make him
30 understand me.
Seeing another officer not far distant, l
called brother HowitZer, and, accom-
panying HIM 10 where he lay, discovered
another handsome pair oil boots, when
my friend endeayOring to relieve him oil
(suppOsing he was as dead as he ever
would be- was interrupted 10y the officers
opening his eyes and exclslmlng, walt
awhile, my friend. until / die, before
taking them off," In due respect he deslst-
ed, and, US far as possible, administered TO
the mans comfort. But soon the summons
came. and my friend renewed his pull upon
the boots, which yielded without much
difficulty, and in few moments he was IN
them, substituting his Confederate bro
cans. while be walked OF, the proudest
man on the battle field.
Such is life in war-ceremony being I'M
known at such times. Yours, W. l.. W.