Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-17
GENERAL c. W.FIELD,
tntsrsatie9 Sketch OF His Career In the
esrviss Of she usised ststss, confsds-
rate ssasss, and Egypt since the war.
written for tho pispa.oh.l

IN tue euuoen passing from w ct
another Of our old generals the men who
mako histofy--a few words concerning
him may be of interest to your readers,
and especially to those who followed him
through those days whose "ashes OF
glory kindle yet for breath OF memory.
General Charles W. Field. virginian
through descent. his father having moved
to Kentucky, was born in Woodford
county Of the latter State. and received
his appointment 10 q cadetship at West
Point when Mr.. Jefferson Davis was Secre-
tAry of War, and through his influence,
He graduated with distinction. and was
assigned to the celebrated Second ORA
Hoons, OF which General Lee was lieuten-
ant-colonel and Albert Sidney Johnston
colonel. He was soon made first heu-
tenant and ordered into frontier service,
but owing to his reputation as q cavalry
officer was recalled 10 Carlisle Barracks,
then in command Of Colonel Charles May,
of Mexican notoriety. and was soon after
sent to West Point as professor OF
cavalry tactics, where he remained TILL the
beginning of the war between tie states.
As southerner by birth and family con-
nections, che had married Miss Monimm
Mason. daughter of the eminent lawyer.
Mr w. Roy Mason. ST.. Of King George
VI. N..
cion OF disloyaitv. but was ordered TO re.
port in Washington with his company OF
cavalry. He was at that time captain:
His family preceded him there, tor be had
quietly determined TO offer his sword 10
The Confederscy,
HIS RKsIaxArroS.
He was advised by q friend whom he
Consulted to " cross the border" at once
and send in his resignation through an
other hand, which no did, transporting DIS
family and effects by means OF an oyster
boat to Cedar Grove, o landing on the
lower Potomac on the estate OF that name
owned by DR.. Richard Stewart. from
here they reached Cleveland" the estate
of his wife's father. in safety, and soon
after he was commissioned coionei OF
cavalry BY Governor Letcher and request
ed to organize and drill the Virginia
cavalry force. He held this once, Tor
which his training had SO wen n.uea t nun,
for two or three months. ana was tnen
given command Of the Sixth virginia
Cavalry, with which he did good service at
the first battle of Bull Run.
HIS OWN COMPANY.
Here he captured intact his own COM
pany of the White-Horse Cavalry, which
had followed him from West Point 10
Washington. In January, 1862, he was
promoted to brigadier, and put In COM
mand at Fredericksburg OF the Ninth VIZ
ginia Cavalry, Pegram's and Fleets pat
ferries. and an infantry brigade, with which
he held the position till ordered to retire
before the advance OF Mcdowell with
az 600 men. Fredericksburg being consid.
cred at that time untensble. General
Field succeeded, however, in holding Me
Dowells forces In cheek for TWO months
Ono doubt owing to the false rumor IN the
northern army as to the numoer o, .no
ty,h Sc mmQnnl
vented him from joining Mcclellan, who
was marching up the Peninsula General
Fields command fred the first gun and
took the first prisoners in the seven-days'
fights about Richmond. From that time
his brigade was in almost every importent
battle in Eastern Virginia. lie was 6sdly
wounded at the second battle OF Bull Run,
1t was supposed mortally.
PROMOTED.
Az soon as he had recovered he was pro-
NOTED to major-general and sent TO East
Tennessee to supersede Hood, then IN
command. He took part in several battles
between Bulls Gap and Knoxville during
the terrible winter of 1663-4-a second
Valley Forge of suffering to our poor Con-
federates. He was ordered back to Viz
plnia to take part in the battle OF the
Wilderness, in which General Lee gave
him the credit of having saved the day on
the morning of the 9th of May. From
that time till the surrender he was actively
engaged. He surrendered at Appomattox
the largest organized body of troops OF
any other general his men having deter
mined to stand by him to the last.
WITH TIE KHEDIyE.
After the war he went into commission
business in Baltimore, but soon after this,
through the influence of General Sher-
man, an old army friend, then acting as
agent for the Khedlve in this country, he
obtained a position as organizer IN the
army of the Ismail Pssha, with the rank
of colonel. He remained in Egypt for three
years. and some time after his return 10
this country was elected Doorkeeper OF the
House of Representatives against the
Federal General Shields, who sought the
Office. Later he was appointed inspector
of the river and harbor defences, and
during Cleveland'sd Administration was
made by him curator of Government pro-
perty at Hot Springs, Ark.
HIS LAST OFFICE
He was quite recently appointed Keeper
of the War Records Office, from which he
has so suddenly been removed by death.
A man of unusual height and noble per-
sonal appearance, warm-hearted and SYM
pathetic. brave aud generous, OF the high
est and most chivalrous spirit. he was
modest and singularly ayerse to all per-
sonal display. II was said by one who fol-
lowed him closely through his campaigns
that he literally knew no fesr"; and ne
showed o cheerful endurance OF all the
hardships Of camp lite, generally prefer
ring to share in the privstions OF his sol
diers. -,
ing of the statue Of General Lee-one Of
the few surviving generals who rode IL
that procession of veterans. true anc
tried, whose appearance among us rolled
backward the tidal wave Of the southern
enthusiasm and love to its full height fol
ali those gallant spirits who wore in al
unforgotten day" the colors Of the Los
Cause. E. b. III.