Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-09-15
Result of the Shot.

dents IUdl sprung Out VI 'HS w
nie5 of dedicating Fort Star and prac-
ticing with the solid shot. says the
New Orleans PlcdWms. The whole
day the war and its memories were
kept before the people, but 1t was
not reawskening in which the
bloody shirt had any play, bat was
more OF a thoughtful retroSpection,
in which the recalling Of battles was
not with bitterness, but with an i'm
partial sadness.
But among all the happenings OF
the day none were more singular and
noteworthy than an incident which
occurred TO Col. Richardson, the com
mauder Of the battalion.
1t was during the time when th'
batteries were firing shells at the two
targets, which looked like tiny hand
kerchiefs on the water, they were so
far away. 4 good shot was fired and
the spectators were applauding the
excellent craftsmanship, and the col
onel stepped up to the gun TO com
mend the gunner. when, without
cause or without knowing why, the
memory OF a similar shot, which had
been fired twenty nine years ago al
most to the very day, flashed into his
mind when he had stepped up to a
gunner and complimented him in
much the same style. PerhapSit was
mental telegraphy, for he began to
review in his mind the coincidence
OF the two occasions. Ii was when
he was in Fort Malone At the siege
OF Petersburg, which was known as
Fort "Damnation,' when the shot
twenty-nine years before had been
fired, aud the Fourth OF July was al
most the anniversary OF the very day.
Instead OF white targets for Il mark
it had been the tops OF two Sibley
tents, which peeped over tho ram
parts Of Fort He'll just opposite
Fort "Damnation. They were the
tents of the Federal officers. He
knew that from a deserter, who had
informed him; also that the Of
fcers Of the whole command held q
daily consultation there, and that he
could tell the time from the fact that
they hitched their horses around the
tents.
Col Richardson was. then captain
in the Washington Artillery, and he
conceived the idea Of scoring point
on the Federals by firing on the tents
Just at the time OF the daily consulta
ton. He selected the best gunner in
his command and told him what he
wanted him TO do, aud that was to
load and prepare the guns for n spec
ial shot which hs was going TO direct
them TO make the ensuing day. The
young captain was sure that he had
gunuers he could depend upon, and
to make his triumph complete he
asked General Malone to be present
when the shots were to be fred.
1t was noon the next day when the
horses OF the Federal officers were
seen collected around the two tents
The gunners were told to train their
guns upon them and to be certain TO
make their shots tell. Those two
shots were the center OF interest OF
those in Fort "Damnation. for that
day the word was passed round that
the destruction Of the officers tents
was to be attempted.
After deal Of preliminary arrange
ment the two shots were fired, and
the tops Of the two .Sibley tents dis
appeared like card houses in n gale
OF wind. The success Of the shots
was the signal for cheering on the
part OF the Confederates. Gen Ma
hone complimented the accuracy OF
the artillerymen and it was then the
captain stepped 10 the gunner and
expressed his appreciation in much
the same way that he used to the one
that made the good shot at Morgan
City. But thereIhad always been a
tinge of dissatisfaction about that
shot at tho Federal tents, and that
was that he had never ascertained
whether any one had been hurt in
the tents, and for twenty nine inter
vening years that one thought had
pervaded the whole incident
With these thoughts in his mind
Col Richardson turned away from
the gunner at Morgan City, and at
that moment one OF Morgan City's
prominent citizens, Mr. Gray, stepped
to the coloners side and said:
Isn't this Col. Richardson
Yes"
"Well, Two been wanting TO meet
you for many years, every since ]
heard that you had been in Fort
"Damnationn at the same time that
! was in Fort "Hell?'
Yes said the colonel, and when
were you in Fort HELP
In July 1884; in fact, just twenty
nine years ago to-day" answered Mr.
Gray.
The colonel instantly thought Of
those two shots and wondered il his
curiosity was TO be satisfied at last.
DO you remember day while you
were opposite me in Fort He'll
when the tents Of the officers were
taken down by two shots which were
almost Simultaneous
The stranger did not reply for full
minute, a shadow seemed TO fall over
him, his eyes grew dark, and he step
ped back and surveyed the colonel
from head to foot, then he broke out
feelingly:
you. l shall never forget those
shots. They swept away the flower
OF my corps. Ny first lieutenant was