Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-01-09
Virginia Lineage.
TICKoEY GROVE, Jan. 2,

HICKORY GROVE, Jan. :, 1873.
10 the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette:
In the Richmond G7mes of date De-
cembcr 2Gth, is printed an interesting
and instructive lecture headed Virgin
ia lineage" delivered by Captain John
5. Wise before The Congregational Club.
The basic facts of Virginia's history are
clearly and cnsertainingly related and
perhaps by far the most of our people
are told more about themselves than
they knew before 1t is pity that we
do NOT have more of this kind of litera-
ture, for in the unrest and turmoil OF
the present it is well, occasionally, to
turn back our thoughts to the past.
Captain Wise refers to his own sole
puritan ancestor and the idea intrudes
itself that perhaps from the action of
some of the mysterious laws of hcredi-
ty. on that score the speakers political
tergivcrsations can be accounted for ;
which view of the matter certainly re-
3icvcs him Of much responsibility.
The lecture concludes with an elo-
qucnt reference to the battle of Gettys
burg,the speakers eliminating point Of
Vreinia's history. In Picketts Division
which was immortalized by the heroic
Charge on Cemetery heights, was embo
died the flower OF the men OF our State.
Representatives Of every section and Of
every branch of the old stock were
there to do or die. The battle roll of
Pickett contained almost every name
that had beenpromincnt i'll Virginia for
50years and many of those names were
particularly mentioned.
1t was strange that With all the
special and minute information mani
festly required in the construction of
the lecture Captain Wise should have
omitted name which had, at least,
equal right to be considered historical
ly prominent. Two of Virginia's CO.
louial Governors were Berkelcys, and
from By far the best of these, Norbourne
Berkeley, Lord Botetourt, the gallant
gentlemen TO whom | wish to refer,
was collaterally descended.
The Sth regiment OF Virginia infant
ry charged in Pickett's "battle line"
and played It's full part in that days
glorious disaster. OF that regiment
the lieutenant colonel. major and two
of the captains were brothers, and
Berllelcys. OF this noble band Of
brothers" three were wounded and
captured, and one, Major Edmund
Berkeley, wounded, and carried from
the stricken field in company with the
brave Hunton, who commanded the
regiment.
After Gettysburg and the promotion
of Colonel Hunton in place of the la
meuted Garnett, dead on the field Of
honor, the Sth was usually spoken of
as the Berkeley regiment" from the
perhaps singular fact that the three
field officers and one of the captains
were members of the same family.
From Manassas to Appomattox they
were noted for their courage, fortitude
devotion. In the darkest hour they
bated not one iot Of heart or hope, and
their faith endured even unto the end.
Humane and generous they spared no
means within their control for the good
of the cause, or for the comfort and
wellbeing of those under their immedi-
ate command.
The Sth regiment, unaided by rein
forcement until the victory was almost
won, fought the battle of Leesburg, and
defeated General Baker, whose force
outnumbcrcd the Sth more than ten to
one. The battle lasted until after dark
when the enemy retreated from the
field, but was not pursued. The Sth
regiment was ordered back to its camp,
I 1-o,ln off
in command of q small picket on the
battle field. Some hours after ne sent
to the regiment for force to assist in
capturing a large body of the disorgan-
lied enemy, which was grouped on the
river bank, and escaping in detail by
boat. The field officer in command Of
the regiment refused to order the men
on duty, but after some persuasion con-
sented that they might volunteer, at
the same time advising them not to do
so, as the risk was too great. Captains
Edmund and William Berkeley. with
n few officers and handful of men,
marched OF in the dark and took about
four hundred and fifty prisoners, which
number added to those captured in the
fight, brought the sum total up to near
ly $50.
Captain Edmund Berkeley had the
prisoners in charge when the command
ing general sent an officer with large
coil of rope, and orders to tie their
hands behind them. and start them off
in the dark to Manassas. Captain
Berkeley protested against this as being
cruel and inhuman, and refused TO re-
linquish his charge until the order was
revoked, which, after some trouble and
delay, was done Such treatment of
prisoners of war would doubtless have
provoked retaliation, and how much
subsequent suffering was averted by
Captain Berkeley's humane and spirit
ed conduct can only be left to conjec
ture.
1t was said in praise of Augustus
Caesar, shat he found Rome city of
brick, and left it a city ofmarble. The
Sth Virginia Regiment found its first
commander the Commemorative At
torney of county court, and left him
with name among the paladins of
Lees 'array of bright muskets, and
ragged uniforms, !" than whom no nobler
knighthood the world has seen since
the days of good King Arthur's round
table down to the present hour; pop
ular and successful lawyer; a distin-
guished member of the federal House
80 1yl ,ou- y,oar