The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-12
VIRGINIA LINEAGE.


To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette:
In the Richmond Times of date Deem
her 2cth. is printed an interesting ana
instructive lecture headed Virginia
Lineage" delivered by Captain John >.
Wise before the Congregational Club'
The basic facts of Nirgnia's history are
clearly and overwhelmingly related ana
perhar.s by far the most OF our people
are told more about themselves thah
thew knew before 1t is 4 pity that We
do not have more Of this kind or iitera-
ture for in the unrest and turmoil Oh
the present It Is well occasionally TO
turn back our thoughts to the past.
CAPTAIN Wise refers TO ms own sole
puritan" ancestor. anr the idea IN
trudes itself that perhaps from the action
of some of the mysterious laws Of hered
itv. on that score the speakers political
tergiversations can he accounted for;
which view of the matter certainly re-
lieves him of much responsibility.
The lecture concludes "ith an elo-
ouenf reference to the battle Of Gettys-
burg the speakers eliminating point Of
Njrglnia's history In Picketts Division
which was immmortalized by the heroic
charge on Cemetery Heights. was en-
bodied the flower of the men Of our state.
Representatives of every section and Of
every branch of the old stock were there
10 do or die. The battle roll or Pickett
contained almost every name that had
been prominent in Virginia for go years,
larly mentioned.
1t was strange II at with all the special
and minute information manifestly re-
auired in the construction of the lecture
Captain Wise should have omitted name
which had. al least. equal right TO be con-
sidered historically prominent. Two OF
Virginia's Colonial Governors were Berke-
legs, and from by far the best of these,
Norbourne Berkeley, Lord Botetourt, the
gallant gentleman to whom / wish 10
refer, was collaterally descended.
The Eighth regiment of Virginia Infan-
try charged in Pickett's battle line"
and played its full part In that days
glorious disaster OF that regiment the
Northumberland. major and two of the
captains were brothers, and Berkeleys.
OF this noble band Of brothers three
were wounded and captured, and one.
Major Edmund Berkeley. wounded. and
carried from the stricken fielde in com
pany with the brave Hunton, who COM
manded the regiment
After Gettysburg and the promotion Of
Colonel Hunton in place Of the lamented
Garnet, dead on the field of honor, the
Eighth 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 APP
pomattox they were noted for their cour-
age. fortitude. devotion. In the darkest
hour they bated not one jot of heart or
hope. and their faith endured even unto
the end. Humane and generous. they
.sstx - - To-
the good of the cause. or for the comfort
and well-being Of those under their imme-
date command.
The Eighth regiment. unaided by rein
forcement until the victory was almost
won, fought the battle Of Leesburg, and
defeated General Baker, whose force
outnumbered the Eighth more than ten
to one. The battle lasted until after dark.
when the enemy retreated from the field.
but was not pursued. The Eighth regf-
ment was ordered back to its camp, and
Lieutenant Charles Berkeley left In com
mand of a small picket on the battlefield.
Some hours after he sent to the regi-
ment for q force to assist In capturing
q large body of the disorganiZed enemy,
which was cropping on the river bank, and
escaping in detail by boat. The field
officer in command of the regiment re-
"
some persuasion consented that they
might volunteer. at the same time ad-
yising them not to go. as the risk was too
great. Captains Edmund and William
Berkeley. with few officers and hanl-
full Of men, marched off in the dark and
took about four hundred and fifty pris-
oners, which number. added TO those cap
tured in the fight brought the total sum
up to nearly seven hundred and nifty
Captain Edmund Berkeley had the pris-
oners I'm charge, when the commanding
general sent an officer with large coil
Of rope, and orders to tie their hands be-
hind them and start them off In the dark
to Manassas. Captain Berkeley protested
against this as being cruel and In
human, and refused TO relnquish 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 spirited conduct can only be left 70
conjecture.
1t was said In praise of Augustus Caesar
that he found Rome a city OF brick and
left IL a city of marble. The Eighth Viz
ginia regiment found its first commander
the Commemorative attorney Of a county
court and left him with a name among
the paladins OF Lees array OF bright
muskets and ragged uniforms" than
whom no nohler knighthood the world has
seen since the days of good King Ar
thurs round table down to the present
hour; popular and successful lawyer:
distinguished member of the Federal
House of Representatives, and now
peer among the most potent. grave.
and reyeren seigniors" OF our nation.
e.