Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-12
OFFICER ON THE GRAY HORSE.
Stirring Episode in the story Of Confed-
crate yaIor.
New Orleans Picayune.

A Stirring Episode in the story Of Confed-
crate yaIor.
I New Orleans Picayune)
out OF the musty records OF the past.
from time TO time there spring to light
some hidden treasure or letter that brings
| back in all its olden glory the chivalry
and daring OF the brave heroes OF the
Confederacy. The number OF these pre-
cious, yet personal souvenirs that are hid
den away in the hearts and homes OF tho
southland will never perhaps, be known.
as they have personal and sacred value
| that seems too holy for the possesOrs u
! wish u parade them before the public
however important a bearing they may
have upon the history Of that memorable
epoch.
In m old scrap-boolI in New Orleans.
the property of Mrs. Fred y. Ogden the
widow Of the late lamented General Fred.
y ogden. the writer recently came across
an interesting series OF autograph letters
from noted generals OF the Contedcracy
that viii one day possess value the
reader little dreams OF now. Mrs. Ogden
| is a sister OF the late Major G. l.. JacS-
son. one Of the youngest and bravest cav
airy officers who ever mounted stecl
and drew his sword I'm behalf OF the
| southern cause. Major Jackson was
citizen OF Nicksburg. and was among tho
! first of the brave Mississippians Who
| Joined the army Of the Potomac, and
whose high courage became conspicuous.
At Pennington. Corinth, The Hatchie,
| Chickasaw Bluffs. and Greenwood. he
| exhibited the daring bravery for which h.
was so remarkable. But 1t was az
| Dralnesvine that his conduct was SO dis
| tngulshed as to draw expressions or adj
mlration even from the enemy. The bat
tie OF Drainesvillc was one " the most
hotly contested OF tho civil war. The
southern troops were in command or that
brave Rupert OF the Confederacy. General
| j. e. Il. Stuart. Colonel Jackson was not
| a member of his command, but star
officer Of the brigade commanded by
General Sam Jones.
He was on his way 20 Join his regiment
when passing through Drainesvile, ne
( saw the terrible battle In progress, ana,
| without reporting TO General Stuart, he
Immediately threw himself into the thick
est OF the fight. and the gray horse which
| he rode and its gallant rider we've every
! where conspicuous in the midst of shot
and she'll After the battle was over he
proceeded quietly to Camp CcnterHillt
where General Jones had his head
! quarters
That Same evening however n courier
| came from the Federal camp bearing the
| following message, written hurriedly In
| pencil and on a rough scrap or paper, 10
| General Stuart:
Captain Thomas l.. Kane, brother OF
the late Arctic explorer. Or. Kane, and
! son of Judge Kane, OF Philadelphia. COM
/ mander OF the Regiment OF Northern
! PENNSYLVANIA sends mis- compliments to
! the commander OF the southern forces
/ this afternoon. and desires 10 speak IN
terms of commentator and praise or
the gallant conduct Of the officer who
rode the gray horse"
FAirfaX county, Va. December % 1861.
! This Old letter, faded ana worn, IS pre-
| served I'm Mrs. Ogdens scrap-book. and
appended to &c are the following two in
terestug autograph letters from two Of
the greatest leaders Of the southern hosts:
HEAUQ'TERs SECOND BRIGADE,
Second Cavalry.
Camp M Centcrville, Jan. 10. 1852.
Major G. J.. Jackson. g. s. y. and \. g.:
| My Dear Sir.-Geueral Stuart has
| sent 90 me the accompanying note to he
delivered to you: As / had not the honor
Of commanding the only regiment of my
brigade engaged in the affair at Draines-
vic. / am glad that 1 was 50 CALAMITY
represented by an officer of my stan, tho
rider Of the gray horse. 1 cordially join
with General Stuart I'm hoping that you
may long be- spared 10 the service and tho
cause. and when opportunity again offers,
that our enemies may have cause to ad-
mira the galldntry Of the officer who rode
the gray horse at Drainesyille.
Very faithfully yours SAM. JONES.
Brlgadier General.
General Stuarts letter IS written In tho
quick, nervous hand which characterized
the great cavalry officer and reads as
follows:
| "HEADQRS. CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Camp Qul Viye. Jan. 10. 1852.
"To Lieutenant Q. T.. Jackson, G. S. A.,
Aid-de-Camp to Brigalier-General Sam
Jones, and Volunteer Aid 10 General
Stuart at Drainesyille:
sir have the pleasure 10 iHclose
herewith a note which was sent 10 mo
by Colonel Kane who commanded a regi-
meut Of Federals at DTainesyille, on the
20th ult. From what I saw myself OF
your gallantry on that day, together
WIKI diigent inquiry into the matter, 1
am ga. listed thai you are the officer who
rode the gray horse Such a testimonial
from an enemy must be very gratifying
10 You and your friends. and / trust you
VIII be spared 10 Impress many more
such Yankee colonies with the prowess
Of the gray horses rider.
Fully concurring on this one point
concerning the battle OF Drainesvlle. with
Colonel Kane, am most respectfully and
truly yours, ). j.. II. STUART,
"Brigader-General."
Major Jackson lost his life in an en-
gagement at Bladon Springs, Ala, and
in 1853 his obituary, written by General
Dabney A. Maury. tells his heroic deeds.
The original autograph copy ia pasted
side by side with these noble testimonials
In Mrs. Ogdeus scrap-book. Like him,
the other actors In this pretty side drama
OK the C0nfederacy have Joined the hosts
in the eternal camplSg- grounds. but these
letters remain as refreshing insight into
the private camp-life OF the great civil
war. and an evidence OF the individual
generosity which actuated a foe who
knew what heroism IN a soldier meant.
and were not 50 narrow and sectional as
| 10 fail 70 recognize H.