The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26

tain Brown would probably meet tho
cnemy's beat on her way up the river.
and that she would thus be deceived as to
the character OF his vessel. In this case
he was to surprise and sink her. IL pos
sible. on the spot. These anticipations.
however, were not realized. No enemy
appearing. he proceeded on TO Gloucester
Point, where he landed and put his guns
In position behind a hastily-constructed
sand work. This had scarcely been done
when the enemy's boat was sighted COM
Ing into the harbor. In the meantime the
militia of the county had assembled upon
the first alarm, and we're then near the
point In force under Colonel William b.
Taliafcrro. AS soon as the Live YAM
kee' got within range, the HowitZers
opened fire upon her. The fire was as
promptly returned. No damage was ex-
rcrienced by the Virginians. but II was
not long before the Yankee" concluded
she would soon forfeit her boastful appel
lative under such a fire. and, having al
ready sustained considerable injury, in
sloriously steamed away out Of range Of
the Confederate guns.
Thus IT was hat this section OF the Sec
end company Of Howitzers had the honor
OF firing the first gun against their enc
mes. Captain Brown and his men re-
NAMED at Gloucester Point about two
weeks. u en- Joined the forces under Col
onei Magruder on the Peninsula, and old
not return to Richmond until the spring
az ls62, upon the retreat Of General joseph
n. johnston to the defensas around that
city.
Shortly after the events Just related. and
Whhe the rest OF the corps was at Rich
mond College, Major Randolph was au-
thorized by General r. T.. Lee. then or
ganlzlng the Virginia troops for the field.
10 add a third company to the Howitzer
DdttaIlon. This was Immediately done.
and on the Sth OF May the new orraniza.
ton took place under the name and STYLE
OF the First Howitzer Battalion" at
tached to the Fourth regiment of artil-
iefy' Elections being held at the same
ume Tor captains. resulted as follows.
taxing rank accordingly: First company.
John {. Shields, rank from May s. 1861:
second company, John Thompson
Brown, rank from May 3 1861.
Ihird Captain Robert c. Stana~d
taxing rank from 10th of May. Ten DAYS
thereafter the following persons were
erected lieutenants for the First COMPANY.
"hillam i. Palmer, first lieutenant. Ed
ward 5. Mccarthy. second lieutenant
subsequently 10 this William NJ. Archer
was elected first lieutenant to the Second
company, and Henry Hudnall second
lieutenant. Ed. +. Moseley was elected
first lieutenant OF the Third COMPANY.
ana John NJ. West second lieutenant TO
the Third company. The appointment of
non-commissioned officers for the First
company was deputed TO the major COM
handing, and on the 18th Of MAY. 1861.
the Following selections were made: First
Sergeant. r. NJ. Anderson; Second. w.
II. Blackadar; Third, John Eston Cooke;
Fourth. c. c. Trabue; First Corporal.
Henry S. Williams; Second, Harrison
Sublett; Third. Robert Armistead; Fourth,
George Poindexter. Subsequently like APP
pointments were made for the Second and
Third companies. but we nave not been
able TO get the names Of these.
The battalion was now composed OF
three full companies Of four guns each.
The cadets Of the Virginia Military In
stitute, having reported at Camp Lee
as instructors. had brought with them
two brass twelve-pound howitzers. mount
ed on regulation carriages. The other
pieces Of their battery had been assigned
to the Rockbridge artillery, under Captain
afterwards General, Pendleton. and had
already gone with that officer, under
Major T. G.. Jackson. to Harper's Ferry.
OF the original six naval guns, four had
been assigned to Captain Browns Second
company. and Captain Stanard was al
lowed the rifle pieces and one remaining
howitzer. To them were added two rifle
guns from the State armory The bat
terry Of the First company was composed
of the two howitzers from the Military
Institute, referred TO above, and two brass
field pieces drawn from the State armory.
About the Goth Of May the barracks at
Richmond College were deserted. one
company of Howitzers was already on
the Peninsula. The First company had
been equipped. and, reporting for field
duty, was ordered first to camp at How
ards Grove. near the eastern limits or the
city; but. finding this not a convenient
| place. moved on 10 Griffins' Spring, at
the eastern base of Chimborazo Hill.
Here they were Joined by the Third COM
pany. under Captain Stanard. Both bat
teries had now been furnished with four
horses to each piece and caisson.
Before Colonel Magruder had left Rich
mond College for the Peninsula, he had
become so impressed with the material
and drin Of the First company that he
requested General Lee to let him make
Of them a company OF horse artillery
They had already been we'll instructed
in artillery tactics, and did not need the
services of the cadets. The request was
not granted.
On the 2lst of May the commandant or
the First compan received orders TO
report for duty to Brigadier-Gen Bon
ham, Of the Confederate States Army,
then at Richmond.
The company was just about TO obey
these instructions when they were sud-
denly reversed. and orders to proceed at
once TO the Peninsula, where Magruder
had lust assumed command. Had these
latter orders been carried out the How
itzer Battalion would have been Kept
together. But this was not to be. one
day while the two l~ieutenants and men
were Dracticing the unbroken teams at
the eun-carriages a mounted messenger,
subsequently known in the army as a
courier" rode hastily up with an order
70 the officer in command, TO this effect:
THE First Company. Richmond How'll
zers. will report without delay 10 Briga-
dier-General Bonham for immediate SER
vice" A short time afterwards orders
from Major Randolph and Capt. Shiel1s
were received To proceed at once 10 the
depot of the Virginia Central railroad,
now Chesapeake and Ohio railway. On
that same day, the 24th Of May. the COM
psny boarded a special train for Ma
nassas Junction. by way of G~ordonsVipe,
and arrived At that place in the afternoon
of the following day. While the men had
been hoping to join their comrades OF the
Second and Third companies, VINO had
preceded them 10 the Peninsula, informa-
ton had come that the enemy had oc-
cupied Alexandria and that Federal
troops were Fastening 10 seize Manassas
junction. At that time Captain Delaware
Kemper's battery was the only artillery
in tina region. General Bonham moved
with his command at the same ume 10
the same place, ana the Howitzers were
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