Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-20
Instances Of Remarkable Courage
FREDERICKsBUR May 10. 1894.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., May 10 1oS"
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
My inability to join the great gathering
In Richmond is a matter OF much regret
the more SO that II must be the last op-
portunity for many of us to meet
None but the highest in command could
appreciate Justly and accurately the meris
OF the Confederate soldier. Movements
| were made and successes achieved thnt
! we're impractIcable with Inferior mate
| rial and would never have been attempted
against all military experience ard pre-
cept but for the abiding confidence IN the
| rank aud file. The spirit the inteliigence.
! the individuality OF the man showed that
.'bayonets could think" Without such
| implicit faith Is IL credible that General
| Lee would have defed all rules OF strategy
| ard tactics as he 50 frequently did? For
instance, Charlottesville. where Lee.
with one third OF the opposing force, de-
tached euly half of his army under jack
son to make n wide detour and attack
the other wing and rear Of the enemy.
Such incredible audacity as distinguished
this and Lees latter campaigns was only
possible because of his knowledge OF MS
troops.
AN EVIDENCE Or PLUCK.
Among so many instances of individual
conduct illustrating the character OIL t"c
private soldier it is difficult TO select any
as most prominent. but here Is one:
When Petersburg was invested and
martial Lacquer of Richmond was tablish-
ed at Chafiins Lee, anticipating a moVe-
ment of the latter force towards Peters,
burg. directed a close observance OF their
operations to detect It. One OF his scouts,
Vaughan, was sent to me at Chainh
and was directed to penetrate the enc
my's lines. Not being so well known
to me as he deserved to be. he was tod
to bring back evidence of having done
So That night he passed out OF the lines
and returned after some hours. riding
the horse OF a general officer, with many
valuable papers, among which was the
order for the movement suspected ana
already in progress. Vaughan had found
the troops in motion, joined them, ana
learned their destination. a general OBJ
serving and directing their march had
dismounted on the roadside and moved
off with some officers. when Vaughan
walked up took the horse by he bride,
and led him off in the direction taken.
Passing behind a thicket. he mounted, and
rode into our lines. The darkness and
the confusion of night march were no
doubt valuable aids. but the pluck and
conduct were all his own.
MADE THE INTERVIEW PLEASANT.
That grand engineer and NO gentle
man, General Walter II. St-Vens-now,
alas! awaiting the final reveille-rclated
an incident occurring with The same man.
on a reconnaissance alone with him some
miles from our lines at Petersburg they
stumbled on a picket Of the enemy. who
challenged them. Too near 10 attempt an
escape. and pOwerless TO resist. Stevens
thought IL "all up with them; but
bu
sack, drew out some newspapers and
crying out, "Change papers," went close
up t. the post and at once entered into
chafferng for exchange, not only Of
papers, but of tobacco for some things
then a luxury T. our soldiers. Little
scraps of Information about camps. COM
manders, &c, dropping into the welghtisr
matter Of the traffic were secured. and
the two Confeds withdrew with pleasant
speeches and much more pleasant elings.
Yours truly, 3 VI. BARTON.