The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-13
PFHsIDENI rrLEB's GRANDSON
robert Tyler Jones and His Bravery Mt tn.
Battle OF Gettysburg.

a communication in the Baltimore
American recently signed L. T. r.
contains the following reference 10
Robert Tyler Jones, grandson OF Presi-
saw In your paper some time ago a
statement that Robert Tyler Jones. a
grandson of President Tyler was found
In an attic in Washington city. suffer
ing for the necessities of life, with an
invalid wife and little baby dependent
upon him. Perhaps the following incl
deht OF this mans boyhOod would not
DE undressing 10 some Of your readers
The incident is described by j. A. Har-
wood, OF Gniontown, Ala. who. at the
time 1t occurred, was Lieutenant of Com
pany * Of the Fifty-third Virginia
regiment, which was one of the choice
reeimcnts of Armisteads Brigade OF
ricketts, division, when II made its
famous charge at Gettysburg. Lieutenant
liafwoOd, in describing this celebrated
ohatse' uses the following graphic Ian
sudEc: AS we were drawn up I'm line
waiting orders 10 20 forward our Briga-
dler-General, Armistead, rode up to our
company, which was I'm the center of the
regiment, and also e the brigade. Call
ing our little flagbearer, who was a
smooth-faced, black-eyed bow. about
seventeen years Of age, and a grandson
Of eX-President Tyler. he said: Bob. do
you see those breastworks over yonder?'
The boy replied: Yes sir Well" said
flag on them General, | Will do IL
answered Bob, or die after which rho
General, giving a few orders 10 the
colonel, rode 10 another portion of the
line. The sequel Of this narration will
show how well our little color-sergeant
performed his promise. The line of bat
tie was formed IN columns of brigadrs
Garnetts i'm front. kemper's next. and
Armstead's in the "ear. We now wit
messed the severest artillery duel that Il
has ever been the privilege OF mortal
eyes to look upon. The whole heavens
above us seemed to be I'm one blaze Of
fire, and the air around filled with dead
ty missiles. When this ceased the
shrill command Of Pickett was heard:
Columns, forward, march, and each
brigade moved off as gracefully and an
pare9tIy as fearessly as if going on
the most terrific fire of shot and sbeiIi
that mOrtals ever encountered G1rnart's
and Kemper's brigades having. as f.
were, almost melted away whilst Arm
istcads was about onc-third of what IL
ward they pressed, closing up ranks as
each soldier would fall, and charging
into the very jaws Of death. The gallant
Garnett fell killed almost instantly and
then the noble kemper mortally wound.
ed as was supposed at the time. The
gray-haired Armistead, seeing this and
being the only surviving brlgadier waved
his sword alOft. eXclaiming: Come on
until we swept over the works and
captured several pieces Of artillery. Then
General Armistead, turning to the writer
said: Lieutenant, We must use their
own guns on them Taking charge of
one himself and ordering the writer and
his sergeant TO do likewise we fired
only three rounds, when a brigade Of
General HancOcks corps swept i'm at
double quick, and the remnant Of Pick
ctt's division that the day before was
l7o1) strong, seemed to disappear at the
first fire
"Our little color-sergeant who promised
General Armstead that he would plant
the cOlOrs on the enemy's breastwOrks,
led the regiment and brigade about ten
PAGES. having his COlors nearly shot to
pieces, all the cOlOr-guardS being killed
except himself He alone was left TO
plant the solors on the works he was |
shot through the right shoulder and he |
and his flag both rolled I'm the ditch be |
meath. bat rising. he grasped IL with |
his left hand and planted itson the wall |
again when he was shot I'm the forehead, |
and We left him for dead. What be
came Of the flag | cannot say. We were |
then too holly engaged 10 think OF our |
colors. but II they We're captured, | |
never heard Of IT, COlOr-sergeant Jones |
was taken of the field that night under |
the cover Of darkness, as were hundreds I
Of others, and was promotes tor ga,
antry, with the rank Of first lieutenant |
The entire narrative, from which the /
above extracts are taken. can be found |
In "WertZ's Guide 10 the Gettysburg |
published eight years ago IN /
Pa.
\ knowledge Of the above incident
alone ought TO rescue this man ana MS
family from the condition or want IN
which your paper represents him 10 De-
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