Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-13
THE HOWLETT-HOUSE CAPTURE.
1t Was the Pluck and Courage of tn
Private Soldiers That Succeeded.

TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
A month or two ago Captain Jack
Hudgens. of Caroline county, published
a graphic and truthful account Of the
capture of the Hewlett House by the
Fifteenth Virginia Infantry, assisted by
his 1Iudgens'O company of the Thirtieth
Infantry.
In that account Captain Hudgens stated
that / was in command on that occasion
(and | most assuredly was, but friend
in conversation a few days ago informed
me that he had seen In the Dispatch a
few days after Captain Hudgens's article
a statement 10 the effect that probably
was not in charge until next morning
/ have never seen the article. and my
friend could not recall the name Of the
writer but l can very well see how ms
recollection could be at fault. for in the
beginning of the affair, when the regiment
was fred upon on the march and &C.
ployed as skirmishers, 1 was not present
| only reached them i'll the very nick
of time" and under the following cir
cumstances:
When the command crossed the river
and passed through the fertilization at
Drewrys Bluff that morning | was IN
yited by friend stationed at that fort
TO remain and dine with him. knowing
of no good reason why | should not, as
no one suspected there was an enemy
on the south side OF the river Wlliih
twenty miles Of Us. and not having hdu
a square meal since the commencement
of the grand slide" from spOtsyNaHla
Courthouse . remained ana got tha'
dinner. -.,,.,
GETTING READY TO FIGHT.
In the evening, while riding down the
Richmond and Petersburg pike at
gentle canter, knowing that / could easily
overtake my command before they
reached Petersburg, i met "Tomme Lips
comb. the faithful drummer-boy OF the
regiment," heading towards Richmond.
which city he greatly loved at times, who
informed me they are getting ready TO
fight down there" indicating Il large
wood on our left.
Not wishing to lose time i'm hunting
for the regiment In those thick woods, |
made Tommie, very much TO his disgust.
get up behind me, drum and all. | rode
right up to where General Corse and one
| or more Of his STAFF wcra assisting IN
| dcploying the men as skirmshers. The
General was stamping around quite ex-
| citedly. asking: "Where in the world Is
| Morrison" | was just In time to jump
| from my horse and answer mis- question.
| Here i am. sir ard TO receive his
| answer: II am glad you are: your regi-
mcrt Is deployed at skirmishers: push
through the woods and find out what
all this means"
| irys diately gave the command 10
advance and the men pushed through
| the woods gallantly.
When we came out to the edge of an
:! open field, fronting a line Of strong works.
( j ran down the left OF the line TO find
! ont who supported me. l met with Cap
tan Jack Hudgcns. with whom / had a
hurried consultation. ran back along the
! front of the regiment to the centre, the
! men all around me shouting Lets
charge 'em. let's charge EN-" which
new well enough was not war. and might
be folly. But aS l looked over towards
the extreme right of the regiment and
saw the men marching-yes, actually
! marching-out into that open field TAX
| ing their proper intervals. and preserving
the alignment, as IL on drill. with seem
| ingly no idea OF halting. 1t struck me
as magnificent display Of nerve and
steadfast courage.
CHARGE.
| Carried away by the elan OF the thing,
] yelled out. Charge" but as we rushed
| over that field with a sloriously beautiful
| yell, | can recall nay feelings now, after
| the lapse OF thirty ycars-namely, a sick
ening sense Of responsibilities vision of
seventy-nve men killed, 100 wounded. a
| court martial. cashiered. and everybody
! in the army saying. What a fool he
! was"
But II was just the thing TO have done.
The enemy had just gotten into the
works. were stil under the knapsack."
and. confused by that yell and gallant
line of skirmishers, which they supposed
was surely backed by line of battle.
they broke and ran.
ON RECORD.
want II TO go on record that the
pluck, stsadfast courage, and conscien-
tious discharge Of duty of the private
soldiers" suggested and carried the affair
through successfully.
Oh. We boys in gray. In camp. and on
the march, We were sometimes aggra-
waiting and at other times ye were all
generals. and could discuss campaigns so
logically, but on the battlefield ye were
superb. heroes all. and the sun never
shone on your peers in pluck. courage,
and intelligent discharge OF duty. and M
monument ever raised TO soldierly worth
and merit more triumphantly typefed
those v'-.',es re thev ev'st Il in Tho r-''-
vate soldiers OF the Confederacy than the
one soon to erected in your fair city.
- ~ 40 :
Thirty years ago Colonel OF Fifteenth
Virginia Infantry. Pickett's Division.
- -