Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-21
UNWILLING ECHOES.
Ef. Cares Grafton the Best Yet DeliY
cred on a Like Occasion.
STORY OF CORPORAL CHESHIRE.
Dying Mansfield Thought Of the
Peril of Others.
wv. W. Scott. in Orange observer)

Cw. w. Scott. in Orange Observer)
The son Of deceased President OF
the United States. himself member OF
Congress. who came from Washington
20 be present at the dedication OF the
Soldiers and Sailors monument, said to
me that Mr.. Caves speech was. by long
odds. the best Grafton yet delivered on
like occasion. and the best and truest
yindication of the South and her cause
that has been made at any time. These.
with our compliments TO Bob" II one who
has lately had a monument erected to
him may still speak so Familiarity OF an
eminent orator, once his ancient friend
and comrade.
Certainly Mr.. Cave has thesvory rare
faculty OF being an orator without the
usual spread-cagle attachment. and OF
talking eloauence and good sense with the
same breath. If you Orange people can
only prevail on him to get religion this
summer. and to turn out the Buddhists
from his faith, his life will be we'll
rounded indeed, and all the people VIII
yielQ MIN iOuu anu Eidh dSS'"iih
General James a. Walker, whom all the
old Thirteenth love and remember ehu-
slyely. paid me, one OF the least OF hs
members, the compliment OF call. lie
narrated several stirring incidents of his
experience with the regiment, which he
still regards as the Tenth Legion OF ar
an army that was drawer than Caesars
Two OF them i ask you to preserve.
A LITTLE CORPORAL
There was IL little corporal belonging
TO one of the Hampshire companies
named Cheshire. lie was one of the
color-guard. one dag he came to
Colonel Walker and asked him 'if any
thing happened to Fendal Chiles (coloI
sergeant TO let him take charge OF the
flag" and obtained n promise that h
should have II. At Cold HarbOr-the hot
test and fiercest battle or the war, a!
many think-Fendal was shot down will
the colors In his hand.
Cheshire caught the flag as Chiles was
falling, ana proclaimed his title to carry
it by virtue Of the Colonels promise
Shot and shell were flying thick as hail
and carnage was red and rife in the storm
OF battle. Then little Cheshire stood vi
on the line in the attitude OF attention.
holding his flagstaff as If presenting
arms"
General Walker says as he was passing
down the line he called TO Cheshire u
protect himself behind the breastworks
and only hold the colors above them. lie
made some reply. which he could not heal
In the din of battle. but as he was re-
turning, he saw the flag fall, and when
he reached the spot there lay Cheshire
dead upon it, and the flag saturated Will
his warm and gallant blood.
HIS LIFELESS BODY.
He helped to lift his lifeless body from
II. and handed the staff to Phil. Barbour
Of Gordonsvllc.
The bunting had become a mere tat
ter from perforations of shot and shell
and now the staff was shot nearly In
twain by two balls passing through it,
and nearly opposite each other. The
slightest gust Of wind would have snapped
II off short. and so IL was sent TO the
State Library for preservation. Here the
enemy found 1t when Richmond fell, and
carried IL away as a trophy of war, which
they could not capture In battle.
81 am "a poor man." said General Wal
ker. but 10 recover that flag l would
willingly pay 500, though | had to mort,
gage my house TO raise 1t, and once
mine again. there is not enough money
in the United States Treasury to- get il
out of my possession"
AFFECTING INCIDENT.
At the same battle. the General said
occurred one Of the most affecting Incl
dents of the war in his personal expe-
rience. illustra ting not only the fortitudC
of our soldiers. but their self-forgetfui
ness and noble humanity even in thC
very article Of death
Young Mansfield, of the BarbourSvillC
Company, whose father l believe is sta
living. and one of the oldest OF our citi-
zcns. was mortally wounded and lay
dying behind the breastworks. for 4
meant certain and instant death To any
who tried TO carry him back while The
battle ragged. AS General Walker passed
up and down the line. Mansfield saw hin
and beckoned him to come to him. lie
went and knelt by him Mansfield said
Lie down beside me Colonel what Il
IT, Mansfield, what can l do for your
Colonel, | want you to lie down her
by me. You'll get killed. But. my gooC
friend, / have to look after the line.
can't lie down" ooh, Colonel. lie down
lie down. If only till the hottest Of th'
fire is Over!'
And so he passed away. thinking no
around him that he loved.
CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
One more incident. not OF the Thir
tenth
Colonel Robert Strihling, who took on
a battery of field artillery from Fauquier
claims TO have had the hero of the wa
Is his company
From the Free State"-that then law
less community in Fauquier where me
and women were alike dissolute, a neigh
borhoOd Of the ShifIlett s-Iiollow type
came a raw lad, unkempt, umpromisine
just such a lad in manner and appearance
as n like environment will produce any
where. But he developed into "COnfede
rate soldier" and to such as him, than
God We have at last erected the monu
ment on Church Hill. May 1t last as Ion
as the memory of such deserves to b
cherished
AT Malvern Hill he was MORALLY wounG
ed and sent back where the battery horse
were sheltered as much as possible froi
the battle. At the first lull in the frin
Captain Stribling rode back 10 look afte
him. and do all he could for so brave
soldier While there the firing becam
brisk again. and he begged the Captain I
let him hold the horses. that the man !
charge might go and take his place at III
gun.
what. you hold horses, Kendall. VIII
cannot hold yourself up. and. l fea
have but few hours TO live"
Eyes. Captain. l can hold 'em If 70
will let me, and I'll hold 'em when II
dead!'
IN HIS LIFELESS HAND.
To crafty him in his last momen,
Captain Stribling sent the man forwarC
and put the horses in his charge Ate
a while the battle was ended and h
rode back for the horses TO bring tn
guns off the field.
There. prone on the earth, lay Kenda
dead, and, true TO his promise, holding
his lifeless hand the brides of the batter
horses,
May not an old Confederate now grow
gray, as he recalls the memories OF thos
gallant days. conclude his stories with
reverent and fervent amen.
W. w. SCOTT.
Richmond, Va, June 5, 1894
WORkEh ON THE BIC DOME