The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-24
THE PRIVATE SOLDIER.
Some of His Deeds Which Deserve Immor-
tality

The son OF n deceased President OF the
United States, himself a member OF Con-
gress, who came from Washington to be
present at the dedication of the Soldiers
and Sailors Monument. saiN to me that
Mr.. Caves speech was. by long odds, the
best Grafton yet delivered on a like occa-
sion. and the best and truest vindicaton
of the South and her cause that has been
made at any time. These, with our com
pllments to Bob" If one who has lately
had monument erected to him may still
speak so Familiarity of an eminent orator
once his friend and cOmrade.
Certainly Mr. Cave has the very rare
faculty OF being an orator without the
usual spread-eagle attachment and of
talking eloquence and good sense with the
same breath. II you Orange people can
only prevail on him 10 get religion" this
summer, and TO turn out the Budhists
from his faith, his life will be we'll
rounded indeed. and all the people will
yield MIN loud and glad acclaim.
Gen James A. Walker, whom all the
old Thirteenth love and remember effu-
svely, paid me- one of the least Of its
members, the compliment OF call. He
narrated several stirring incidents OF his
experience with the regiment, which he
still regards as the Tenth Legion of an
army that was Drawer than Caesars.
Two of them l ask you to preserve.
There was a little corporal belonging
10 one OF the Hampshire companies named
Cheshire. He was one of the color guard
one DAY he came to Colonel Walker and
asked him IF anything happened to Fen
dal Chiles color sergeanD to let him take
charge of the flag and obtained a prom
Use that he should have IL. At Cold Har-
bor-the hottest and fiercest battle of the
war, as many think-F endal was shot
down with the colors In his hand.
Cheshire caught the flag as C7;les was
falling, and proclaimed his title 90 carry
a nsa Nj
Shot and shell were flying thick as han.
ana carnage was red and rife In the
storm OF battle. Then little Cheshire
STOOD w. on the line In the attitude of
attention holding his hagstaff as il
presenting arms.
General Walker says as he was passing
down the line he called to Cheshire TO
protect himself beAind the breastwo-ks
ana only hold the colors above them. He
made some reply. which he coulc not
hear IN the din of battle; but as he was
returning he saw the nag fall. and when
ne reached the spot there lay Cheshire
dead upon il and the flag saturated with
ms warm and gallant blood.
lie helped to lift his lifeless body from
IL, and handed the staff to Phil Barbour.
OF tOrdCnsViiIe.
The bunting was become a mere latter
from perfOrations of shot and shell, and
now the staff was shot nearly in twain
by two balls passing through 1t and near
~ opposite each other. The slightest gust
and 50 II was sent TO the State Library
for preservation. Here the enemy found
II when Richmond fell, and carried 1t
away as a trophy OF war which they
could not capture In battle.
II am poor man." said General walk
err but TO recover that flag would will
ingly pay SOC. though had to mortgage
my hoase TO raise II. and once mine
again, there is not enough money Ia the
United States Treasury to get 1t out or
my possession"
At this same battle. the General said,
occurred one of the most affecting incl
dents of the war, in his personal expert
ence, illustrating not only the fortltude
of our soldiers. but their self-forgetful-
ness and noble humanity even in the
very article OF death.
Young Mansfield. of the Barboursville
Company, whose father, / believe, is still
living and one of the oldest of our citi-
zens was MORALLY wounded and lay dy-
ing behind the breastworks, for il meant
certain and instant death TO any who
tried 10 carry ni.n bSen En4He s.--
tie ragged. AS General Walker passed up
and down the line Mersfeld saw him and
beckoned him TO come TO him He went
and knelt by him. Mansfield said. Lie
down beside me. Colonel" What is IL
Mansfield. what can | do for your" Col
onel, l want you TO lie down here by me.
You'll get killed." but, my good friend,
i have TO look after the lire; can't lie
down" "Oh. Colonel lie down. lie down,
IL OHiy iii the HolleSt OF the IRE Is over.
And SO he passed away, thinking not
OF his own going. but OF the peril OF those |
around him that he loved.
one more incident. not OF the Thir- |
teenth.
Colonel Robert Stribling, who took out |
battery Of field artillery from Eau
quier claims TO have had the hero OF |
the war In his company.
From the Free State"-that then law
less community In Fauquer. where men
and women were alike dissolute, a neigh
borhood OF the Shifflets Hollow type
came raw lad. unkempt, unpromising. |
just such lad In manner and appear |
ance az a like environment Will produce |
anywhere. But he developed into
Soniederate Soldier" and TO such as
MN thank God We have at last erected
the monument on Church Hill Nav n |
last as long as the memory OF sucb a.
serves 10 be cherished
Az Malvern HIN he was mortal,,,
wounded, and sent back where the hal
terv horses were sheltered as much &c
possible from the battle. AT the nrst
,uii In the firing Captain striblne rods
c cech 20 iook after him, and do ali ne
couio Tor SO brave soldier While ,hsra
me nring became brisk again. and he
tpegged me Captain to let him botS ~, hhe
n9rses that the man In charge Of th me
mignt go and take his place az ,ha 'r '
what; you hold horses. Kendall WI WI
eannot hold yourself up, and T. I'm, "no
ha ave put Few hours 10 live" 'ear'
wui is, p'ain; ! can hold 'em IL Won
dead" ao'o EN- when I'm
To gratify him in his las, nou.
Ssptain Strfbling sent the man SnrwasS
anu put the horses In his charge Arnu
"n''s tne battle was ended. ana h. !