The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-29


,,,,r,,e these several months the coinpa-
nv aid provost and guard duly III s s',s
civ and had drills and dress pa. 80
every day. one OF our duties vac s,,
scnd n guard every night on ~ ~
email tug boat down 20 Hampton i' ,~NaI
10 watch the movements OF 'he i.e .,,,,,
feet. | shall never forget many ~ ~
niobts when have been ABOARD oi
III. r., the waves were dashing nearly
as htgh as our new CITY bah' an"
.hourbt every moment our little poa'
would 60 10 the bottom OF the rNei'
in Inc Fall of 1861. we We're sent 10 inc
INN ~ our regiment at harrison
Farm. some two miles east OF the cry
.,here we were duartered in comiorta p'V
barracks in camp laid out aeeofoi"e
IN the military requirements, ana speH,
the time i'm battalion, company anu
sn,rmish drills. until about the lVth OF
Nav 1852. when the Withdrawal OF tne
peninsular troops made the evacuation
of the department Of Norfolk necessdiy
sbo,,Id have stated before that the
ouief and monotOnous camp Ire was
very unsatisfactory TO most OF US loi
orr former associates were en1sted III
the different branches OF the service,
and were enduring the hardships or real
war. and were becoming constantly en-
gagged with the enemy, and we feit thal
we were not doing the duty expected OF
us. hence the company, by resolution
made application TO General George W.
Randolph, then Secretary OF War pray
ing 10 be sent TO the First Regiment
Virginia Infantry, 10 which we properly
belonged, then AZ MaLassas. rms ap-
nIication was refused by the War De
many men were transferred 10 other
organizations. and many others were
promoted to commissions in other COM
mands. their places being Immediately
filled by new enlistments, so the full
complement was kept up.
ADIEu TO NORFOLK.
But even with our strong desire to be
nearer the front. the departure from
Norfolk was attended with much sorrow
and regret. Our association with the
people and scenes there had been so
delightful that we were loath to give them
no. and we were besides carrying with
us several companies composed of citi-
zens Of that city and the adjacent coun-
try. who were leaving their homes aud
families. many. oh, how many, never
- return again. Yet they marched away
with firm and patriotic step, regardless
alike of plaudits and lamentations
The march 10 Suffolk, about twenty
miles, was a very severe one 70 us, as
we were unaccustomed TO such tramps.
Heavy knapsacks nearly broke our backs
and sore feet became an epidemic, but
II taught us that possibly we could get
along with a little less baggage, and we
took to the rolled blanket, with one pair
of extra socks, very kindly.
From Suffolk we went TO Petersburg by
railroad where we camped few days
and thence TO Drewry's Bluff, TO be
under a heavy Smelling from the guD-
boats in James river. IT was at this
place that ! saw the first wounded Con
federate soldier, whose entire leg hac
been torn off by a fragment Of shell
Some of the boys said these shells were
about the size of fish barrels.
From Drewry's Bluff we passed through
Richmond, resting a few hours on the
Capitol Square, the gates of which Were
locked and guarded to keep the boys
close in hand; and thence to the lines
before Richmond through rain storm
the Ike of which had been rarely seen
apparently to give us a proper initiation
into the realities Of war.
MET THE ENEMY.
The next morning the command par
ticipated In the battle of Seven Pines
the first time we had met the enem,
face 10 face
Thus. my comrades, l have reviewed
in a simple and plain way, my own eN
perience as a veteran Of 1861, In Nor
folk, Va. / could not narrate battles
for there were none, but | have though
that this account of how some OF tn
BOYS fought, ate, and drank. woul'
entertain, and also surprise you for
few moments.
The battle Of Seven Pines commence
a campaign Of marches. battles, hard
ships and privations. which for tire
consecutive years had been without
parallel in the history OF nations, an
the soldiers Of the Richmond Grays, ant
their comrades OF Mahone's brigade
from the department Of Norfolk, Will
remembering that they lived on the ia
Of the land while in that district, sub
sequently had to subsist on the recollec
| ton OF it Tor they had little else I
| support life) are consciously proud o
the fart that they carried gallant
| through those three years the flag Q
| their country in all the engagements 1
! which the army of Northern Virgini
| participated. and leave to history I
| transmit TO their children's children, tn
record Of the part they bore.
| JOHN Il. LAUGHTON. JR,
| First Lieutenant Company ID, Twelft
| Virginia Infantry. Mahones Brigade
| Anderson's Division A. T. HIPS Corn.