Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
WARTIME MEMORIES
SOME EVENTS OF THE PAST RE-
CALLED TO COL. sANDIDGE.
Relics Once Owned and Worn by
Clement G. Clny-Remarknble
Words Uttered by Mr.. Davis the
second Year of the War.

New orleans Picayune as follows:
Developments during my attendance at
the late reunion OF Confederate soldiers
in Houston. Tex. served to emphasize
the interest which new generation IL
taking in everything connected with the
war period and those who participated in
II. to the extent that even little Incidents,
unknown to the pubic. are sought out In
such a way as to induce the belief that
T might perhaps, through your paper,
add few mites from the vanishing past.
The country can now hardly believe that
percussion gun-caps, made OF raw hide,
were manufactured IN Virginia for use
of the soldiers at the beginning OF the
war. and yet it is most true. as l have
preserved and now have few OF them.
made under the direction of General Dan
lel Ruggles, who, as he told me, could
procure only an average OF seven metal
cun-caps TO the man for The first troops
organized by him under the orders OF
Governor Letcher. OF that state. Pressed
into iron moulds, where they were dried
and hardened. proper shape was main
faInad and a little Illuminating powder
aunlied In the ordinary way lifted them
for use. .,o ooo ,,,-. 1890,
have been earnest in their purpose.
and could not have been slouches In the
0ghting-line. when. starting out SO un-
Drepared for war. maintained IT for four
years against n total OF $4,000 troops,
eouinned from the outset with every
needed appliance.
have n cartrldge-box full OF metallic
shells. made by myself in hotel at
Richmond when waiting Tor the war 10
orNm Cor use with George w. Morses
hiSech-loading rifle and carbine. They
never failed.
Morse was OF Louisiana, and the in
veutor of brecch-loading guns. Curious
" enough. a board of army officers
convened at Washington in 1856 or 1871. |
think IL was-reported against THIS sort
OF arm. for the single reason that It's
rauId fire would cause great waste OF
ammunltion-an objection never thought
Of in the trial-time OF actual war, and
a sort Of economy not likely 20 be appre-
cia,ed by men armed with muzzle-loaders
~ reouired 10 stand up In line to be shot
at by adversaries having ten or twenty
shots to their one. About the first thing
a soldier prayed for in those times was
a Ioug-range, fast-shooting gun; and the
| next IL in fight, a convenient tree.
! This last is said with some misgiying as
to correctness, and only because of the
comfort and satisfaction attained by my
| SELF on certain occasions.
A KNIFE WITH A HISTORY.
| Another relic l have, from period
| later on-a knife with n history-much
! prlZed. given 10 me by Mr.. Clement Z.
| Clay, of Alabama, who was imprisoned
at the same time with Mr. JEFFERSON
/ paws. and both were subjected to harshest
I treatment and notifications Cunbecomng
/ 20 their prison keepers. not being permit
/ ted 10 have even pocket-knife or knife
and fork for use in eating. During most
| o., those sad days Mrs Clay was In Wash
| ington city, seeking some amelioration In
the treatment of Mr. Davis and her hus-
| band. and after a while obtained from
| Secretary Stanton n written order per-
! hitting her 10 send a pocket-knife 10
/ Mr. Clav. and IL Is that knife he gave
10 me at Huntsville. Ala, when on n
/ visit 10 him soon after his release from
! imprisonment Its pearl handle is en-
gravel on one side. Mrs. Clay TO Her
! Husband in Fortress Monroe. by Speclai
| Permit OF the Secretary OF War; and on
the other side, &C. c. Clay. 10 His Friend,
]. NJ. Sandidge" Judge Clay, In presenting
! the knife. told me that he had hesitated
| as TO which he would offer. the knife
referred to or a knife and fork made or
| wood whitfield out by the officer In charge
| at the fortress, and given TO him as the
| hest substitute allowable under the pre-
| vaillng orders. Another little incident
| of my visit TO Mr.. Clay at that time was
his showing me n bronZed crucfx worn
| under his shirt bosom. Its history, said
| he ..is this: When Lee had surrendered
| and | was scooting around In Georgia
| not knowing where TO so or what 10 no.
| by chance / happend TO see In a New
| York paper that | was charged with con-
| niying at and being accessory 10 tns
4 ,,~urJar IF President Lincoln.
| "Though false TO the last degree, / could
not. of course, have left the country, mad
/ | so desired with such n terrible impu-
! tation against me, as IL would have been
! construed as avoidance Of the charge-and
so. my mind was instantly made up as 10
| what I would do-surrender. to the hrst
I Federal troops could find. and demand an
/ inouiry into the charges. Announcing this
| determination to some friends then in
/ Macon Ga they one and all begged me
not 10 do so, as they feared l would be
/ cruelty and unjusty treated, at time or
| such wild excitement. Never in my lie,
! sa.d ne, "dd l so through such trying
| ordeal.
! cor those who besieged me with plants
! was Mrs. Semmes (wife OF the eminent
/ barrister OF this city,. who came TO me
| with streaming eyes and stified voice, and
1 said: Mr.. Clay. have favor TO ask or
Z YOU. sir. You'll grant It TO me. won't
/ you're why. certainly I will-there Is
nothing l would not gladly do 10 crafty
I you. my friend, II IL does not interfere
| with my present purpose Taking from
/ her own person this emblem OF Christ on
/ the cross she held IT, up before me, say
I ing. You may not think or this as | do,
/ Mr.. Clay, but here is something that calls
l up sacred memories-it has been blessed
I bv the Pope; you will wear 1t for me,
/ won't YOU? Most surely l will, madam.
I if il may give you any satisfaction, and
as long as / live. and. bowling down. she
put the little cord around my neck, when
I her face became radiant with smiles, and
l she babe me adieu, saying. You can so,
my friend, shall see you again.
And now, Sandldge," said he. In con-
| cluson. II cannot help having great re-
| spect for the faith which gives trust like
! that-the talisman remains with me; ana
| / do not expect to see my friend again.
Mr.. Clay was in such a state of nerv-
| Gus prostration at that time-superin-
| ducei by the torturings OF Fortress Mon
roe-that the mere agitation OF the atmcs-
phere by an incoming railroad train turp-
| ing the point of a mountain four miles
| out from Huntsville would wake him at
night.
My first meeting with Mr.. Davis after
his release from Imprisonment and re-
-