Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
THE RATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG.
"Reminiscences Of CnvnIrymnn
Who Fought Through IL.
the Editor of the Dispatch:


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
"Reminiscences Of the war seem to be IN
order at this time. and with your leave i
will give you a short narrative OF some
events which took place under my obser-
walton. and which may possibly be OK IN
terest 10 somebody.
on the retreat from Yorktown our res'-
ment, the Fourth Virginia Cavauy'
brought up the rear. The caVa'iy' So'
know, always occupied the post or hohor
and Of danger. In front when the army
was advancing and guarding the rear on
n retreat with It's face at all times to the
Zoe. Even when running. as IT was com
peIled sometimes to do-and here let me
saw that IL Is n good test or 2eneraiship 10
know when to fight and when 10 Ieueit,
and this quality General Stuart possesssu
in a pre-ernlnsnt degree-snd CONSEQUENTLY
the mei were always ready to obey ms OF
ders knowing that whatever be olu was
the best that could have been oohe ""1o'
the circumstances.
we were the last 70 reach Williamsburg
late I'm the afternoon Of the ith OF May
1859, and when we debouched on the pam
near Fort Magru9er there was moi
man then In the fOrO the enemy Were
right behind US with cavalry and artliers'
They had the temsrty TO open VITA wv
guns on the troops then scattered thi"usn
the plain. IN some confusion. as thousnt,
probably owing to the recent arrival on inc
enemy We were at once ordered TO Whee,
about and charge them. which we did, anu
drove them off quickly. capturing the two
guns. our colonel afterwards 1enerHi
". c. Wickham) being severely "ouhu-i
and compelled 10 retire TO his nome at
Hanover Courthouse.
We were up and mounted early neN'
morning and actively engaged al! ca!'
losing two or three men, cur MAJOR
now General W. IL. Payne being baay
wounded and left In the care OF soihe
citizens OF the town. He was taken py 'he
enorny next day and carried 70 Foruehs
Monroe. where he was paroled and al
lowed to 20 TO his home in Ndrrenioh'
We saw him there some months ldter
when we passed through that town on
stuart's raid 10 capture Pope at his head
quarters at Catletts station.
MOUNTED ALL NIGHT.
Late on the afternoon OF the 9Th, after
the battle had ceased, and the enemy
had retired from the immediate neigh
borhood Of the town, we sought shelter
under some cattle-shCds. which we
found vacant. where We hoped TO have
some protection from the rain. which
was then falling quite heavily. bu'' alas,
for our hopes! Tho HlSvht Ii44'S "a
mice and men will gang awry.' scarce
ly had we become somewhat familar
with our surroundings, and, while search
ing for q soft rail for "A pillow. we were
rudely interrupted and recalled 70 the
battlefield, where we were kept mount
II the whole blessed night. About
o'clock we relieved the Infantry ana ar
tllery, and were LEFT alone to watch
these people who would not let US
alone" MS General Lee once said. soon
after daybreak they made their appear
snce and we were compelled TO retire
=,ovlv before them. When we emerged
into the open field on the other side OF
the town they were. as usual. just ne
hind us-as / said before, they were al
,vovs right before aud right behind us
hut with our faces 10 them, ana there
fore they ala not follow Us very far ana
We were left to march lesurely towards
Richmond. passing numerous small bands
~ straggleTs There We're then no troops
within five miles of Williamsburg, except
these stragglers. who are apt after a
battle or on the march 10 seek some de-
serted house, whore they can pass the
NIGHT quietly and safely. Coming out
next morning. rubbing their eyes ant
half asleep. to be told that the army had
passed during the night
hardly ever.
ACCOMPLISHED ITS OBJECT
The battle OF williamsburg, while not
welding largo material results. accom-
plished the object for which II was fought
in avcrting the march of the enemy ana
delaying their approach TO Richmond
and thus enabling General Johnston to
concentrate his army and prepare for i's
defence They weT-, also admon.shed TO
BE- cautious in their mOvements-thOugh
such a lesson was hardly needed Caution
was perhaps the chief defect In General
McClellan's character lie commenced
the movement from Newport News on
the 9TH day OF April. 1857. and 1t required
an entire month 10 reach Williamsburg,
with very slight opposition en- route.
No wonder, then, that he never succeeded
in capturing Richmond. when confronted
with such vieilant and enterprising foe
as General Johnston and the Army OF
Northern Virginia.
y. NJ. PARHAN,
Company /, Fourth Regiment Virginia
4lt.s