Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-16
nECoLLECTIoNs OF WOW BoRCKE.
| General johnson Tells About His
Appearance and Service.

neneTuh 9OhhSOs AtssS <."OSs -@.n
Appearance and Service.
The Baltimore Sun Of yesterday says:
The announcement of the death In
Berlin OF Major Heros Won Borcke has
been received with regret by large
number OF ex-Confederates In Baltimore
who knew him during the civil war, when
he served on the staff OF General j. K. b
Stuart. Major Won Borcke had seen SER
vice In the Prussian army. He came to
this country in 1861. and. going direct to
South Carolina, offered his services 10
the Confederacy. General Bradley T.
johnson, who knew Won Borcke, said yes
terday in speaking Of him:
Il knew Major Won Borcke well, but
not until after the battles or second
Manassas and Sharpsburg. heard that
when he Joined Stuart he was wearing a
superb suit of riding clothes, white leather
breeches, glazed-top boots. scarlet coat,
or some such costume. He was D Feet
? inches tall. and as perfectly-propor-
toned a man as ever rode morse. Aiert'
vigorous. stalwart as well horsed as he
was equipped. he made a profound i'm
preston on the country gentlemen who
were with Stuart on his stan. When
Won Borcke went out TO Stuart with let
ter of introduction from Secretary RAN
do.ph. his case was settled. He was
the handsomest man on the stan, the
best equipped, the best mounted. and
altogether the best-got-up man We had.
"He followed Stuart's feather during
the Seven-Days' battles and In the cam
paign against Pope In August OF 1852, and
was badly wounded in the cavalry night
at Alde in August. 1862, but recovered
soon enough to return to duty when
Of no Rover sbp home
of Stephen cambridge. near Leetown. In
jefferson county. Va. He rode with
Stuart in the celebrated raid from VIII
Transport via Chambersburg, Emmits-
burg. Poolesville, and back to Virginia.
'Von Borcke was the life and vim
of the staff One day Stuart, In one OF
his halr-breadth expeditions. was at YER
diersvile in Culpeper county The enc
my pushed them rapidly. and Won Borcke
got off by jumping on his barebacked
horse and clearing a 5-foot fence with
out bride or saddle. Stuart did as wen.
but lost his papers. and thus Pope got the
first intimation of Lees movements to-
ward Pope's rear.
when cavalry met cavalry at Brandy
Station Won Borcke had an immense
cuirassier cavalry sabre five feet long,
straight and double-edged, and he waded
in. He said TO me: The last time they
saw me / was riding barebacked horse;
the next time | saw them l had my
sabre in my hands. and they'll remember
me-
After the war Won Borcke went home.
His rank was Count in Pomerania. The
saying there is that a family Is as old
as Won Borcke or the devil He was aide
10 Prince Frederick Charles. the Red
Prince. in the 100 days war at Sadowa,
and was badly wounded. The Red Prince
was very fond of him. He was not en-
gagged In the Franco-Prussian war in ISL.
soon after the civil war Colonel
Charles s. Venable, OF General Lees stan.
went to Prussia. and Won Borcke called
to see him in Berlin. Colonel Venable
visited him at his castle in Pomerania,
and Won Borcke had the Confederate flag
flying. We invited him TO America at
the time of the Yorktown Centennial.
He came, and the Society of the Army
and Navy OF the Confederate States met
him at the depot. While in Baltimore.
he was the guest of Major W. Stuart
Symington. My grandson, Bradley I.
johnson, Jr., was baptized at the time, aad
Won Borcke stood as his godfather. We
sent Won Borcke to Virginia. and he had
a triumphal procession through the state.
No man has ever had such reception
in Virginia since Lafayette.
"Von Borcke was a gallant gentleman,
a brave soldier, and loyal friend. Honor
to his memory. laurels to his grave"