Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29
FIRED on by GTNDOATs.
The Experience of Company ]. VIr-
gInfa Cavalry.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Being DESTROYS OF aiding in some small
measure your very commendable efforts
To preserve the records OF our soldiers in
the late war. / avail myself OF your
courtesy, and will resume the narrative
Of the Governors Mounted Guard go
named for Governor Letcher. the great
war-GOyeTnOD; afterwards Company ],
Fourth Regiment, Virginia Cavalry:
After seven months of inglorious ease.
employed chiefly in drilling and outpost
duty, varied frequently by,reconnoisances
towards Washington IN search Of the
enemy; and after about two months resi-
dence in our elegant log cabins, we
retired early In March, 1862. before the
advance of the Federal army, under
General Mcclellan. General Johnston
had, in the preceding months, several
times offered battle. and endeavored in
various ways 10 draw them out OF their
entertainments. l remember. one night,
especially, when we kndled great fires
and made a pretonce OF leaving our
camps hurriedly, and in seeming disorder,
but the enemy could not be deceived
by these feints; and 1t Is doubtful wheth-
er they would have made the
movement in March but for the
their impatience for ION to Richmond"
1t so happened that we were on picket,
several miles beyond our quarters, and
the enemy interposed between us. and
we were recalled late at night by spe-
cial messenger, and Were compelled 10
make a crcutuous march, and 1t was
several days before we Joined our resi-
ment. OF course, We never again saw
these elegant log cabins-nor our small
possessions therein-and particularly did
We mourn the loss Of fifteen gallons OF
good whsl:ey, lately brought up from
Richmond, and which was either cap
tured by the enemy. or appropriated by
Company Q-the later most likely.
BURIED WHISKEY IN BOTTLES.
And this reminds me to say that when
We were forced 10 leave our quarters at
the first battle Of Manassas we collected
all the whskey lone man had brought a
whole barrel from Richmond) in bottles
and jugs and kegs. and buried them.
and after the battle came back and found
them undisturbed, much to our Joy and
satisfaction: and az there is an intimate
connection between food and drink am
further reminded TO ask you, Mr.. Editor,
whether you have ever been cook Tor
n mess OF seventeen hungry men. and
those men soldiers who are proverbLllly
heavy feeders? IL not, you have been
spared some OF the Ills OF this evil world
for which you might be properly thank
full.
That was my unhappy lot In September.
1861, and let me tell you that the Office
of cook at that time was not by any
means a sinecure, as II became after
wards. The country was full OF AL sorts
OF good things-chickens and ducks. and
butter and milk and eggs-the rations
furnished by the government thought liberal
enough then. compared to what they soon
became. were a mere ba3atelle for which
we had small regard. ! gave these seven
teen hungry men three meals a day. and
dessert several times-pancakes and mo-
lasses or something as good. One day.
l remember an apple-dumpllng. which
they Unanimously pronounced triumph
OF the culinary art.
We were not disturbed on the retreat,
and the enemy soon abandoned 1t. and
likewise their projected movement to
Richmond by that route. They took ship
ping for Fortress Monroe and Newport
News. and commenced their march up the
peninsula between the James and York
rivers early In April, 1862.
THE SEVEN PINES FIGHT.
In a former paper I had occasion to
describe briefly the events OF the cam
paign until the army took position near