Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-23
The Capture Of The Guns at Cub Run
Bridge.
4 LETTER TO COLONEL JOHN SCOTT.
STORY.
The wizard of the saddle-Generni
rorest-Eis Ideas of War and HOW
IN Ffght-A Charmed Life.

Charlottesville, Va. February T. 1870
Colonel John Scott warrenton. Va:
MY Dear Colonel.-On Monday re-
ceiyed your letter Of the 9th instant, Win
your address to the Junior Albemarle
IdRht-Horse and your report OF the enec-
tive service OF the old company at the
First battle Of Manassas. with Captain
Randolph's letter, as companion-plece'
and read them all with pleasure and IN
ferest.
This morning called on Captain Nell
son, Of our new company. and presented
him. the papers. as you requested, out'
after reading them aloud to him peggeu
the privilege OF retaining them Tor DAY
or two. as am anxious TO read them TO
few of my old comrades. who are living
in town. before they are published. which
CAPTAIN Nelson proposed to have done.
1 hope you will pardon my delay IN
acknowledging the receipt Of your COM
munication, addressed to the Mayor OF
our city. These papers were handed me
by q member OF our camp. about week
ago. with the request that l would at
tend 20 the matter. 1t was just at the
commencement of the February term OF
our Circuit Court, when / was very busy,
and could not give the subject the con-
alteration and attention i desired, ana
which II deserved.
have not, however, been unmindfui
of my duty In the premises. Tor nave
talked the matter over with several o.
my Old comrades. whom i CHANGED 10
meet. and. so far. every one OF them
has substantially sustained Captain Kan
dolph's letter and your report OF the
capture Of the enemy's artillery at Gun
Run and am satisfied that your report
ana the letter are strictly and accurately
correct: though / am sorry to have "a
acknowledge that / was not one OF the
brave boys who followed the white
Hayelock" across the memorable stream
on that eventful day, nor was l present
In the barn at Camp Wigfai, when your
report was written. for on that day our
worthy and gallant captain had the
detail to cook dinner for the company,
against my very earnest protest.
Since / received your letter on Monday,
however, / have been fortunate enough
TO meet Willis Gooche, w. ID. Wheeler
and George Marshall. all three or whom
were at Cub Run, and followed your lead
across, and charged the line OF infantry
Their recollection corresponds with the
facts as stated in your report and they
all say that they saw no other cavalry
I'm sight when you made the charge.
very well remember that the capture OF
the enemys guns by the company was
claimed after the battle by every Officer
and man In H.
INDELIBLY FIXED.
Many OF the incidents Of that day arr
inJeliby fixed In my memory, and re
Gently / have been refreshing my recol
lection by talks with those OF my ciC
comrades when l CHANGED TO meet WheI
your command was ordered forward from
our position, near the Lewis House
Walker Battery, which belonged L
General Holiness command. had arrived
on the field, and opened ire on the re
treating column OF the enemy on TIT
pike, across Bull Run. and as well al
j remember his hrst shot ploUghed 4
gap In their ranks Your command then
went forward. / think ia front Of KEN
the ranks. ] codld get very little gene
raj idea OF the fight as 1t was going on
bat an incident which occurred near {
small frame house near the pike. which
/ remember very distinctly. makes M
think ] am right Some seven or eign
OF my company had been ordered for
ward as an advance guard When w
q Of Federsls In and behind Ii. We ordered
: them 10 surrender, which they seemed
very glad 10 do. but one fellow did no
throw down his gun as quickly as my
ccyorade. Par Marshall, though he ought
Whereupon PAT raised his gup and Il
red. but missed his man. Just then 20,
rode up and DIRE wing your ristoi said
81 VIII shoot the ftst man who maltreat
4 prisoner" which scared my friend Pa
<xc,. thar the EedRralS had done.
Soon after the occurrence. when a nun
Der Of prisoners were being sent TO tbs
rear from this point you osed or com
E ran, from. the road TO the Skin; OF on adj
sars,f wood and then u was that KEN
pers Battery opened IRE down the roaS
on the retreatjbg enemy.
ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE.
white we were drawn up IA line o,
the edge % che wood. fronting . sinai
feid. so fufa-ify soldier approached ou
Hoe and stated that captain RadforC
WAS darselons.y GoDuded: that he ha(
heard cspfsin ScQSi's bane and askeS
that be sosid ssnd some one 10 his as
o.<tspc< To4 Immediately ordered DIR
Wlt.sm SHACK eifcr3. then . private IN
ou- e,.mpsty, eud myself 70 60 70 Cap
tain Bedford We found BIN near tn
edge OF tn woods. sbo1t two or thre'
harosed yards from where our compsn,
u
siford looked at him asid saw how he
Was shot he said that Captain Radfors
could not i've thirty minutes. and
think be was dead be<ort we got him
into I've ambulance He was the trs
mas that ever saw die, end ] well re
member his last words. God have mercy
on my dear wife and children
u was white shacbeiford aud ] were
With Captain Radfofd. think. that you
seaso started IN pursuit. Of the enemy.
THIS accounts. my dear Colonel for my
not being with you az Cub Run. and
hey ons ~. which ! arr glad OF. for l
would not like my old commander 10
fbisk me lsggard when such gallant
work IVES being done. under your daunt-
less 1eadersbip.
1 secoli my service while under your
command a. one OF the pieasaptest OF
ny war experiences; and especial the
ocouting party you took some six or