Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
Fhe Part Borne by the Alexandra
Artillery.
LETTER FROM FAR CATHAY.
Captain Del Kemper to General Ihoma3
I. NuniOfd.
OLD FAYETTEVILLE ARSENAL.
History OF the sixth North Carolina
Battalion Armory Guards-ROiI OF
the Nottowsy Grays-A brilliant
Record.
Lynchburg. Va. March IS, 1886.


70 the Editor Of the Dispatch:
1 feel sure you will give the surviving
members OF the Alexandria Light Ar
tillery, Army of Northern Virginia, the
benefit of the subjoined letter from their
gallant old captain. Del. Kemper, at this
time United States Consul at Annoy, China
Some OF your readers will doubtless
recognize that Colonel Kemper's reference
Is to a communication OF Colonel John
SCOTS, Of Fauquier. in December last,
In which he sent to the Dispatch for publ
cation a letter from Captain w. f. RAN
dolph. OF Greenville. Miss, In regard 10
the capture OF fourteen pieces Of artillery
on the stampede at First Manassas.
You may remember that to SO much OF
this letter Of Captain RandolDh's as re-
ferrcd to nay command and my official
report of that affair l awaited myself of
your courtesy to reply in person in the
Dispatch.
Colonel Kemper is separated from Lis
old comrades by thousands OF miles of
land and sea; but, like Goldsmiths wan
derer, he draws at each remove length
ening chain. and his heart, untravelled,
fondly turns with all the warmth Of wo-
mans affection to his old companions in
arms and his loved Virginia; and with
the esprit de corps which neither time nor
distance can Danish from the bosom OF
every true Confederate.
ask that II may be your pleasure to
publish, also. the accompanying extracts
from the official reports of Colonels Il. IL.
Cash and j. b. Curshaw, in compliment
to Colonel Del. Kemper. They make good
his point. Very truly.
THOMAS T. MUNFORD.
The Extracts.
(From Report OF Colonel ]. b. Kershaw.
Second South Carolina Infantry)
Vienna. Va, July &c. 1851.
Captain Kemper, of the Alexandra
Artillery. and all his officers and men,
engaged. as they we're, under my own eye,
merit the most Ia. lorable mention in this
report. To the efficiency Of this battery
have no doubt we are chiefly indebted for
the valuable capture of arms, stores. and
munitions OF war at the suspension
bridge. without this artillery they could
not have been arrested. Page S26. War
Records. Series l.. Vol. ii.
From Report OF Colonel +. b. Cash,
Eighth South Carolina Infantry
after crossing the stone bridge i
found Colonel Kershaw's command drawn
up on the right of the road. and was or
dered by that officer to take position on
the left, Captain Kemper occupying the
road We continued TO advance In this
order, / deploying as skirmishers to the
front Captain Hoole's company. who
drove the enemy before them. Occasion
ally the artillery OF the enemy would fire
upon us. but without effect. After con-
tinuing the pursuit for some two and
half or three miles we came in full view
OF the heavy columns of the retreating
enemy. The regiments were halted, and
Captain Kemper commenced a rapid and
well-directed fire upon them. which caused
them to abandon their guns, wagons, etc.
and completed the defeat. The enemy now
Ged in the utmost confusion, throwing
away everything which at all impeded his
flight. Too much praise cannot be award
ed to Captain Kemper for the manner in
which he managed his guns on this &C.
caslon. Directing the fire. he displayed
all the attributes of brave, gallant, and
accomplished ofiicer."-Page 5S1, War-Re-
cords, Vol II.