Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-28


country's rightsi
Now. as TO the flags and how they were
carried. We had no particular standard
bearer or color-guard. The names Of
the men who carried them On this occ0-
sion were William r. Hall and Silas NJ.
Hart, members of Company +. who hal
been detailed as the Colonies ordefles.
AS mentioned before. we charged In
column Of fOurs, Ind the flags were car
ried in front (hence the danger). While
Hail. who was so badly wounded. saved
his flag Hart, who carried the Virginia
Tag, had TO surrender It. in order 10 save
himself from capture. We did not b'ame
or censuTe him, for he was a good soldier.
The nag carried by Hall was a very fine
one. and formerly belonged to the old
Goochland Troop Of ante-bellum days, and
was presented TO us by its late captain,
James Morson. After this Il was sent
back 20 Richmond. and I have been in
formed Is sim In the possession Of the
RichmOnd military. j would like to hear
from II.
The flag captured from Hart, and by
which. when It was used as a decoy,
Captain Newton, Of Company G CHano-
veD, was captured cannot be the Titus
flag. 1t was much smaller than this hag'
had seen some service, and was Virginia
flag.
After the wouuding Of Colonel Wick
ham. Major Payne General William h
assumed command of the regiment, and
when the captured guns had been re-
moved, and the enemy had retired Com
pany L was ordered TO fall out and make
preparations TO move down King s MIL
road, upon which the enemy had retired
and established a picket. We fell back
near Williamsburg In order 70 feed. and
sT..... TOD
ed. General McLaws had now established
a strong picket-iine in front Of Fort Nc
Gruder, near the woods. on reaching
which we were halted and not allowed
to pass as the enemy had similar line
20 McIaws's about 100 yards IN his 'front.'
Captain Hobson Immediately made this
known 10 General Stuart, who sent hun
orders to wait where he was for further
orders 1t had now grown very dark,
and heavy, watery-looking clouds had
spread over the heavens and completely
obscured the twinking stars-a pretty
prospect for a comfortable nights rest
Before long the rain commenced railing
and there we stood all night long wrap
ped in our overcoats, our only protection
from the severe, cold and driving rain.
An MANY a Confederate soldier viii re-
member that dark. rainy night he stool
watch over Virginias ancient capital
But the longest night will have its end
and scarcely had the first signs OF the
coming day made their appearance when
General Stuart-the Wide-awake, ever dash
ing Stuart-made his appearance, mounted
upon his MAGNIFICENT bay charger. VINO
seemed proud Of the weight he bore. win
the greeting, Mount your men, captain
Hobson. From what l can learn am
under the impression that the enemy mas
fallen back. and | wish you 20 move
down This road an far as practicable, and
obtain all the Information you cam re-
Numbering that II you meet win III
fantrv. YOU must return, but II win
cavalry, your safest course 1t to hght
him." ..e.-,,,u
General Stuart rode with US outside OF
NcIay.'s lines into the wood where one
of the enemy was captured by James
peasants. a mere youth. who proved 10
be one of the finest soldiers In our 'fair
Southland" having on one occasion, whie
Oh a scout, ridden up TO General custer,
who was surrounded by his stan al OF
whom were armed and presenting has
pistol. snapped It in his face and made
GOOD his escape, and who at another
time dashed boldly up to fourteen
Yankees and captured them all, together
with their horses. General Stuart took
charge OF the prisoner AMI returnei,
telling Captain Hobson as he left that
he would need every man ne had. We
had gone nearly q mile down this road
with heavy wood on either side, seeing
nothing more Of the enemy, when Har-
deman Stuart, OF the Generals staff,
came dashing up behind US at full speed,
bare headed, having lost mis- hat riding
through the wood. with the very pleasant
information to us that the enemy was
advancing in every direction, and that
we were entirely cut off, the Yankees
having closed In behind us. Facing about.
we left the road and bearing 10 our right
moved Off as near as we could tell in the
direction Of Fort McGruder. Here ii
was we had 10 contend with the heavy
underbrush and the thick. clinging vines
mentioned above. We soon came upon
the enemy's line. moving forward. There
was no possible way Of getting
around them, so we had to face the music,
put on a bod front, take the bull by the
horns. and ride through. and happening
10 strike the line Just where n little
gap was left between two different regi-
ments for manoeuvring. we made fog II
in IL quiet walk and succeeded in riding
through, borrowing some Of their long
range guns Ito shoot at the Rebs
when we had cleared the woods" and
prOmlsing TO return them when we had
made The shots. In all probability we
would have been captured right here had
II not been for the fact that the Yankees
mistook us for their own men, as our
uniforms differed but little. We wearing
blue pants and our gray jackets. hidden
by dark-blue overcoats. Yet our biggest
danger sfill lay in front OF us. for very
soon we reached the filled timber in front
Of Fort McCruder. The trees had been
cut down and lay piled one upon another
In every conceivable manner. and over
this for a hundred and fifty or two hum
dred yards We had 10 ride with the enemy
pressing closely upon our heels.
A WONDERFUL TINE.
This obstacle must be passed. and that
quickly. or the enemy would be uron us
So We pushed forward. every man for
himself. \ wonderful time we had. iump-
Ing, scrambling. and falling over the logs
and scarcely had the last log been leaned
when the enemy appeared upon the scene
and poured a heavy volley into us. No
one was hurt and the laugh was ours.
We had escaped. Upon reporting 10
General Stuart. we were ordered 10 take
q position a little 10 the right and IN
front Of Fort McGruder. to act as mount
ed skirmishers, every man 10 his man.
and charge him when he had uncovered
himself from the woods Here we were
joined by the Hanover Troop (Company
G), the main body OF cavalry with Gene
rel Stuart being some 300 or 400 yards 10
our right. We were subjected to a heavy
fire from the enemy who were screened
by the woods. Under this fire Chastain
Miller was killed. shot through the heart.
just at this moment, as the balls were
raining on US thick and fast, and as
Major Payne had said one could catch
them by the hatful, the Major General
William h, that noble, high-toned.
polished gentleman ana gallant soldier
beloved by all FOR his kindness of heart