Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-08

r,pl6tv "a the front and returned the
AZ nth inherent. In the midst OF TINS
ain an old hare jumped up and ran ~
fun tilt iust under the muEzle OF ous
nun. one Of the boys cried out, Kun oio
hare. I would run too. II my reputation
was not At stake" The enemy's artillery
was 40 far of. concluded to look out
for the infantry, and advanced my Tour
guns some fifty or hundred yards nearer
and behind small wooden house 10 pro
tect me from the sharpshooters, ana Pc
gan an active fire to dislodge the IN
santrv in nv front. did not dream
I was near to the whole line of battle
extending clear across the valley.
Judge OF my surprise when / saw this
whole line OF battle suddenly rise from
under the shelter of q little ridge. race
10 the rear, and begin an orderly re-
treat, which their artillery attempted 10
protect by q most rapid fire. why, our
infantry were not ordered to pursue al
double quick cannot explain. al
once iimbered up and pursued. and had
there been any show of Infantry support
/ would have gotten so close TO the re-
treating column as to give them grape
and canister, and probably caused
halt and face-about. allowing time TOT
our infantry TO come up ana engaged
them. We outnumbered them three 10
one.
BLOWN UP.
A Georgia battery. emboldened by my
advance, limbe-ed up and took position
more advanced than my guns. and nad
hardly gone into action before the Timber.
chest was blown UP by the eneinys shells
and every man and horse either killed or
badly wounded. Captain Winthrope. Of
General Alexander's volunteer stan, as
gallant a man as ever mounted a hcrse.
rode forward to aid the only man left
alive and MORALLY wounded. The cap
tain shot the wounded horses. and was
implored by the wounded soldier to shoot
him also. This he refused to do. but
reported the fact to me. 1t was clear to
me that must lay aside my military title
and again become a DOCTOR l could In
trust to no man but doctor the ques-
ton whether to give fatal dose of NOR
phine to this man, or allow him q chance
to live. Winthrope urged to be allowed
to go forward at the risk Of his life, for
the shells were flying thick and fast
around the doomed and dismantled gun,
saying, Captain, you are married man.
and am not; beg you let me give the
medicine" This was q beautiful example
OF loving another better than yourself.
But when duty plainly calls we must rot
listen to the voice Of danger or death.
This Is the code" Of all honorable doctors
l went forward, and seeing the man was
doomed, gave the Lethean dose that /
hope turned his thoughts from the din
and death struggle OF the battlefield to
visions Of a happy home In Georgia,
and trust also to a glorious mansion in
the skies. Let me turn aside to kcnor
this brave officer. Captain WINTHROP.
late OF the British army, by saying: After
II 10 Int In,
and the late Dr. /. Dorsy Cullen informed
me a few years ago that WINTHROP lost
his life in the Soudan. by agreeing to
hold a cavalry charge In check till an
engineer might complete sketch OF the
enemys Notifications. He succeeded, but
1t cost him his life. Sleep on brave
Brton, thou art worthy OF association
with Hampden and Sir Philip Sidney,
with Hugh OBrien, with Wellington,
and Moore. and Gordon. Would that thou
had left an heir to thy noble and gene
rous soul!
But to seturn: I think II our twenty
four guns had been ordered at gallop
to charge the retreating infantry, along
with our infantry. the retreat would
have ended in rout and capture. ]
find our gallant Forrest was In favor OF
mixing the artillery with infantry and
cavalry.
Captain ]. Donald Smith. of Baltimore.
Md, as gallant a man as ever wore
sword and who could sing Randalrs i'm
mortal song with Its marvellous anspira-
ton, succeeded Captain Taylor in COM
mand Of Hanover battery. he once
said TO me, Parker, you expose your ar
tilery more than any man l ever saw.
and I believe you are right" Con-
tinuing, he said: 1T looks SO bad to
read in an official report OF a battle.
so many pieces OF artillery lost that
generals are afraid to expose their guns"
This may be true. At least 1t Is plausi-
BILE. l lost no gun during the war.
I am perfectly satisfied that any line
of infantry can be broken by artillery
we'll managed, provided the grcrnd lie
suitable.
THE BLOODY ANGLE.
At the Bloody Angle. at Spotsylvania
Courthouse. one gun would have stopped
short the enemy's advance and saved
many lives. This was one OF the most
desperate struggles Of the war. ! was
in such a desperate position. holding
line without infantry support, with the
enemys sharpshooters In pits only forty
five yards from me. making II instant
death during two long days to show
your head above our breastworks,
could not think, certainly without special
orders, OF weakening my exposed posi-
ton by taking of even one gun to check
the enemy's terrible advance near me.
All the fighting in the BLOODY Angle"
was with small arms. and the presence
Of one single gun on the road on our side
would have instantly put us on the Of
fensive / shall never forget while live
the terrible suspense OF several hours
till the enemy's advance was checked
and the terrible tide turned in our favor
One gun on the other side would have
cast the die against us. No infantry will
long contend with infantry and artillery
combined.
EARLYS ORDER.
The morning after the enemy retired
from our front at Spotsylvania | took
two guns without caissons) to reconoitre
TO the front to find out III there
was anything to shoot at We had been
under hack for two days. and 1 wished
10 retaliate. I had not gone far be-
fore ! was pointed TO a mouse IN "hicn
there were some Federal officers. and
while In the act OF Smelling 1t General
Early rode up and asked me what
was doing. 1 told him. He inquired,
sWhere are your support" j replied
I did not need them. that / could take
care of myself He said. mo. let me send
you a regiment to support you"
/ had to obey, but when the Infantry
came The Yankees had gone. Artillery Is
in no danger when unencumbered with
the caissons In attacking Infantry alone
unless fianked. These light guns can out
travel infantry on good ground.
Gettysburg would have been won had
the attack been made early and with
proper support of artillery. i see that
General Lee had ordered 1t. have been
twice on the battlefield since the fight.