Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-08
Some Very Interesting Experiences De-
scribed.
THE TENNESSEE CAMPAIG N
Enemy's Compliments to the White
Horse Battery.
srUARTs REGIMENT OF EIGHT.

The following address was delivered be-
fore Pickett Camp by DR.. w. w. Parker
Gentlemen and Comrades OF Pickett
Camp:
In compliance with my promise. / pro-
nose 10 speak to you briefly tonight OF
the artillery, whether it could not De
made more effective II more actively
and bodily handled.
Some years ago, while was in q news
paper controversy with the late distin-
guished J. B. Jeter. d. D., Of this city,
in regard to marvellous cures said to be
performed by uneducated doctors. the
reverend gentleman observed that ut
must not be supposed that 1t is impos-
slble for non-professional and uneducated
men sometimes to make observations,
both new and important, (which had es-
caped the notice Of men well versed In
their special professions" This was a
wise observation, and 1t is in the light
of this encouraging truth that /, an unedu-
Gated man In military matters. feel au-
thorized to make some observations
upon the freer and boider use OF light
artillery In battle. There Is some founda-
ton for this opinion In the fact that
when a man comes to the study OF
/. new subject without previous bias. he
has sometimes a better opportunity 10
see and reason rightly on the subject
under observation. doctor called into
consultation with another physician who
has already come to conclusion ABOUT
. q disease may take clearer and truer
view Of II at this stage than the physi-
lo., IT, ne do
IL was In the second year Of the war
that raised an artillery company My
one years experience In infantry was OF
no use 10 me. / was profoundly ignorant
of how artillery should be handled. and
In what way 1t was related to infantry.
The Rev. Dr. Milburn. the blind Chap
lain OF the United States Senate. In
lecture here some years ago. gave
most graphic and amusing account OF
the universal ignorance OF the new OFF,
GERS Ia the beginning Of the war, at the
camp of instruction. the present Fair
Grounds. He said corporals. sergeants.
lieutenants, and captains could be heard
ali through the camp asking the ques-
ton. 81 am a corporal. What shall
corporal dor II am sergeant. What
shau I dor 81 am a second lieuten-
ant. What have / to dor ETC., etc.
This was about the truth. We were all
willing to fight, but did not know how
40 discharge our duties AS a matter Of
course. we were highly interested students
and the new lessons to be learn
ed were both emnently practical
ana personal We were all exceedingly
anxious TO get into the field. and often
went half prepared; well rememne. ,
how soon we got tired of drilling at
fhe piece" as it's called, without horses.
snd called several times on General
10 and President Davis. begging that
horses be given US and we be sent at
once to the front.
THE FIRST TRIAL.
Our first trial was In Fauauier county,
n an artillery duel with fine Federal
battery. which had damaging effect
uDon our youthful ardor. Some OF US
began to wish we had remained httie
inrSer at Camp Lee. We had q better
pcsltlon than the battery we engaged.
I'M they had better ammunition and bet
Ter guns. (We had not had time 10 cap
furs guns for our use) saw that our
shells did not reach the enemy. while his
nassed over our heads In alarming prox-
unity, and was not sorry to
1--WE the order. "Cease firing" One or
two of the boys could not be found after
the engagement. one was taken suddenly
sick with collie, and was found In the
bien weeds by his loud cries; one had
Ekfuned his knee on the rocks and
thought that he had been struck by a
cannon-ball. None OF the boys had heard
before the shrll Shrek Of shell passing
not far from their heads. knowing II was
aImed at them and the very next one
might cut of their heads.
OF this artillery duel that filled me with
Indignation. and had the nature Of the
ground allowed US to get nearer to-
Eether. somebody would have been hurt.
I saw a vandal deliberately light torch
and apply II TO q large and beautiful
mansion. and stand of calmly wit
messing Its destruction. I vowed ven
6potsylvania Courthouse. ] hold the
captain of that battery responsible for
this low, mean act of vandalism, and II
living hope he viii see these lines.
Such an act should disgrace any mill
tary officer Of the nineteenth century.
But to return:
A minie-bali may hit you in hundred
places and not kill you. but II shell
strikes you that will probably be the end
Of you George Gorff. Of my battery. a
I good soldier. never swore while the battle
Wae going on. though very profane ut
other times He said the shell might
effil<e him with an oath on bis tongue,
&6d then he would have no time to pray.
& lie wisely concluded also. that there
M word on earth wss an oath. George
w&e sound In faith but not In practice.
SECOND FIGHT.
car second fight was at Second Manas-
aas. the meat beautiful fight of the war
~ artillery. II was the artillery that
6<ctded the battle. think. In about
4osty minutes. The charge on Jackson's
ej<ht was well begun with i20o0 or Me0o
woIl ordered troops. but the failure was
1n6of signal and disgrxceful. ! vert over
~ 65epnd immediately after the failure.