The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-26


thumped the earth-works in front. I no.
( tIced that one man took testament from
/ his pocket, and sittin. bolt-upright.
with his head above the breast-works,
I began to read He seemed totally uncon-
scious that he was disobeying orders and
| exposing his person 10 the Dull
lets at the same time. Lieuten-
ant Brown ordered him several
times TO lower his head behind the en-
bankment, but he seemed not TO hear, I'M
I'll Brown drew his sword and threatened
10 take his head off. when he suddenly re-
turned to consciousness and obeyed. This
old sword Of Browns was a most curious
and antique specimen. It was shaped
something like n reap-hook or Turkish
scimeter Brown had been a colonel Of
militia. and ] suppose had sported
this sword on many general muster
! day, when walking sticks and umbrellas
constituted the arms Of the rank and file.
A brave old fellow, though, was Brown,
and he fought through the war though
muster free" when he entered the army.
BY the way, amongst the curious things
OF that day and time, nothing was more
curious than some OF the weapons with
which We armed ourselves, unless II was
the idea of war which led US 70 adopt
such weapons. I believe our entire army
was armed with bowie-knives. /. myself,
purchased i'm Richmond. at an exhorbitant
price n formidable looking knife. all UNI
conscious Of the fact that the modern SOL
der has a decided reluctance TO submit
ting his person TO the carving process,
whatever may have been the fashion in
Caesars day. Most Of my company,
though, were armed with knives of Won
derful make and fashion. Truly they
were "fearfully and wonderfully made"
They were manufactured al Howardsville.
Albemarle county, in DricOlls foundry
They weighed as much as Ave or six
pounds. and proved very serviceable
shortly after in hacking the "blue-beef."
Of wild onion flavor with which our COM
missarat abounded. One officer got Dris-
coli 10 make him a two-edged sword,
Weighing, / suppose twenty-five pounds,
and a Bowie" weighing half az much.
The sword. which was ground TO sharp
edge. was fully four inches broad, and
Peter Francisco would have found dlflcul-
ty In welding IT, When we fell back from
Centreville to Bull Run, one OF the hot
test DAYS | ever felt Il was pathetic to
see this officer with these two formida-
bic weapons and pistol to-boot buckled
around his waist. staggering along under
the rays Of that July sun. lie fell mar
tyr TO his efforts to keep up with the
column, for he had sun-stroke and was
not in the battle of Manassas. He learned
better afterwards and fought bravely
through the war, distinguishing himself
by his courage and zeal After the war
he became we'll known to the people OF
Richmond, and occupied high official po-
sitons.
There is no exaggeration about these
things How they make US smile when
" 81 -
gan that morning. a negro cook left his
fire, seized a musket and started down to
the breast-works with the evident inten-
tion Of fighting il out by the side Of his
master. Some officer. much 10 my regret.
ordered the faithful fellow back, and in
the discussion that followed il was urged
that 10 allow him to fight with us and for
us would be 10 put negro on an equality
with white men. How times have
changed Then A negro was denied the
privilege OF fighting for his master but
since then he has disported himself and
made laws for that same master In legis-
lative halls.
Presently the enemy debouched in front
Of US. and Latham, until then as silent
as the grave. ran two or his pieces Il
think he hal two at that point out into
the read and opened on them. His com
mand Ready" Aim "Firei"
repeated each time in stentorian tones,
could plainly be heard from one
end of the line to the other.
and we all felt for the first time
that peculiar elation which the booming
OF our own cannon always produced.
This was the first taste or our masked
battery which the enemy got and it
proved unpalatable as they scampered
away in great haste. After they retired.
Latham turned his attention 10 two OF
their guns In the road in front Of him
and knocked them into pie" We saw
them there the next day spiked. and aban-
dOned where they stood. Though not oc-
cupied ourselves for some time after that.
We began to hear the increasing roar Of
battle over on the extreme left, about the
Henry House. An Albanian came down
to our line and told ms bad news from that
quarter. lie said our men were being cut
TO pieces and driven back. Then came an
order for us to dOuble-quicls 10 the left.
out Of our rine-pits we tumblcd, coming
into line on the plain in rear Of our former
position. Just as we started at a double
quick. the enemy saw US and commenced
to shell us I saw a rife shell almost
spent pass close to the head Of our
column. bounding and swapping ends"
as IL went. II came very near the long
legs Of n tall. lanky, sergeant. and he
jumped ND about three feet as IL passed
under him. This ugly customer seemed
10 take all the starch out Of the fellow,
for he dropped out behind a tree Just he
fore we reached our position on the left.
and the last I saw Of him that day he was
parting with his breakfast. swallowed
so eagerly a short while before. never
suffered so from heat before or since.
believe. when We halted. my tongue was
almost hanging out We crossed a small
branch. and | dropped down and drank
out Of a bloody pool whore some Of the
wounded had been washed. | could not
help It. Nv thirst was intolerahle
FEARFUL ROAR OF ARTILLERY.
We were halted and ordered to lie
down behind a slightly rising ground COW
cred with stunted pine and oak bushes,
and the enemy continued 10 shell US saw
agely. Presently we saw long column
OF men coming up on the extreme left
and rear. and for some time did not know
whether they were friends or foes. We
could see them passing a small opening
IN the timber. but could not make them
out. All at once above the steady roll
Of rnusketry in our front, there broke out
the most awful blended roar Of artillery
and nusketrv The earth fairly shook
and trembled Col. Strange mistook the
sound and thinking the enemy's cav
airy were charging. from the shaking and
trembling OF the earth, threw the regi-
ment into column Of companies prepara-
tory 10 forming square. lie never took his
short-stemmed pipe out Of his mouth.
and was very cool. but We could see he
was uneasy. In few minutes an excit-
ed aide came tearing through the bushes
IN front Of US and shouted out, Bring
your guns TO the front, now, Can't La
oil hill q