Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-11

tearing wide gaps In. their ranhs' UNI,
they approached Near enough 10 "ounu
his horses and gunners. Ihey VIZ
commanded by a daring oinceI' "no ivu
on HIS men regardless Oh '"o
bursting around him. At this moment
J,mmv ordered his guns behind the MIL
and our skirmish line advanced fut
ling himself at their head, he rode TO-
yards the officer, who challenged MN 10
combat .o,,.o,-,
Each began firing with their reviewers
as they advanced. and at the tnlru Shv'
Tbomnson's unerring bullet did its WORK.
and the officer fell from his horse, anu
was quickly borne off by his men, VINO
halted on the death OF their co'nii''iluo,
His GOODNESS under fire was wonderiui,
and he never avoided danger himself YET
he dkliked to expose neediessiy ms ue-
voted men. His qulckness in pointing
out advantageous positions was most re-
markable i'm an officer so young. lie
obeyed orders from his superior Win the
utmost exactness, no matter now huch
he was exposed in their execution.
In February. 1864. Captain Chew was
promoted, and he succeeded 10 the coih-
mand of the battery. AT the cavalry
fight at Trevilian's Station. while direct
ing the firing OF his guns. Captain Butter
Of Hamptons command, rode UP and sald :
Captain. l want gun put there'
pointing to certain position.
General" replied Jimmy. "a gun could
not stay there five minutes; every man
and horse would be killed before 1t
could get into position"
Nevertheless. / want gun put there'
Captain said the General.
Every WELL sir; | shall do IL, repiieu
Thompson in a firm tone.
He conducted the gun TO the spot In
person. and sat on his horse by 1t while
IL opened fire. In less than five minutes,
only one man of the nine working the
gun remained unhurt, and three or theih'
his most intimate friends. were instant
" killed. His natural taste for the horse
and sabre gave him preference TOT the
cavalry. but the independence OF the
Horse Artillery. and the difficulty OF be-
ing promoted IN cavalry, induced him TO
remain i'm the former service, 10 which
he was attached during the whole war,
earning for himself especial distinction.
He always accompanied the cavalry on
their scouts and raids. and was frequent
w put in command of squadrons. and led
them in charges. He was ever more
mindful of the safety OF others than or
himself. and whenever his friend would
demonstrate with him for exposing him.
self so recklessly, he exclaimed:
not been moulded yet"
His utter Indifference to personal dam
ger and his anxiety for others were
strikngly shown in an engagement on
the back road, near Fishers Hill, on
October, 1864.
General Rosser. with whom he was
great favorite, put Major Preathed and
himself in command Of the Clarke Cav
airy and Orange Rangers. to act as ad-
vance guard. Near Toms brook they
overlook the rear guard of the enemy,
composed of a picked battalion. Drawing
their sabres. the gallant Breathed and
himself called upon their men to follow"
The Clarke Cavalry was composed OF
men accustomed to do this. and their
charge was irresistible. The enemy was
in a road with high fences on both sides,
which they had no time to pull down.
Dashing into them with sabres, they
pushed back the rear guard on the main
body, and as they could not manoeuvre
their men, the whole brigade, and, finally,
the division, was driven in utter rout for
three miles, until they came to an open
space, where a fresh brigade of the enc
my was drawn UP 10 receive them.
Breathed now ordered halt, to reor-
ganize his men, who had become much
scattered, and sent TO Rosser for REIN
forcements. Captain Brown, Of the Fifth,
was sent with his squadron 10 his sup
port.
Ride forward and give my compli-
ments to Major Breathed and Captain
Thompson. and tell them to push the
enemy, but not sacrifice their men,"
1 shall never forget the appearance
of these two officers as L delivered the
order. Their sabres were dripping with
blood, for / counted more than forty of
the enemy strewn along the road killed
or wounded with the sabre alone. They
had dismounted some Of their men, who
were skirmishng with the enemy, strong
" posted behind fence. The firing was
terrific, and the bullets from their six
teen shooters rained Gike hail around
Thompson as he rode backwards and for
wards along the line cheering the men
and occasionally stopping to fire his re-