Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-05

Yorktown IL an old dilapidated place,
With many marks Of the Revolutionary
struggle still remaining on its WOODED
buildings. The United States ought 10
buy the place and redeem 1t Tor tho
many glorious memories that cluster
around It. Soon after our arrival at
Yorktown, I was quietly sleeping In my
tent, when about midnight the long roll
was sounded. and from every camp In
the army trumpets and bugles were
blown All! Then and there waS 'hur-
rying to and fro," and the cry was,
''rhe foe. They come, then Conner
rushed out Of my tent like Achilles, TO
Join my company. but had not gone
far before | discovered that | had for
gotten part of my armor, which con-
sisted OF a keen, bright, blade. fabri-
Gated by the blacksmith OF Fayetteville,
and presented by that patriotic town
TO each OF her soldiers This weaooo
was soon discarded in the war, because
the Yankees would not stand sun long
enough to have their anatomy investi-
gated.s After / had got around In forma
bellae. the "tumut dwindled to calm.
The cause of the alarm-a calf-was
grazing in the graveyard and had STUN
bled over the grave of Count Blowmy-
noseon (who had fallen CALAMITY fight
ing I'm the cause OF American independ-
once), and the calf, not being able to
give the countersign, was fired on by
the sentry.
In a few days there came an officer
educated at West Point. with corps OF
engineers, measuring distances. ard ele-
vations. for the purpose Of crecting forth
ncatlons around Yorktown Then huge
cannon, and gun carriages. and all the
implements Of modern warfare. came,
The whole army was then divided into
working squads. There was Srumblng,
and some questions as to Where, oh!
tell us where, are the negroes OF Vir-
gina?" We came here to ight. not to do
such drudgery as this. But all this
did not amount to much, and work com
menced in earnest. j was working with
my squad on one occasion when human
skull was unearthed. ] took the skull
in my hand and began TO quote: Remove
that skull from out the scattered heaps.
Is that temple where god night dwell?
ETC." AZ / repeated. i heard. or seemed
to hear, a kissing sound like wires as-
tated by electricity; / heard, or thought
j heard, articulation form into word. as
follows: Il know nothing about the dome
OF thought and palace Of the soul am
a Hessian, and came to this coun:-y 10
fight for King George. / heard that
George Washington. William Penn. John
Smith, and Roger Williams had emigrated
TO the New World, had married Incian
squaws. and had gotten large landed es-
tates, and had done well. And so i
thought l would try my luck. You see
the plight am ln-fool that / was
well, my friend say l, how are you
doing now In the spirit worldF'
Il am one OF millions about the Celes-
tial City, like Macawber, awaiting some
Ill JA4. sAH
Heavens gate a few days ago, Sling ali
nature with the fringes Of the aurora
borealis and announced that 4 comet
was in course OF fabrication, and would
soon be finished, and that in my Fathers
house are many mansions, and thea closed
the Celestial gate OF pearl and golden
hinges. l have no time to converse
longer, the comet must not so off IN my
absence. i wish to get on the tail of it
If / can do no better"
well, my friend, before you depart,
will you kindly permit Inc to place your
skull on the ramparts TO stop Yankee
bullet?'
Says he: "Yah, and au revior."
1t now becomes necessary in this
truthful history to say something about
our commandants. General ID. III. Hill
was a quiet, modest, unassumng man,
OF profound erudition and impressive
piety; 8 brave as a lion, and as patri-
otto as brave. He loved his southern
land and hated with intense hatred her
enemies. His theology was Of the austere
cast-Knox, Calvin, Luther, and Melanc-
thon. His beliefs were inspired by these,
and the highest compliment to him is
that he was Presbyterian. He was the
author OF the algebra $50 | am informed)
in which every problem was fling at
the detestable Yankee about wooden nut
megs, saw-udsted hams, and how much
rum it would take to secure negro on
the coast or Madagascar. His power of
sarcasm was wonderful and his facial
organs added to the whitening words
uttered from his lips. j would have given
my dukedom to have seen him when the
Toombs challenge was presented. IL he
had lived In the middle ages
He lovingly would dwell
With Honarias in his CELL
He had horse hypnotized by the
spirit OF his master-quiet and gentle,
OF great power of endurance, and al
ways kept abreast OF the procession
wherever going, and was always salts
fled with the predestined arrangements,
against which he never lifted leg. The
troops all had confidence and respect
for General d. II. Hill, and would follow
TO the death wherever he might lead.
The mind loves TO dwell on resemblance
as well as antithesis General
Magrudcr, / suppose, was as brave and
patriotic as General Hin. but there the
, resemblance ended. General Magruder
belonged to the Epicurean school OF phi
losophy. He believed In enjoying the
moments OF pleasure before they van
, ished forever Fond OF display, his
dress as costly as his purse could buy"
he would pluck flower before the morn
ing dew had melted from it's petals.
and place 1t on the breast as a bon
bonnlere. He was easy of-access, social
and conversational IN his habits. The
bands loved TO serenade the General, he
always had something pleasant and
complimentary and patriotic to say
nsnked with his demijohn, which added
flavor and piquancy to his remarks. The
General had an imported Arabian horse,
with glossy skin, 1.-THE and active, with
vigor and strength. When the General
mounted his steed, richly caparisoned.
with his armor brightly FURNISHED, he
looked like Rienzl the tribune, or,
rather like Occur de Leon, ready to
measure swords with Saladin. In verify,
he was a knight OF We olden time.
The captain OF our company announced
that General Magruder wished a member
or the company detailed TO act as his
orderly, and said this was a very honor
able position, and may lead God knows
where. In promotion. II will not myself
make the promotion" he said. hut will
leave II to the company" so the COM
pany debated tho matter and the lot fell
on Hal Jones. Hal was a child OF good
fortune. having been born with a silver
spoon In his mouth-a youth of golden
locks ana Adonis figure-raised in wealth
and luxury. and possessed OF large es-
tate, bonds, lands. and other heredta-
ments. Hal was a great favorte among
tie ladies' He WINS au fait In private