Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27
EARLY POTOMAC CAMPAIGN.
Some Reminiscences or Generhi
RuggIes's Command.
South Boston. Va. June II, 1897.

South Boston. Va. June II, 1887.
To tho Editor Of the Dispatch;
The announcement Of the death OF that
grand old hero. General Ruggles, in
your issue Of the % instant, brings to
mind some stirring events Of the early
days Of the late war. in which he was
prominent figure.
With your permission, 1 will refer to
some Of these, hoping that my re-
miniscences may interest the old Con-
federate soldiers who participated in the
active campaign on the Potomac during
the months Of May, June, and July, 1861
and which, l am sure, can never be
forgotten as long as life shall last by
the boys who subsequently belonged to
tho old Thirtieth Virginia Regiment Of
Infantry.
1t was stated, in connection with the
Generals Confederate record, that ne
was first called to command and or
eanize. the border districts OF Virginia,
and that his only regular forces were
those splendid volunteer companies OF
Richmond, the Blues, and Company f.
with Captain r. Lindsay Walkers Bat
terry" If / mistake not General Rug
q s, whose headquarters were at trede-
,ksburg. had several other volunteer
them the sparta Grays," Caroline coun-
Nv (rny old county,. commanded by Cap
tain J. Melton Gouldin; the Bowling
Green Guards. also of Caroline county,
Captain ". d. Quesenbury commanding;
King George Guards. Captain Poinsetto
TAYLOR; Captain afterwards GeneraD
Beale's company Of cavalry, and several
other companies from the town OF
Fredericksburg and surrounding counties.
Tho Sparta Grays and Bowling Green
Guards were I think mustered into SER
vice on the 9th day of April, 1861. Tho
Plues. CAPTAIN O. Jennings Wise, and
Company +. Captain +. Milton Cary.
reached Fredericksburg only a day or
two before. I shall never forget the
battalion drill Of these two companies
commanded by Captain Cary who AFTER
ward became Colonel of the Thirtieth
VIRGINIA REGIMENT. The Blues Of to-day
could not. I am sure excel in drill the
Blues Of 1851.
The Sparta Grays remained IN town
until the 18th I think it was. when we
were supplied with ratiOns, cooking
utensils. tin cups. etc, and marched on
board of the steamer Virginia for Port
Conway a little village in King George
county. on the Rappahannock river just
ouposite Port Royal Here the com
many remained for several weeks, drill
ing seven hours per day.
About the 1st Of June the Sparta Grays
were ordered TO King George Courthouse,
and thence, in a few days. to st. Johns
church near Matthias Point, where we
were Joined by the King George GUARDS,
forming a battalion under the command
OF Major Robert N. Mayo. who was
afterward made colonel Of the - Viz
einia Regiment Infantry. and than whom
a drawer soldier never drew sword.
In a short while the battalion went
into camp on the Point. with several
other companies Of infantry and Captain
Peale's company Of cavalry-an under
the command OF Brigadier-General
Daniel Ruggles.
Here we had our first experience In
real soldier life, including that peculiar
sensation one feels when in near proXi-
nifty TO n bursting shell. Smelling the
point" because such a common pastime
with the Yankee gunboats, II was soon
regarded with apparent Indifference by
our boys who amused themselves by
: picking up fragments Of shells to be