Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06
TWO WAR STORIES.
One by General Hcth, the Other BY
General Wheeler.
New York Hcrald.l


~The battles on the Weldon railroad"
said General Henry Heth. who command
ed a corps in Lees army without re-
ceIying tho rank Of Acknowledgements,
occurred on August 49, 10. and q, 1864.
What / am going to relate happened on
the second day.
II was about placing batteries In posi-
ton near the Davis house, which stood In
a copse OF young pine trees covering seve-
raj acres. / knew as soon as our bat
teries got in position we would draw the
fire Of the enemy's artillery, and the
house stood directly in range.
ITO ascertain whether the occupants
had gone. / went up TO tho house. There
I found pretty young girl OF about Is.
She was all alone, and perfectly self
possessed.
"'Get out OF here. quick, young lady,
/ exclaimed. This house will be knocked
TO pieces in a few minutes
"Well, sir, she didn't scare bit. She
coolly collected a few belongings, looked
through a few drawers, and took out
some mementos, while i stood by impa-
tiently urging her 20 hurry. Before /
got her out the enemy saw the batteries
we had placed in position. and opened
fire. a shell crashed through the house.
Even that did not disturb her, and took
her by the arm and led her out.
"As we emerged into the open air the
tops of the pine trees were falling ali
around us, and the air was full OF scream
ing shells. This remarkable young woman
stil showed no signs of alarm. A sheE
passed between u.s. and L told her for
Gods sake TO run.
INSTEAD, she stopped deliberately,
placed her arms akimbo, and faced the
hostile battery full minute Then she
shook her fist i'm it's direction and was
ready to move again.
mo, sir; that is all the story there is
to it, 1 did not know her name. and
never heard of her again. I think she
got within the enemys lines"
GENERAL JOSEPH WHEELER'S
STORY.
az well remember the last order I re-
ceived from General Albert Sidney John
ston. and probably it was among the last
orders he ever gave" said General Joseph
Wheeler. who afterwards commanded
the cavalry OF the armies under Bragg.
Johnson, and Hood. at the battle OF
Shiloh l was commanding an infantry
brigade The first few hours was series
of attacks by the Confederates upon the
various detached brigades or divisions OF
the Federal army.
at was Just at the close Of one Of these
combats that the enemy retreated. and l
was reforming my line, when Johnston
rode up to the right of my brigade. The
enemy was formed OH the crest or the
hill in my front.
The General said Charge that at
the same time throwing forward his arms.
The wind seemed 10 blow his cloak in the
same direction. the whole presenting n
striking. handsome figure. His gestures
seemed to be understood by all the men,
and they dashed forward, feeling that
they were going under the personal orders
of the commanding general.
THE result was an easy victory. The
enemy, after Is or 20 minutes fight. COM
menced a rapid retreat, leaving prisoners
and material on our hands. / do not
know what troops these were, but j kept
on. and was finally very warmly engaged
with Premises and Wallace's Division.
and the fight was severe and continued
until the Federal troops surrendered.
Just after Prentiss surrendered, 1t was
whispered to me that General Johnston
had been killed. He was shot in the leg
by q musket ball, which cut a femoral
artery. He remained in the saddle after
receiving the wound until nearly ex-
hausted by the loss of blood"