Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-25
our wagon train few hundred yards
In advance OF Us.
FORGOT THE MUTTON.

and in the excltement OF the moment
forgot our mutton, except that your
writer pulled Of a kidney and put It in
his havcrsaclS. which dellcacy ho broiled
90 a few Goals during temporary halt.
About o'clock j. NJ. we approached
sailors creek. When about a mEe from
the creek tho main road bore 10 the right.
We passed directly forward. through two
eate-pos,s q presume. along a private
road. As we wound down tho hill we
saw on our left house flying the yell
low flag. We crossed the creek on a
few fence-raiIs thrown in. The creek
was shallow, but marshy As we went
up the hill, the road bearing 10 the left
we came 20 several pieces of artillery
and caissons which had been abandoned,
and near them / found soldier Of this
county-R. ID. BUrrus by Numerically
wounded, who belonged TO the Forty-sixth
Regiment. Virginia Volunteers. Wise's
Brigade Uh.s regiment i had commanded
for about two years.. He informed me
that nearly all the brigade had been kill
cd. wounded. or captured around Peters
burg or on the retreat.
GROUP OF OFFICERS.
After going a short distance further 1
came TO a group OF mounted oihcers,
consisting Of Generals Ewell, Gusts Lee,
Barton. and others. In a few moments
the artillery Of the enemy opened on US.
For myself, | must confess l felt some-
what excited. but General Ewell re-
marked in his ordinary tones: "Toma-
toes are very good; | wish ] had some"
This remark under the circumstances,
al once Gained my excitement. and with
great difficulty L restrained my DISPOSE
ton TO laugh.
In n few minutes we were moved 10
the right. and as the ground was rough,
billy. and thick with trees and under
growth, / dismounted and turned my
horse over 10 my orderly.
We proceeded a half mile or more and
were halted a little below the crest OF
a steep ridge. with a deep ravine in
front OF US. and another ridge opposite
us as high. IL not higher than our
ridge. From our position the opposite
crest was distant some 200 70 800 yards.
on our extreme left being the left Of the
entire corI9 was the naval battalion.
under Commodore Tucker, then came
my little command OF some ninety mus
kets. then came the command OF
Colonel Crutchfeld (who was killed not
far from where 1 STOOD. My belief has
always been that there was a conside-
rable interval between Crutchheld's
right and the next command. l think
the troops named above numbered not
more than Coo muskets.
ARTILLERY OPENED.
Soon after we took our position the
artillery of the enemy opened upon us,
but the range was too high and did no
damage, except 10 the tree tops. After
the artillery had ceased firing a line
of skirmishers appeared on the crest of
the opposite ridge, but soon retired from
a brisk fire opened by our line. After
they retired a long line OF infantry ap-
peared on the opposite ridge. Our men
opened on them and for a time there
was brisk musketry fire on both sides.
We had the advantage Of position: the
enemy were shooting below point
blank range. while our men were shoot
ing above that range l believe II IS the
general observation Of military men that
troops usually shoot a little too high.
After some half hour. more or less. the
enemy in our front retired, but a large
body at least a brigade. was observed
moving around our left.
FLAG OF TRUCE.
All things were quiet for a time; then
] observed n flag Of truce on the opposite
ridge. General Barton directed me 10
meet it. I did SO, and proceeded 10 the
bottom of the ravine. where 1 met a
mounted officer. who proved 10 be Gene
raj Tor Colonel Oliver Edwards. lie in
formed me that Generals Ewell. Lee, and
all Of the command who were not killed,
had surrendered. and he desired Us 20 sur
render. in order TO prevent the further
useless effusi0n Of blood. This proposition
l declined, on the ground that we had re-
ceived no orders from our commanders 10
surrender. / reported the interview to
General Barton, and about that time a
squadron Of cavalry rode Ut from the |
rear and we surrenderee I surrendered
my sword, which had been tho dress |
sword Of my great-grandfather, Or.
Walker, OF Castle Hill, TO n |
lieutenant, taking down his name, and |
some years since recovered II by paying |
So C. O. D..
AS this letter is already too long. I must |
close. with the remark that tho men on |
the left were comparatively raw troops. |
and yet they acted with wonderful cool |
ness and gallantry.
Very respectfully,
r. T. w. DUKE,
Late Leutenant-ColonelS Second Battalion |
Virginia Reserves.
p. S.-John Preston Goss. Esq, Clerk in :
the First Auditors Office, was my ser
eeant-major, and I think. was present /
at my interview with General Edwards
| would like John =. Goss 10 give his
recolectlons of the retreat from Rich
,nond. and the fight at Sailors Creek, in |
your paper, as we are not even mentioned
in any OF the reports Of the battle Of
Sailors Creek.
This letter is written from memory,
and there may be mistakes. 1 would,
therefore, be glad TO hear from any OF
the survivors of fuckers Battalion,
Crutohfield's Command. or OF my COM
mand Ghe Second Battalion. At some
future day I propose to write brief
account Of what became Of me, from our