Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-06-29
Interesting Letter.
BuRI1NeToN. n. c.. June Z. 1897.
Mr.. c. B. RoUss

Mr., G. B. RoUss
Ny Dear Sir and er- Comrdde: ]
have read most of your last Journal
1 have always read them with interest,
but one paragraph in this last arrested
my attention, and awakened memorie:
of an incident of my youth which took
place thirty-three years ago next Au-
gust, viz: 1.-The Battle of Reams Sta.
ton below Petersburg" 1 would like
to know to what command you belong
ed. There was in the gallant Jno. r.
Cooks brigade, a young private
Confederate soldier, who helped you
and the good billie" Wilson "to head
the procession" that captured the $500
prisoners.
Ga that hot August day, amid that
hot rain of Yankee bullets, and hotter
Confederate charge, he led the way
through the fallen trees, cut down to
delay and obstruct the charge, and
getting in advance of his comrades fell
a few feet before reaching the enemies
works, pierced with four wounds-one
through the right arm, one through
the right thigh, one in the left leg and
one through the left ankle joint. He
did not sleep the following night ain
the swamps and lowlands, and dream
of future successes" but was left upon
the battlefield to mediate upon his
sad surroundings. The third night af-
ter this, he found himself in the hospi-
tai in Richmond, where for the first
time his wounds were examined and
dressed. On the 11th of September,
his left foot was amputated, and thus,
so far as fighting was concerned, the
war with him was ended hence he
was never conquered. His last battle
was one of triumph. He fell far in ad
vance of his victorious companions
His last sight of northern army was
the $500 prisoners he had helped to
capture, as in great excitement and
confusion they hurried to the rear,
seeking shelter from the grape and
shrapnel poured recklesaly upon them
by their own unmerciful comrades. In
Imagination L can now see this fallen
Confederate as he lay upon his back,
swinging his gun above his mangled
form, to save it from being trampled
in the earth by this panic stricken
multitude of prisoners of whom Gen
eral Grant made no report"
Mr.. Rouss, while We doubtless spent
some of our best days near together.
battling for the same noble cause, l
have never had the pleasure of meet
ing you, L want to express my sincere
sympathy for your sore afiiiction and
1 want to congratulate you upon your
heroic achievement-rejoice that out
Of defeat, you have won glorious vic
tory, even among your former enemies,
and ever since, doubtless, your most
bitter and sharpest competitors.
By your indulgence, you have help
ed many poor man to make an hon
est living.
By your magnanimity and philan-
thropy, you have won the love and es-
teem of the people of the South, and a
name for the private Confederate SOL
der as durable and glorious as the
hero of the Northern Army.
BY your "undersell Motto" and Go
use an old North Carolina expression)
by your "spunk and pluck" and "get
up and get," you have gained finan-
cial reputation simply phenomenal.
Would you know what became of the
soldier referred to above ?
He in due time returned TO his home,
entered school and after awhile select
ed as his battlefield for life the school
room where he might "teach the young
idea how to shoot" He has never
been conquered. Often he had hard
battles to fight, and little over a year
ago he had to "beat hasty retreat"
because of his failing health. He had
saved by economy, little money, and
a year ago last April he and your
friend III. G. Spiers, of Weldon, n. c.,
formed co-partnershiP and entered
the commercial battle ground, of which
you dreamed the night after the battle
of Ream's Station. In this field he
expects, for the remainder of his days,
to win whatever victories are in store
for him. And as the banner under
which he proposes to fight Is that
which has the name of Charles Broad
way Rouss embIazOned upon it, he
hopes to achieve success under his mas
teriul leadership. ]. l.. DAVIS.
The following is the extract above