Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-07

burg-America's Greatest Field
Marshal.
At q recent meeting Of Wrlght-Iatane
Camp. Confederate Veterans. Captain
Albert, Rennolds. Company F. Fifty-ffth
Virginia Regiment. and second Heuten-
ant commander OF the camp. read the fol-
lowing paper:
Ever since the war I have had desire
20 revisit some OF the fields on
which ] did battle for my country. but
never had an opportunity to do so until
last summer, while visiting relatives in
Spotsylvania county, when my brother
proposed 10 take me TO the Chancellors-
Vile battlefield.
So early Monday morning. the last day
Of August. we started towards the Court
house. but leaving that to our right.
came 10 quite pretty monument situated
in the forks Of the road and dedi-
Gated 10 Major-General Sedgwick. Of the
Federal army. who was killed on that
spot during the battle Of Spotsylvsnia
Courthouse
time
before the battle of "the Wilderness" 1
was not present with my regiment when
that battle was fought, and. conse-
Quonty. knew nothing of the field: so.
after inspecting the monument. we struck
of again for Charlottesville. passing
by Screamersville. where the Second
Adventists were holding a camp-meetine.
The tents looked quite pretty. reminding
me Of the time when the Army of North
orn Virginia dwelt in tents-i. E., when
they could get them.
About II o'clock we came TO the plank
road. and turned up towards Chancellors-
vile.
felt as If I was on holy ground; for
;t was right along here that we marched
the 1st day of May, thirty-three years
ago. led by Lee and Jackson, and A.
D.. Hul. and Heth. and Mallory. 1t is
gust about as warm and dusky now as
then. We soon came TO the road that
ve took 70 the left by 1.-The Furnace"
Tut our time being limited, we conclude
fl is not sufficient 10 take the route we
marched around Hooker's army; so we
take the right and 90 BY Charlottesville
House, through the battlefield, TO the
which we marched. runs into the Plank
rold. 1t looks now lust as 1 remem-
Der 10 looked then, except that there
IS gate across 10 now. Everything
looks so natUral that / imagine 1 see
The cavalry pickets standing there still.
j got out Of the vehicle and walk down
The road towards Charlottesville. It is
there where we filed TO the left, and a
short distance IN the woods is where we
formed line Of battle.
The order was given. FORWARD
Narchw and our three divisions move
or 10 strike for all that is dear to free
'u. Through the woods we go. i am
going over the same ground / went over
-arty-three years ago, when L was
ioy-soldier Of the brave and gallant
Lasex Sharpshooters.
FORGOT HE WAS OLD.
ny heart beats strong. l forget that
7 am an old man now. / glide along,
j hardly know how. over the same
Ground Presently the rattle of the
EHrmsher's fire is heard in front. The
i.l3lers cheer and 80 faster. Here Is
The field where the enemy left their
supper cooking In imagination l see
tle soldiers again dipping real conee
from the boilers. and blowing and drink
ile 10 as they moved along. Some nave
,luks OF beef on their bayonets. Whlle
thc.r comrades cut slices Others are
Ftuflug bareback I'm their haver-
f..k, las thew go. for no one can stop;
ed must keep dressed now. On we go
through che woods dressing our lines as
We pass through the fields and openings
How proudly the men march! HOW
enthusiastic they arel How beautIuly
Che cmblems Of constitutional hperty
wave go the breeze! Jackson's corps -
sweeping the field What grand pano~
ramai
our gallant bricadier is on foot In
front of us. He turns and salutes MS
brigade with his sWord-a compliment
which we intend 10 prove that we ue-
serve ere we stop.
And here Is where we were Whe" NV
enlm% attempted 10 make slanu "
check us a volley from a Inc OF D%'
lie is poured into our line 10 tho IIeh'
o. us: but only one We make no STOP,
'rle valley Is returned and we 90 stu
faster, while the rebel yen Ioll9 iio
ono end Of our lines 10 the other' anu
back again. We are moving TOO laS'.
The officers storm at the men lot no.
moving slower when they are ohly Aevp
llg up with the officers. And now the
artillery IS booming. shells are shilSNils
and bursting rifles are rattlln8 anu
clsonally "a vOley is fired. me -,
SCH is now almost continuous. SUM- u"
$50 sweep. 49,,
There Is the place near those thicK
bushes where gallant Lieutenant hoaho
received "a shrapnel shot in his abdomen,
wncn one Of his men. whom he had J,.9e
given the fiat OF his sword for sno"lis
the White feather. said: I'm msnty
sorry for Lieutenant Roane. but nc
ouRhn't or beat me like he did
We are halted. There Is lnll III lhv
i'ro and uproar. The Light Division mas
been orferoa "a fake the lead IL Is De-
Ginning 10 get dark We move again anu
Just ahead Is whore we came out ihtg
plc Plank road q could not underslan,
before Why he came out. OF the nelds az az,
woods INTO the road. but II Is ali piu',
how-we went straight. bat the roau
makes a turn. IL is there where we sam s
ne deserted artillery and the detd az
woInded horses. Az looks now Just as
&c then do n0t think the trees nave