Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06

can intensely cherish for the absent hus
band. and there was great happiness al
our Preside that memorable night-just q
| month from the day ! left Johnson's
| lslAnd-yet our JOY was tinged with sad
ness for the loss of doar mother. whose
death was FASTENED by anxiety for hoI
absent sons and the frequent rude
searches through her house and premises
| for those sons by Federal soldiers sta
| toned near. These searches were made
| upon the false reports of negroes, and
thus a good Christian woman was harried
TO death by excitement and worry occa-
stoned by soldiers In their almost brutal
exercise OF power 10 search every pri-
vate residence. On one occasion, the
whole household being aroused from sleep
at midnight 10 permit a search Of the
house by n squad of cavalry. who had
ridden up to the door firing off their car
bines and pistols IN every direction. like
very demons the officer I'm charge dis
mounted and entered my mothers cham
Der, followed by a number OF soldiers.
who searched every closet and corner in
the room, not forgetting even the bureau
drawers OF course, they did not find
either my brother or myself, for whom
they professed TO be looking.
While bravely undergoing such ordeals
and showing no signs OF anything but
the coolest, most reserved equanimity
on these occasions, either by speech or
action this devout Christian woman was
usually sick for days afterward.
My leave of absence passed quickly
away without any interruption from the
enemy, except an occasional cavalry raid.
for which / was always on the alert. and
absented myself in time.
AMONG BROTHERS AGAIN.
When I returned to the now deservedly-
renowned Picketts Division and met the
survivors Of that sanguinary charge at
Gettysburg. and particularly the remnant
Of my old brigade (Armistead's), felt
that l was with brothers again, doubly
and trebly tried in the very crucible Of
fire at the "bloody angle"
was soon ordered to Richmond and de-
tailed in charge of a number of. picked
men TO proceed TO the vicinity of Curtis
Neck, on the north side of the James
river, to watch the movements of the
transports, and of General Butler on
it's south side.
While engaged in this service, one night
upon crossing the main road, discovered.
to my great surprise, that large body OF
horses had just passed. / soon had my
men under arms, and captured a number
of the rear-guard of Sheridan's Cavalry
and ascertained and reported 10 Rich
mond, carrying my prisoners with me. the
news of Sheridan's famous raid from
Atlee's Station around and in the rear Of
General Lees army.
From this time on to the end of the war
1 was engaged in strengthening the de-
oil 40 Dfahrnnpd nd Dopxyffla
railroad and improving the defences at
High Bridge, near Farmville, a timely
precauton. as evidenced by the opportune
and successful defence of Staunton-riVer
bridge from the attack made upon ii by
Generals Wilson and Kautz on the 25th
of June 1864. when General lees commu-
nications with Richmond and the entire
roling-stock of the Richmond and Dan
vile railroad were saved only by the
most obstinate defence OF this point Had
this point been lost and the Richmond
and Danville railroad been destroyed from
Richmond to Danville. Lees supplies from
the south would have been entirely cut
of, and consequently Richmond would
have been abandoned ten months earlier.
An all-seeing Providence guided the des-
TIMES Of our country TO a different time
and through many more trials. The con-
hct was finally closed by the surrender |
of Lee and Johnston; and the peace then |
established has been maintained inviOlate |
by the soldiers of each army recognizing |
fully all their obligations, which were |
not for one side alone, but mutual.
Fraternal greetings Of the Blue and the |
Cray have been frequent and most en- |
ioyable. and II has been the writer's good |
fortune to meet on the field Of Gettysburg |
many associates of the Army of Northern
Virginia, among them his old friend |
Richard Ferguson, Of Nottoway; j. f. |
Crocker, and others, Of Portsmouth; G.. p.
Finch. Of Mecklenburg, Captain Edmond
son, Of Halifax; and also many OF our
opponents in the Federal lines on that
now historic Sd OF July, 1868.
In company with them, twenty-four
years to day and hour after this battle
we marked the spot where the brave
Armistead fell, near the gallant Captain
Cushing, Of the Federal artillery, whose
batteries withstood the brunt
OF our charge; and where Kemper, Gar
nett, Hodges, Harvey. Bray and many
others less renowned. but equally gallant
were shot down; where, as Colonel A. X.
of the Philadelphia Times.
states "the highest wave of the secession /
dashed its force in raging foam
against the very dome of the National
-dpllOl anu StHlldllLcO IdliOildl BONtlH-
ment, breaking its last crest at the feet
Of the Goddess Of Liberty" when the
success or failure of a single shot or
she'll might have for centuries changed
he destiny not only Of both armies, but
IF the entire continent.
Let us not only hope that the result was
Tor the best. but act up to IL and teach
our children to accept it and labor ear
nestly for the perpetuation OF this. the
yrandest and happiest form OF free gov
eminent yet devised by man, now
stronger and with far more enduring
foundations since cemented with the blood
IF brave men. from whatsoever section
hey came. ard on whichever side they
ought. battled as only heroes could
With equally conscientious convictions OF
light.
one self-approving hour whole years
OufWeipha