Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15
SHE SENT HER SONS.
OLD cHEsTERrIELD GAVE FREELY
TO THE SOUTHERN ARMY.
"REMINISCENCES or A VETERAN.
4 visit 10 Camp Lee Sets Him TO
Thinking, and he Talks Interest
ingly-Cepture of Long Tom-Came
10 Meet the Pawnce.


25,h day Of February. 1861. he had gone
10 Camp lee as a volunteer himself and
SIS old men do. he wanted 10 see II there
was anything In the new camp which
brought 20 mind the old one. Whether he
found anything hat quickened his men,
ory or not he did not say. but anyway,
when he got back towards home as far
as Mancheste~ he was found TO be in a
very reminiscent and withal very ten
der and talkstive mood. n few friends
gathered about him. and he began 10
talk.
The old place has changed; the boys
are changed. too" re said. II went
scross the field where the tents were
looking so white and clean. and was
thinking Of the boys who were so gay
and glad on the same grounds thirty
Eeven years ago.
MAKE HIM HALT"
Il hadn't gone far before I was brought
hack TO the present time by sharp
halt" There stood before me a bright
youth. scarcely more than lad, with
his gun drawn across his body l was
q
the old word I and you. boys have said
SO often Friend came 10 my lips, and l
said 90. I tell you boys" and the old SOL
dier. stu straight as an Indian, took off
his old. weather-beaten SLOUGH hat and
ran his fingers through the thin gray
locks. what struck me most was that
blue uniform. The boys faces are bright
enough and fair. but l didn't like their
blue clothes so much. Everything was
blue: thirty-seyen years ago all was gray
out there. How the times have changed
They passed me in as a harmless old
man. and l went about, soon mingling
with the youngsters and talking with
them
HEARS THEM TALK ABOUT WAR.
II didn't let on that l had seen four
years and over Of the hardest fighting
men see in a lifetime. and = listened very
innocent-like. and unused when they talk
Cd about war snd fighting. and all that.
There is not the enthusiasm that we had,
but the boys have a sort of determined
look. and / think they are going to fight.
OF course they are; their fathers are Vir-
Einians. and were not afraid 10 die. 1 over
heard one youngster complaining about
Dis tents, and having to sleep on hard
Tlanks. and being piled in like hogs he
said. and l laughed TO myself, soft like,
when / thought Of it. and then how many
times We boys had to lie down on the
Gr0und-wet, hungry. broken down-with
nothing under US but an old. worn oil
cloth. and nothing above but leaden
clouds, driven hither and thither by the
winds. And when they told me about
their getting mad because they didn't get
any supper after dining at o'clock, l
laughed outright Many a time we didn't
have any breakfast. any dinner, any sup
per, and marched all day, too. Well" he
said. as he seemed 10 think about Il, 'it's
al rlght. We boys kicked, too, and got
mad AZ first. but we soon got used TO ii,
and fought the Yankees but the harder
for 10, as they were the cause"
HOW BOYS OF 81 VOLUNTEERED.
The old man was asked by boy if the
Volunteering now was like II was in 1851. |
"Oh LOr'. no." he said. "Old Abe called |
for 900 volunteers from Virginia, and !
men Virginia woke up and pulled out Of
he Union. Old John Letcher called for
too; but the Chesterfield and
Manchester boys did not wait for that
ell you. sir" he went on, "'long in the
winter Of 5000 Old Billy Jones, who
lad gone to Richmond 10 carry his to-
lacco. came galloping through our neigh
lorhood leaving his cart at the ware
louse in the city. and crying The Paw
lee! The Pawneev A lot Of us were at
he village store, as was the custom then,
where We had gone to hear the news, and
.fter awhile We got Old Billy Gained
own enough to make us understand that |
'awnee was a Yankee gunboat, and that |
{ was reported in Richmond she was
oming up the river to destroy the city.
on TO RICHMOND. THE CRY.
THAT was enough. a short conference |
vas held. and In less than two hours |
very man had his musket on his back |
ONE riding, others walking-but all going /
0wards Richmond. Late that night we /
we're in Richmond, and when we left it !
var had begun, and we left as enlisted /
oldiers IN the service Of the Confederate
tates.'
Did the women take IL hard. your
Cing?' somebody asked Take it hard"
q repeated. NO. sir; they didn't; they
eyed us on, and wanted us TO go. They
fere more excited that the men. They
-ere not much grieved at parting, either
ecause they were too proud of their hus-
ands and sons and sweethearts to be
cry sorry; and. besides, everybody
bought the war would be over in three
-eeks"
THE CHESTERFIELD SOLDIERS.
Tell us about the troops who went
rom Chesterfield and Manchester beg
"a the unromantic boy.
Well" he said, scratching the back Of
is head, at the same time topping his
ouch hat over on his forehead, there
.ere. IS well as l recollect fourteen
1rnpanies from Chesterfield and two from
chichester. / think the Chesterfield
roop is the best known Of the Chester
. Do a |
orsemen as ever threw leg over pom
el"
He said this with a degree Of pride.
in his head in the air. that made 1t as
ain as daylight where he belonged.
DR. William b. Ball was captain; w.
Woodbridge first, and Charles III.
hoCes second lieutenant. Daniel h
'elsiger was Junior second lieutenant,
ID Walter c. Clark orderly sergeant.
aptain Ball rose 10 the rank Of leute-
.ut-cOlonel, and Woodbridge was, at the
ose OF the war. commissioned briga-
er-general. This troop OF cavalrymen
i'd an eventful career. From Camp Lee
q went 20 Ashland. and had our nrst
ar experience in a skirmish with the
bite Horse Yankee Troop at FAIRFAX
lurthouse Our first great fight was al
e battle OF Bull Run.
CAPTURED OLD LONG TOM.
Here the troop made capture that
me near making it famous. We cap
red at Cub Run. little stream which
lpties into Bull Run, az the close OF the (
nt. Long Tom-the famous old Long
fn-which did service in the Mexican
.r fought for the Union till the Bull :
N battle, and then for the South until
o surrender at Appomattox. IL was
exhibition Al the Worlds Fair, at
icago In 1893, and was seen by thou