The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-28

Il
y.r,Iaud OF Local IAtsrsst.
g.. 40 "a. Post
-. .r..uE. Va. Feb. Gen. David 4
...z.r. o. veteran Of two wars, the hero
= .r... Iartlc OF the Crater. IN which he
- a. Confederate forces. a successful
s....-. man and Christian gentleman
. vide aeauainlance. died This morning
b. s.- ZONE on East Grace street Death
..s..-ad from a stroke Of paralysis which
.-IaAaI a long and severe attack OF the
--..-- He had been 80 since a short
.. before Christmas.
-.yIgh upward Of eighty years OF age,
BIZ. ION constitution enabled him 20 make
e..Iant nEht against the laFt great enc
I'd. The General had always enjoyed
GOD health and did not look 10 be any
rr like four score.
TIE survivors OF WeisiEer's Brigade
s.# q meeting this evening and adopted
suitable resolutiegs touching Gen. Weisi-
..r- Death The remains will be taken
-a Petersburg tomorrow morning al L.2D
o'clock 4.rompanicd by detaChn.ents from
Old brigade and from Lee Camp.
aeu David \. Welsiger won "A name cf
V..l alT S0utheTneT might have been
proud BOO tho famous charge Al the bat
To ut r.- .sster, which in many respects
r.- one 20. the most remarkable engage
aerr. " the civil war. As the COM
~.ader or Alahone's old brigade. Gen.
W-.-aer ,~d ,he two brigades engaged
90 That bloody conflict.
Gallant Confederate soldier.
%
..re flg the part he took In that light
.- vs. also Ia the Mexican War where
le Won distinction as a Lieutenant N
trs Petersburg company. He served from
ta. beginning Of that struggle to its end,
AMI displayed valor i'm his limited sphere,
which w1s destined To be 50 much ga
Lrl.d m another war. which was then
.H'laught Of.
GIN W,siger was a little more than
sfary years ola, and was born in Ches-
r..frld County. in this State. He was
educated by private tutors at his cOun-
d.. home About four weeks ago the de-
ceased VAS attacked with grippe. Paraly-
SIS ..un followed, and 1t was from this
latter complication that death ensucU Il
Il believed Gen WeisigeT was twice
married. His first wife was a Miss Banks
dale. Of Halifax. and his last and sur
1lrug partner. Mrs. Harrison, of MOTTO
way Mr. Sydu0T WeIslger, Of Harrison
burg. in this state, is a son OF the nrsJ
marriage Deceased vas a quiet and I'M
e-r-utatioLS man, gentle i'm his bearing
and intercourse with his l-low-men, tut
.|e,ays brave and fearless where any
principle was involved
After th. war h- located in Petersburg,
where he continued in business for some
years bat later removed with ms family
10 Manchester \ few years ago he came
leo this ely and entered business, but for
some years prior TO his death he had
taken uo active part in business affairs,
though he was at all times deeply inter-
este. in III that affected the country or
The success o. his friends.
The Charge at the Crater.
Gen Wcisiger's dashing and successful
charg, at the Crater connects him IN
s.paIalIy with this fight. He won his
,rr.rr-t distinction here. and became
Known az the Hero OF the Crater
To understand Gen. WeisigeT's part IN
this n-ht. il IS necessary to recall the i'm
n,G.sl. circumstances which lei 10 his
famous charge. DISheartened at [. fail
ur, ~ his repeated attempts 10 bTesH the
Confederate lines by direct assault, Gen.
Grant nualiy approved the plan suggest
I'd TO Gen Burnside by one 0f his Officers
Lieut.. Col Henry PleaSants-tO con-
strIrt e mine and blow up the salient TO
j1- night Of Blandfovd Cemetery. and in
90. event Of Its success TO force his
troops through the breach, while the Con-
i,deiate- We're dismayed by the explosion.
Grant. in the meanwhile, made power
ifi iHiut north of James River, which.
however he meant 10 turn into a real
attack upon Richmond should he find the
lines IF that city thinly garrisoned. To
meet this powerful demonstration Gen.
lee had been compelled TO detach five of
DDS eight divisions north OF the James
which left him. together with his in
ianlTl. with but l3.O10 men on the Peters
b-r- front Grant, finding Richmond ST.
,li-} guarded, ordered the troops he had
cell north of the James 10 return on the
--a' oil July % TO take part in the as
'-.n which he had now determined 10
/ l'- h. when the mine should be sprung.
III Daylight on the 3lst the mine was
sprung with terrific explosion. burying un-
,.. Ns debris the whole garrison OF the
L.-ol salient.
Federal Troops Didn't Advance.
Undoubtedly. had the assault been made
- i.-".u'r troops directed by determined
.".-G- no'n'ng could have prevented the
-.I"i forces from entering Petersburg.
Meade had massed for the assault
NV troops within a lew hundred yards
U. ."' doomed salient while. as has been
''".-- there were but 1909 Confederates
'H the whole Petersburg front.
haf tao Federal forces were themselves
''h.''"..z-d by the terrific explosion. ana
1'.E over the intervening space h
'"-.a %" Federal and Confederate lines
sought shelter under the crlmhliug slices
y. Tie Crater, instead OF going forward
4. delay enabled Lee 10 send for two
'..lac-s Of Mahoue's division from The
i.a, the Virginia and Georgia brigades
Tough 10 10 80 he mad To- uncover his
mole right flank
i'-i-r the personal direction OF Nsbone
these Two veteran brigadrs came swjngin.
Gown The valley in TIE rear OF the Copfei
cate lines. and entered in single aIr The
..yrred way leading Ia the Crater. When
E-.hin about 20 wards of the salient. filing
} s.alu 10 tho right they began 70 form
-.r Of battle In the rsyine Immediately In
Year 81 the former Confederate position
Tie Virginia brigade under Gen. WrfSiger
q. .yt as The Georgia brigade vss
H--s 10 move out Of the covered way To
.g.. nr the left o. The Virginiaas. sud
c..H a brave Federal officer. who had
f1'.. bus men in and around the Crater
... hand. called 10 the FederaIs TO
.>rg.
Tire. r Was that the Virginia brigade
%. .E r0. gallant Wsisiger charged 10
.... i.e ou0ominS host. and won the
rrs
Death of d.. Greed Thomas.
Greed Thomas, one Of the oldest
''.1-'. H' I-.amoHd and one 81 the old
calculates uf the Manla land University
''. here tll- evening Deceased was
'...-.~sru years old and one o. the
'' scholarly ard bcst-infOmcd men
DR. IuoU.. was born ia this city
--. aid .or forE years lived within
.F'a- 81 tie spot where 3D. first saw
20 .rt. D.. ..fF 4rHtfati