Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-03
AT RICH MOUNTAIN.
so,IE FURTHER RECoiLhSi'oN'
OF THAT FIGHT.
4 REPLY TO DR.. PRICES ARTICLE.
The College boys, the Forty-fo"r'"
Virr!nin, and the Splendid hc
,.. n, perr.un's Ncn-Thc Re
trent-Notcs and Incidents.
MexIco. Mo. November q, 1Ss


- the Editor of the Dispatch
In your weekly issue OF November 2ls'
, have read with pleasing interest an
article by Dr. Henry NJ. Price late OF
the Foity-fourth virginia Volunteers
,ouchirg the incidents and occurrences OF
July i0. II. and T. 1851. at, and about
Eich mountain. tho scene Of the second
battle OF the late war, the iirst being inc
battle OF Big Bethel, on june loth.
remember with remarkable distinct
ness many occurrences Of That time' uhe
] recall this day, after the lapse Of thirty
eight and one third years. many httls M
cidents of that terrific bettle ON the sum-
init Of Rich mountain. in which over .
per cent. Of the brave boys VINO went into
ST on the Confederate side bit the dust.
Wen and distinctly do 1 recall this day
the fact that Colonel William &. Scott
and his full and brave regiment was close
fy-aimost IN sight-and thdt our cry
of distress, as our comrades fell 'hko
leaves ia Wiutry wea4heI. was unheeded
b. HIM 4 recall also. The TACT that one
OF our men. Waddy :. Bacon zone Of
Walkers Nicaragua canpdigners ana hii-
busters, as brave a man as ever trod
tho EARTH in some way 'ron the eaunt-
let of shot and shell on that ever-me-
morable July II. 1861, ana went to Colonel
Scott IN person, told him OF tho situ-
ation. begged him 10 90 TO our help,
showed him how an attack in the Federal
rear would domOralize the whole Fede-
Ial force and cause them TO fee IS II
from the wrath TO come and offered
10 40 side by size with him Ia leading
the rear attack. 10. Colonel scott didn
"huGge' one inch! Pcgram's heroes
only abOEt 80 actually ensaged-cOn-
fronted by General ROsecrans with three
fun regirnents-aI leas, 500 mon
stood like d stone Wail' on that noun
tain summit. fighting 60 the death, hop
Ing. waiting, praJ ing that' Colonel
Scott would come o-thcir help and rescue.
They fought and hoped and waitcu
and prayed in vain. Finally, as they
were about to be surrounded by the Fede-
rails tapping all around them, they fell
back. leaving seyeniy-0dd dead on the
Held of honor.
The battle Of Rich mountain, on July
II. 1891. is not down in history as one
OF the big battles Of the war. In COM
paTison with hundred others. perhaps.
it was a small affair." and will not be
noticed by the future historian But it
is a fact. nevertheless. That it was a
bloody battle, and those engaged in 1t on
the Confederate side stood 10 their
guns" with gallantry and heroism
worthy Of all praise. The fact that they
lost over % per cent. of their number
attests the stubbornness Of the battle.
Allow me to correct DR.. Price in a few
particulars. Of which 1 know more than
he could possibly know. for he was with
Colonel Scott and was with Fegram,
though was not actually In the fight on
the mountain summit Or. Price says
General Pegram was "entrenched on the
summit" OF Rich Mountain, with 800 men,
known as the college Boys" and 800
men elsewhere.
Here my friend g. IN error. Lieutenant
Colonel John Pegram afterwards major
general and killed at Five Forks, near
Petersburg. on or about April ], 1850 ar
rived at Rich Mountain with his regiment,
the Twentieth Virginia Volunteers, on
Tuesday or Wednesday evening. July 9Th
or 1Oth--I have forgotten which-and as