Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-11
A WAR RELIC
Mr.. Watson S. DibreII Receivers
an Old Family Portrait.
IL Camel Norfolk Yrstcrdny From
M"un' Auburn. ut. 1t ysns Cnr-
rird Nor,h by Soldier tn Mag,
1861.

Mr.. Watson S. Dibrcl, bookkeeper for
Captain Pinckney, manager of the Vir-
GINA, Tennessee and Georgia Air Line,
who resides at No. 50 Dartmouth street.
yesterday received by express from
Mount Auburn. christian county. ILL.,.
large oil portrait of his father. Rev.
Anthony Dibrcll. that has historic in
terest as relic of the war between
the States.
This picture was taken in May. 1864,
from the walls of the family residence.
near the old Howlctt House. on the
James river, by Mr.. Jay Miller, Il soldier
IN the Second Connecticut Volunteers,
who has now returned 1t to It's le.al
owner, after being in Mr.. Miiier's Dos
session Tor over twenty-five years.
Mr.. M.ler. after taking the picture
from tnc vail, carried 1t to New Eng
land thence TO Illinois, where he now
resides.
Of The history OF It's taking he says.
In the spring of 1864. when Grant and
Lee were lighting in the Wilderness.
and when Zen Butler was in the Jug
below Fort Darling. the writer, a mem
Der oil ono 3. the crack artillery regi-
ments in tn Qualifications at Washing
ton, was psared to the front by way
or Beri. ada hundreds. moving up from
the landing. some ten miles or more.
we pitched our dog tents on the line of
some slashed timber and the next
morning, being, as far as we could see,
the only people at home in that mart.
comrade and myself went through
the slashcs to a house III the open coun-
try beyond. which we found abandoned
and badly wrecked. Among the wreck :
age, but Still on the wnll. was an oil
painting, iife-size bust of a gentle
man. who was probably clergyman.
on the back. nicely pasted were obit-
uary notices from leading Southern pa
pers, OF the Rev. Anthony Dibrell, who
had perlshed ut his pos; OF duty dur
ing the terrible fever scouree at Nor
FOLK. We took the picture from the
frame II had o2cn puncturcd 10y a bay
onct in the throat, eye. and breast.
and carried il back TO our lines In tho
subsequent hot time we had and on tho
road home We lost ana rctoo;S II three
times. \ portion OF us falling 10 re-on-
list were DISCHARGED under fire. and
sent home after three years service.
In the meantime the house was burned
up by the fire of the artillery"
The Rev. Anthony pihrcll. the fourth
OF the same name. descending from the
Husuenots who settled At Nran2l,in
Ferry. just above Richmond. was an
eminent Methodist divine. well known
in Methodist history to many living to-
day. He married Miss Mary How
lett of IIowlotts farm. where the cele-
pratcu toNiettS Battery OF the Con-
fedcracy, was stationed during the war.
In the yellow fever scourge of 1855 he
refused Ia leave his post and died In
thet year al Norfolk leaving n widow
and eight children. Of these hIr. Wat
son s. Dihrcll. OF Norfolk and sister.
Mrs. Mollie Macarthur Of Lecshurg. Va.
are the sole survivors,
Tho picture reached Norfolk in good
condition. showing nothing OF the raw
ages Of war. Mr.. Dihrell saws T. was
painted over sixty years ago He is
ovcrioycd 10 gain possession Of this old
family relic
The nortraii will he on exhibition f,r
several days in one of tho windows Of
the store Of j. V. Alfrlend C Co.. on
Main street.