The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-11-19


where's the girl efl behind me ' Such
yells and cheers as went up would have
frightened any Yankee corps during the
Civil war. In the absense oiany Uniform,
step or guns they safely reached the
old race-held. which was surrounded IN a
circumference oi at least two miles with
hall grown pines. each one filled with
men. boys. and women in the greatest
state ol excitement, To witness the des
perate charge which would soon be- made
by the brave cavalry led 10y the dashlng
Capts VIM BENTLEY and stephen Hans
ford. After iew old-styIe military tar
tics. a hollow square would be formed,
when General Washington and staif'
with the field officers would take their
positious i'm the centre oi the square
soon could be- seen courier on n fiery
stced dashng towards thecavalry which
had formed in battle array, with "a dis
patch challenging them for charge.
In an instant the tall figure Of Chas
+. Gibbs, the hugler, stood erect in biz
saddle and sounded the note, ready loI
action. then the gallant Capt. Bentley
gave the command to charge Now
language is inadequate TO describe the
picture of excitement. am sure that
the scene at the battle of the WILDERNESS
was mere nominal consideration com
pared with it, Many times the dnshinp
cavalry. 10y the yells and waving OF red
handkerchieis. hats and few pine sticks
would be- repulsed. but finally by the
persistent efforts of the brave Capt Bent
lev. the hollow square would be penc
trated. wounding n number Of the brave
soldiers, who gallantly clung to the
brides ON the horses. But the iaithm
surgeons. Drs T. l. Hunter, II. d. Ash
ton and Thomas Price who were al
their post Of duty. dressed the wounds
and sent them to the City Hospital C
H.
The bloody fight OF the day being end
ed. the officers were commanded TO take
the troops TO the Capital C. H. and dis
band for l. months Now the real fur
began When the orders were given tt
break ranks. such rush was never seen
AZ the iaded aud broken soldiers made
pressing for thecommissary department
which was in charge OF Alessrs. IL. Car
yer. Il. l.. Goats, Polly Scott and Dizzy
Dunlop. who copiously issued rations
such as ginger cakes and pies; and as il
was dry eating, the weary and dusty
soldiers rapidly repaired TO the quarter
master department, where whiskey wa'
issued at five cents pint. After the in
ner man had been bountifully supplied
and il was proclaimed that the officer
had Jared sumptuously from the table o
B. Ball. that was grOaning under th'
weight of everything good that th'
market could afford, the military
band consisting of fife and drum woulo
give free serenade under the shade o
the honey-pod tree At the conclusion o
this. the time for settling personal difti
culties during the year was in order
quickly a ring was formed, and two
pugilists placed in the centre, the ordel
being, that no man should interfere, un
til the cry enough was distinctly
heard. and thus it continued until al
grievances had been fully adjudicated
The day being spent, all who were abb
bid adeu to the C. H. bounds, vending
their way to their homes, some will
black eyes, some with bloody noses.
When the crowd had dispersed, there
could be heard the cry OF fight, in tn
centre of the city and the citizens rushed
to the scene And on reaching the spot
the picturesque form OF DR. J. W. Is
could be seen, and standing b.
his side was his ever faithful vel
low pointer dog witnessing the settle
ment of differences between him and BIZ
ever faithful aid de-camp Barbery Young
As the spirit was flowing freely in all
without any broken bones, hOstilitie
ceased, and peace and good will wa
declared
Now the time FOR those who had en-
joyed so much the scenery about the {
II. had arrived to be sent off to schoO
to complete their education, which mad
n missing link in its surroundings unit
we returned in 1857 to find that the cit.
had made rapid strides in many direc
tions.
Ii was our pleasure to meet quite
number of the young men, who had als'
returned from school, and at once w
combined and formed a large and yer,
interesting debating society composed 0
the following names: +. Z. Taylor, b
t. Tayloe. d. VI. Chichester, J. J. Mason
f. c. S. Hunter, Thomas Hunter. J
Wesley Browne, p. NJ. Arnold, John Nc
Daniel, Wm. Mcdaniel, Frank Dade AM
Ashton Dade.
Then came the 'cruel war and blighte'
our prospects; yet truly can it be SAT-
that every member gave his services ant
some their lives in defense Of their nativ
State against an invading foe.
f Z. Taylor went into the war as
captain in the fighting 47th Yirgini'
Infantry and vas several times promotes
for gallantry until made colonel. IL
returned home and led quiet life on hi
farm, and died beloved and respected b,
all.
B. T. Tayloe entered the war as a cap