Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-23
STORIES OF CoNFEDERATEs.

lSdIIS iC<ty uHS.j
Brigadier-General George Nancy, Of
Tennessee, was among the first OF Confed-
crate soldiers to espouse the cause of Re-
publicanism. The step cost him the loss
of many former friends and caused much
bitterness at the time between him and
his former officers and soldiers.
General Nancy once said: II cared
nothing for the loss of such friends but
an incident occurred in the course Of my
early connection with the Republican par
ty which affected me greatly.
Il was campaigning" said he, in Mad1-
son county, Tenn, when committee OF a
dozen men, who had been as fine private
soldiers in my brigade as ever fought on
any field, waited on me.
| I'VE have been hearing strange things
about you. general, said John Robinson,
the old color-bearer of the Sixth Tennes-
see which we have not believed. and do
not intend to believe. until we get your
own personal statement
Il could not make a Republican speech
to these men," said the man, who looked
with indifference upon the political opln-
| ion of every former officer of the Confed-
crate army, because it is my firm con-
viction that if the Confederate govern
ment at Richmond and the Confederate
officers had had one-tenth the genius OF
direction. which the line of the army had
for execution, the Confederacy could not
have possibly failed"
AS proof of the devotion, the ardor and
/; heroism of the rank and file, General
Nancy told Of private soldier in his old
regiment (the First Tennessee), who was
constantly the most exposed man to be
seen, until finally he received q shot which
! cost him his right leg. Before the flow
| of blood from the amputation had ceased:
| the man said to him: General l will
! soon be out again, but won't be able to
keep up in front If you will get me a
| horse I will be with you, and | know |
can kill some moro Yanks."
At the BATTLE of Perryville, Colonel Les
| ter, who commanded a Georgia regiment,
| lost an arm near the shoulder. and yet
when the army moved South early in the
| following morning, Colonel Lester stood
| on the gallery of the hospital by the road
side and shook hands with each member
! of his regiment as they passed by, and
spoke words Of encourag cement to them.
| At the battle of Nashville, December
| 15 1864, Mississippi boy. IS years of age,
| lost foot the amputation occurring mid
way between the knee and ankle, but ne
! contrived a rude crutch, and pegged his
way to the Tennessee river, marching
along with the advance of Hoods army.
Upon crossing the river, an officer spoke
! words of encouragement to the boy, and
| com plimented him for his splendid cour-
| angc and fortitude.
"Tw'want that, Major; I didn't want
| them Yankees to get me- he replied
| There was no sign of complaint at his
| misfortune.
At the battle of Fredericksburg, Banks
dale and his Mssissippans won the glory
of renown and an indisputabe title to
| knighthood. The story is familiar to all
| Confederate soldiers, but there were many
Instances of personal heroism which were
known only to those of the brigade. A
gallant young fellow from Madison coun-
! ty, David Sadler, member of the Tween
! ty-first regiment commanded at that time
| by Colonel Is. G. Humphreys, lost a foot.
| A friend, James Finley. offered to take
j him back to the city, where he could
have attention, but Dave Sader said: No,
Jim, not now. After the boys have driven
them back, across the river, come and
| help me.
| In a few minutes Jim Finley lost his
| right arm. and, leaving the field, passed
| the spot where he had left Dave Sadler.
| and found, to his great horror, that the
!, other foot had been torn away by caS-
non ball, and that he was rapidlyAbeedny
to death. Jim Finley, faint from the loss
! of blood, was barely able to walk, but
seeing his friend in the condition descrb-
/ ed hurried back and reported the fact, eX-
posing himself to terrific fire in doing
so. A detail was sent, which carried both
| boys to the hospital, where Sadler's legs
We're amputated and also Finley's arm.
| When they had sufficiently recovered
from the shock they were sent to Rich
mond where they received every care
and attention which their means afforded.
| Mrs Owen, q sister of Dave Sadler, went
| from Madison county to nurse him, and
| his recovery was largely due to her care
| and watchfulncsS.
One day. while the boys were GONZALES
! cling, a young minister walked through
| the ward. distributing articles of clothing.
/ and passing the cot where Dave Sadler
| lay, dropped two pairs of nice yarn socks
on the cover, at the same time telling him
! they We're sent by the ladies from Missis-
sirpi Dave quickly replied: Thank
/ you, sir but give them to some one else.
i have decided To rever wear another pair
! of socks while I live"
| The minister insisted, and said he was
foolish but Dave would not accept them.
| In his dilemma the minister sought Mrs.
Owens and told her of the extraordinary
conduct Why" exclaimed Mrs Owens.
both of his feet We're shot off,
i Dave Sadler and Jim Finley are both
| living to-day, Sadler at Corinth. Miss.
while Jim Finley is prominent Baptist
| minister, but do not know his present
| address.
1
show that there were enlisted during the
entire war less than 100000 soldiers IN the
Confederate army. This number lnciud-
ed Transfers nurses, provost guards, ant:
every man connected with the army. The
records also show that the number Of men
enlisted on the Federal side amounted to
2,S73, 000 men-nearly 100000 men. and =
500. goo more than the Confederates. Cen
eral Lees force was reduced by death and
other causes to 5000 effective men when
he surrendered to General Grant. He had
the care also of some 5000 sick and wound
ed on his hands, General Grants army
at the same time numbered $4,000 soldiers.
equipped with the best implements OF war.
But the 5000 men We're all heroes, such as
Dave Sader and Jim Finley.
The writer left the army of Northern
Virginia in the spring of 1863, and parted
from friends he never saw afterwards.
Their bones are bleaching in the valleys
and on the mountains of Virginia. They
were martyrs to principle. but left TO pos
terity honored names and unblemished
regulations They established for the
world standard of manhood never before
equailed, and possibly never to be exceled.
The States of Mississippi and Louisiana
would honor themselves by erecting and
preserving an imperishable memorial for
their sons. Each Individual deserves it..
They gave their lives for the State, and
their sacrifices and sufferings should be
rem rendered.