Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-12

| In the last few years, in reading ar
| ticles from northern and western papers,
think ] notice a marked change in
/ the sentiment Of those people in our favor.
| The word rebel is nearly dropped. We
| also notice that they speak of the civil
| war, instead of the war Of the rebel
| ion.' The war between the States"
| is preferable to either. and is what every
| southern man should call it. In this we
| recognize our constitutional right to de-
| fend ourselves from northern invasion.
Each northern State armed it's citizens,
and sent them into the southern States
TO wage war of conquest, and we only
| fought to defend our States from this
invasion. There would have been no
war. in my opinion, but for this invasion.
Under the old constitution neither Lin
coin nor Congress had any authority to
use the army or navy to wage war against
a State; in doing SO they violated the con-
stitution themselves, and gave the South
erners an undoubted right to defend them
| selves.
MR.. JINCOLN'S OATH
Mr.. Lincoln swore TO defend the con-
stitution, when he was inaugurated, as
he found ii at that time. but he failed to
do So thereby violating his oath. This
is the view every newspaper in the south
should take, and persist in it until the
north is aware of the fact that we do
not wish to be misunderstood.
Again, northern papers scarcely ever
allude to the vast majority of battles VIC
won. but pass over them with few re-
marks and pick UP Gettysburg and Apo
mattox. as if they were the only real bat
ties fought-all others being insignificant.
Some of my children have asked me why
If was that We old soldiers talked SO much
about the many battles in which we were
victorious. when the Yankees whipped
US. They should know the reason why.
The Northerners often say to us that we
brag about winning SO many ba'ties
Didn't we whip you?" We always reply
in asking the following question: HOW
far is it from Washington to Richmond
Va? and then explain to them thal IL IS
only JOG miles General Mcdowell, with
the hest equipped army ever seen in the
United States up to that date, started to
March TO Richmond about the month OF
June 1861.
IT TOOK a LONG TIME.
For some reason he turned back. NC
Clellard Pope, Burnside, Hooker. Meaoe
and Grant each with a larger and oetter
equipped army than his predecessor, made
strenuous efforts to get to Richmond. but
it was April 1865. after the Confederate
army. starved, broken down, and their
ranks depleted marched out of the city,
before an armed force of Northernefs,
backed by negroes, entered it. wal you
n1easa eynlain to me why they were so
long iourneyins from Washington to Rlch-
mond? OF course. they cannot answer.
And so it is with all Of the northern
histories They have made their accounts
Of their side and too often rnisrepresentnd
MS and now when we begin to explain
our side they say: ''Oh, the war is over,
don't talk about 1t any more; let us nave
peace'' We say let us have an equal
chance to tell our side to the world. We
are convinced that larger proportion
Of the northern people are honest and
fair in their judgment and when they
hear our side of the question, from con-
servative writers. they will see that their
politicians have deceived them all through
that war. HE who laugs last laughs
last do hope our southern papers
and writers will commence to tell our side
and keep it up until every house and
every person through the north is sup
FILED with cur histories, and then we
can leave it to their better nature to judge
impartially about that war. Then we
will say let US shake hands and have
peace.
A CLOSE CALL.
Now I have had my say, and will tell
YOU of a CLOSE call" I had soon after
the thunderstorm incident to which l re-
ferred above. On the 9th Of October LIE
again took the offensive not SO badly
whipped after all, and tried to bring
Meade TO battle on the plait.c o. Culpeper.
but he promptly retreat ted during the night
OF the 10th to beyond the RappahannoclS
While the infantry were making their
flank movement the cavalry were active
as usual Stuart bivouacked on the night
Of the 9th at Madison Courthouse. On
the 10th he marched towards Woodville,
on the Sperryville pike. Stuart. with Cor
don and Young. crossed the Robertson
river at Russels Ford, and marched to
James City. The First South Carolina
Cavalry routed 1<ilpatricks cavalry in
a splendid charge. Young'S command
captured seventy-eight prisoners. Kill
patrick then posted himself on the hills
near James City, supported by Infantry,
and six pieces of artillery; and under
cover OF darkness retreated that night
The next day Stuart turned towards
Culpeper Courthouse. A short distance
from town Stuart encountered Captain
Grigg's squadron of the Harris Light
Cavalry, and after most gallant re-
sistance the latter was driven through the
town with loss, according to General
fitzpatrick, of their leader and one half
OF his command. While General Stuart
was making this flank movement, we, with
General Fitz. Lee, moved from tho
Rapidan, crossing at Raccoon Ford, and
aLlscheU buiOIu. uIlNiuS MIN DeyOuu
Brandy Station.
ON A SCOUT.
It was while we were pushing Buford
/ think on the afternoon Of the 18th, that
Lieutenant William Jackson, of my COM
pany, rode up to me and asked If would
accompany him on a scout for a few
hours. / readily consented. We galloped
off together in the direction Of Buford's
forces. Leaving the main road. we were
soon lost in a heavy body of woods. Willis
we were riding together along little
stream which ran parallel to and in the
direction in which Buford was retreating
IKE talked over our plans. The Lieuten-
ant informed me that he knew the country
we'll, and that by pushing ahead, con-
cealed as we We're In the thick timber
we would be very soon in advance of
some Of Buford's rear guard. and that he
intended to make attack on any body
OF cavalry unless they were too many
fer us. We examined our pistols care
fully. After going as far as we thought