The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-26
FIRST SERVICE.

FIRST SERVICE
Nelson's Battery saw service first, on
The Penlnsular under Magruder. Inc
story goes that tho red-tape of Richmond
complained to General N1agruder because
OF tho large quantity Of harness and out
fit for his horses that Captain Nelson
made recognition for The General re-
Piled CURLY that whatever Nelson wanted
must be sent, because Nelson's company
was magnifying itself in the eyes Of tho
enemy with battalion. But at the re-
election Of officers, Nelson was not re-
elected. His men found him discipline
rian. Ono Of them said to me once as
they lay mt New Market after Early's de-
fcat when Colonel A. s. Pendleton was
killed: when the old man was cap
tain, We almost hated him; he was so Sc
we're. When he became major We began
to love him. Now, that he is colonel and
makes them young officers mind their
business, we know him aud love him"
NELSON'S CAP.
When he enlisted Captain Nelson wore
a certain tall cap, very tall as recall It,
a cap that became as we'll known as Nell
sons artillery. IT saw every campaign
from 'G1 to '65. It was distinguished
igure from the Peninsula to the Apo
mattox, where it sleeps to-day. Nelson's
Artillery never surrendered. It Ia still
on furlorgh. Colonel Nelson with his
command was at Lynchburg when Lee
evacuated Peterburg. That is. Colonel
Nelson was at Lynchburg with what WAS
left of his command after Waynesboro. In
order to join some fighting body of troops,
Nelson left Lynchburg, but on his way
he was advised of the surrender. There
upon he summoned his men and offlcers,
formally gave them an indefinite furlough
subject to his recall. unlimbered his guns.
threw them and their caissons into the
Appomattox river, and. as have heard
him tell, took off his "Old Coffee-pot,' as
tho soldiers had dubbed his cap, threw 1t
into the river along with his guns, and so
guvc It honorable burial. Often / have
wished that the Colonel had kept that
cap. But It sleeps we'll.
SECOND COLD HARBOR.
His story Of Second Cold Harbor re-
mains wildly before me. The going into
position under fire, unlimbering Whle
men were being shot, his first gun dis
ebled and its section killed or wounded
before the last gun. was In action, the
dendlness of the cnemy's fire. ] can see
It all as no used to picture 1t to us, as
we sat talking after some meal. he using
old silver cruets and salt-cellars with
clusts of bread to show us where Kirk
patrick's guns were, where Livingston
Massey stood, and how Milledge's men
went in Once ] met a plain man far
from Virginia, who asked me whether or
not ever knew Colonel Nelson of the ar
tIllery. IT was my uncle of whom ne
spoke Then he said: II was with him
in many hot places, and he was the braV-
est man that ever saw In battle
A fudge of a circuit In q distant State
said to me not long ago, Colonel Nelson
was the coolest man that ever saw when
under fire stood near him In great
battles and often marvelled at his perfect
Guinness and courage" And yet l have
heard my uncle say that he always eX-
nected death when we went into battle.
i might relate other Incidents to Illus
trate the character Of the man. But my
purpose Is to tell of the burial of tho CAP
and of the other simple things here set
down. The later yenrs Of Colonel Nell
sons life were spent. as many know, min
isterlng to the people around him Ihat
Is a story not of war. but of peace L
has its poetic side. ! will not try to tell
OF It.
HE MEETS EARLY.
Once ] was walking on Broad street
with my uncle, and we met General EAR
ly. 1t was their first meeting after the
war The general threw his arm about
tho neck of his old artilleryman and kiss
ed him. Woe be to the person who dared
to crtic!se llany's campaigns In my un-
cles presence! I'VE did what we We're
sent to do" was my unce's sole response
to all criticism, Let history deal with all
that.
Colonel Nelson sleeps at Fork Church,
where sleep his own people, think of
him always ms a man to be feared because
of his power 10 command. to be loved be-
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