The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-15


and we got plenty OF fresh fish and
sweet potatoes. What corn meal was Is
sued to US had never been sifted and the
bran was 80 large the boys spoke OF It
as JEFF. Davis tomb-stoncs. At this
camp / saw tho hardest flst fight OF my
life. Two OF the men had been quarrel
Ing for several days; tho captain ordered
the fighters to use only their lists. and
no one was to interfere till one or the
other followed enough Both men
were completely exhausted and the cap
tain thought best to call halt. 1 be-
lievc that both men would have suffered
death rather than sing out enough
Fighting was seldom resorted to In
camp, but knew two men In Company
who were only restrained from fsucutf
by the colonel when standing In line OF
battle. One OF them remarked after the
colonel's orders. u would just as soon
live as de-
AT NBwBERN.
The defense OF Newborn was wholly In
adequate. We only had $500 men to meet
General Burnside with his 5000. Many
OF our men were home nfurlough. and
I think we did we'll to get away. We had
three elegant forts and long line OF
breastworks. These the enemy Ranked.
and all we could do was to get away.
Capt. T. n. Brem. OF the Charlotte Bat
Jury, bdVcO oH!y JIG gun, Ildfluk no sup.
port. When I came through the camp. 1
saw where some OF the men had carried
Ruf. Worsham out Of his tent on a
cot, in hopes some one would help him
on train that was still waiting. He
was dying with typhoid pneumonia I got
him on his knees and by great effort got
him up behind me on my horse and
saved him from capture. He Is still liv-
ing and shows his gratitude for Kindness
rendered more than forty years ago. The
battle was on the Ath OF March. 1852.
An incident occurred at this point that
will not do to leave unreoorded. About
this time 1t was a common thing for
those who had friends In the army to
make them a special visit. A man who
lived near Capt. Potts went on q visit to
the boys, got to Eewbern on the 18th: on
the 18th there was very heavy cannonad-
Ing which gave warning OF the next
days battle. Early In the morning. tho
battle opened with a terrific roar OF can
non and musketry: the boys insisted on
their friend taking hand with them,
but he had become so uneasy about his
dear family. that he must go home at
once: and he left forthwith. All that he
heard was tho deafening roar Of musk
etry. The poor fellow was scared almost
out Of his senses When he got to Char
lotte he told the people that General
Branch's whole army was destroyed. 1t
was Sunday when he got to Charlotte;
here he hired a horse and started to In
form the people that the whole OF Potts
company were killed. He arrived at
Hopewell Church Just before the ser
vicc was to begin: as to every one he was
asked about. the reply was. II saw him
fall yes they are all killed" Colonel u.
w. Alexander. an old gentleman living
In Charlotte, had Just received this tele-
gram:
Kingston. N. c., March Is. 1852.
Potts Company all safe.
1T. L. ALEXANDER"
This telegram was sent with all haste
to Hopewell and was read from the pull
pit. NEARLY all OF Potts Company came
from this section). But the people
I got the news from a man who was on
tho field and saw the boys Killed. and
they said. I'VE don't know about this
telegram" All night long people were
riding from house to house to see II any
one had fresh news. My father sent a
negro to Charlotte Sunday night to learn
tho truth. BY Monday everybody was
satisfied that the boys were SAFE and tho
fugitive had lied. probably because he
was scared. One lady ut Hopewell when
she heard the news, tainted and had to be
helped home. 1t was serious matter to
allow a fool or an idiot to retail such
news.
Six engines and trains were steamed up
and got away from Newbern. Just as
the enemy took possession. Here y saw
cannon balls for the first time when In
motion. being fired at the trains. The en-
tire command got to Kingston tho same
night, l think thirty-hve miles. The en-
| tire army was tired out and badly demon
allied. It was thor first time to be IN
der fire. and to be attacked with ZOO
pound shot from the gun-boats was
! more than they bafsained for. They ever
behaved better afterwards.
In day or two tho troops wore their
usual cheerful aspect. Our stay at Kin
ston lasted till some time In May. We
had gained grand review OF the brl-
gade in K1nstcn with over 5000 troops ir
the Ave regiments. Tho brigade was com
posed OF the following regiments: Sew
enth, Eighth, Twenty-eighth. Thirty
third and Thirty -seventh. Each one
would average something over 1000 men
They were complimented on many q
hard-fought field in Virginia.
J. B. ALEXANDER,