The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-13
Captain Charles M. Blackboard.

Jap -
i wish9to lay one laurel leaf on the
grave Of my friend, Captain Blackiora'
for as such I was proud to regard him.
He was in Richmond about fortnight
ago. and as usual spent an hour or two
In the State Library, Though then sui ~:
ferng with s a cold, I never kne W MIN
to be more agreeable and reminisc ent..s
L 1t is not known to as many people az
it ought to be that Captain Black1ord
( has printed (but has not pub!lshed3 ms
t.Ademoirs OF Life In and Out OF the Army
in Virginia During the War Between, the
states" compiled by Susan Leigh Black
ford-in two volumes. 4
AT my earn est request he presented the
memoirs to the State Library, and there
is also set at the Virginia Historical
Society. The work cannot be bought. as Is
only tlirty-flve copies were printed. but,
while there IS a good deal of corresponds
ence purely personal. there Is also a very
large amount OF valuable historical data
In Il. written down contemporaneously by
a heroic actor in that bloody drama who
tells in the main only about what ne dld
and what he saw: s.i3ff II. M
My main object. however. N wiring
IS to publish, while fresh in my memory.
a remarkable incident in Captain Black
ford's lIfe-wth 1.-THE SEQUEL to lt-as re-
lated to me on his recent visit.
I condense the Incident. as written by
Captain sBleckford himself In Vol. ], up.
2OA-5, &ot his Memoirs. 8 .lG3
At the battle OF Slaughter's Mountain,
| acting temporarily$on Jackson's sta II, ne
| was told by Jackson, just as they reach
| ed Majors gate (where General Wlnder,
/ commanding the stonewall Brigade. was
killed,) to stand there, and tell General
A.. ~, Hill when he came up to throw
! his men into line Of battle and support
! Ewell and Early;sand then he and MS
staff rode through the gate and joined
Early. The battle was raging with great
fury After standing there Tor what
seemed long time under the circum-
stances, "the firing became very . s sh 1'1 !. :,
| and was nearing me rapidly, showing
that our men had either been driven. or
were falling back. could not see. be.
| cause Of some low bushes and chapparal
| lust In my front, but in IN instant q
regiment or two burst through into the
! open spot where I was standlng q, al OUT !
For order, and mixed up with great
number Of Yankees. coula I. noe ~ ,.e :.
whether our men had captured the an
likees or the Yankees had broken our inc.
In an instant, however. the doubt was put
| ut rest for General Jackson. with one
or two Of his staff, came dashlng across
the road from our right In great haste
and excitement, AS no got among the
disordered troops he drew his SWORD Gtne
only time he was known 70 draw y aurs
ling the war; and then reached over and
took his battle flag from my man, BOD
! Isbell. and dropping his bride rein, waved
| II over his head. and cried out IN q loud
voice: -,
Where's my stonewal Brigadel For,
/ ward, men! Forward
AS he did so, he dashed 70 the irony,
and our men followed with a yell, and
drove everything before them. It was
n wonderful scene Jackson usually is an
\ Indifferent and slouchy-looking man. but
\ then. with the light OF battle shedding
I its radiance over him, his whole person
was changed. His action was Us grace,
ful as Lees, and his face was III VIII
the inspiration Of herolsm
lust as this wonderful scene was pelht
onnoted n very handsome and hatless 9an
kee captain, not over twenty-five years
nre. whose head was covered with clust
ers of really golden curs, and who had u
4 his hand d broken sword, showing tina
y he had led the gallant charge which hat
broken our ranks laid his hand on m!
\ knee as sat on my horse, and SAID VIII
4 great emotions;
"What officer Is that, captain" ans
4 when told him, fully approaching IN
! magnetism OF tho OCCASION. he seemed
carried away with admiration. and Will
Il tnat tOuCW OF llthIo NVlS'' ANoNVS Wv
whole world kin. he waved his broker
sword around his head and shouted
'Hurrah. for- Stonewall Jackson! Fol
low your general, boysI'
leaned over and almost with tears II
my eyes, said; !,
"Yon are too good q fellow for me tt
make prisoner. Take that path to the
left and you can escape.
He saluted me with his broken sword
|, and disappeared In an instant hope
he escaped.
4 Few there be that will not say that this
is a most graphic description OF very
! thrilling incident, Now for the sequel
narrated to me two short weeks ago
AS is well known. Captain Blackloro
had long been the leading counsel OF the
Southern Railway Company a few years
ngo there was superintendent Of one
/ OF the divisions Of the road--I think his
name is O'ErIen-who was either trans
ferred or accepted q position With an
other company
He was so popular that the employees
in his division determined TO present HIN
with some testimonial Of their esteem anc
affection. and Captain BLACKBOARD Was
asked to make the presentation address, &
AS soon as his eyes fell upon MT
a ~. ~ a