The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-07
THE STUART
ARTILLERY
-l
"reminiscences Of Pelham and
Bredthed.
TWO MATCHLEss OFFICERS
Interesting Reco'ect'ons by Orderly
Sergeant Murray r. Anecdotes Of
the Battle, March and Blvouac.
Personals &c.
TWO MATCHLESS OFFICERS

EeChIldIH . Ruu III hSI A4cAioSotsSf
mentions tho charge Of Kirby Smiths
brigade In point Of fact but three OF the
four regiments of that brigade were OH
gagged, after terribly hot and exhaust
ing march bf fiNq miles at double
quick The First Maryland arrived first,
and scattering the enemy from the front
Ceavlng General Smith very badly wound.
ed), We debouched to the left. changed
front, and again advanced steadily to
cover Jackson $ left flank: met the enc
my II, superior force; checked him until
the arrival of the Third Tennessee. when
the two regiments. aligned. suddenly
charged-wlth a rush and yell--support-
ed by two Of Beckhanl's guns, the Yam
KEGS broke and 'skedaddled.' At this
tuncture tho Tenth Virginia arrived.
but the enemy were not pursued with
vigor."
STUART HORSE ARTILLERY.
The Stuart Horse Artillery proved SO
potential factor to the cavalry service In
the Army Of Northern Virginia that the
few who survive It indulge in the hope
that word regarding the history OF It's
formation and It's devotion to duty may
prove OF interest to all who value courage
and esteem true manhood to be as I'M
perishable as It Is unpurchasablc.
Young Pelham, who organized the u.
art House Artillery, We first find a lieu
tenant in the Newtown Battery, COM.
IHaHCeO ny 4SdPldH4 L (. 4SSShIhoAAAt VA
the Field Of First Manassas. 2lst July,
1861. Tho bronze guns OF this battery
had been captured from Mexico. whilst
the men and horses had come fresh from
the sod in the Valley of Virginia, and
were equipped for the farm. not war.
Yet under the guidance OF these young
officers, each OF West Point training,
this battery, hidden from view by the
friendly cover OF the thick pine trees.
gained position close under the right
flank Of their unsuspecting foe, and by
their sudden and effective fire rolled them
up, thus making 1t much easier for the
charge Of Kirby Smiths Brigade to drive
them from the field, and thus to close
in victory a contest which till then bade
promise to sufle at its birth struggle
destined to last four long years. and to
cost millions In men and money.
Pelham soon came to the notice of Col
onel J. T. B, Stuart, who quickly per-
ceived the good that was in him and
awaited himself of 1t to form a company
Of Horse Artillery, which alone per-
formed the entire work Of the army in
this capacity until after the battle OF
Sharpsburg. September 18th, 1862, when,
being divided, one Battery under Captain
James Breathed and the other under
Captain William NJ. AlcGreEor. with Ma
for John Pelham In command. the good
work began was continued by them until
when many other batteries were added
to this service. including the renowned
Chew's battery. OF Jackson's and Ashbys
Valley fame, whose captain was after
wards appointed lieutenant-colonel Of tho
Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion
HORSE ARTILLERY.
II was in the month of june. 1862. that we
tiilery. The term OF our enlistment in the
First Maryland Regiment had expired
and we all flocked to Richmond. to find
tho city almost In q state OF Siege, and
drones therein not desirable. Pelham,
with his battery. had Just returned from
the peninsula, with tho name OF Will
liamsburg upon their battle flag. their
first engagement Many OF the Maryland
boys had met him the previous year.
Etiquette required that he should first
call on US In the city, and 80 he did,
inviting US to visit him In the camp and
sending In horses for our transportation.
THE HORSE.
Once put the foot soldier or a sailor
in the saddle. and he Is In the seventh
heaven, at least so must 1t have proved to
us, because when we rode on Pelham's
horses to meet the man, we never left
him. There are many pleasant recollec-
tons of this our first artillery experience
for us old battery boys, not the least OF
which was the arrival Of the Blakely gun,
fresh from England all covered with cam
vas to CONCEAL its beauty from the vul-
gar gaze. Had the great unknown
Gyrascutus dropped down among US. no
greater wonder could have been intro
duced Visitors came and went contn-
.uously, among whom were General j. p.
e. Stuart and staff. who expatiated on
the guns powder to open path, and adj
vsed that we. the Captains guests. be
selected to make Its path straight And
IN hot ia hat yn1 IN
be, with all Its strength, like the kanga-
roo's, In its hinder part, Heated In ac-
ton, 1t would lift up behind and duck
down In front, vomiting It's shell but a.
few feet from the muzzle. so digging a
Role In the ground for Its successor to
bury In, each repetition OF such perform
ance increasing the depth and enlarglng
Ing the, breach to the trail. we were In
danger OF being inferred alive by our own
exertlons. contrary to all rules and regula-
lions of war and the science of gunnery.
which Imposed this sad duty on the
party Of the second part. In vain did We
gun, declaring 1t to be a chronic case Of
sour stomach and want of true inward
ness, whilst General Stuart persisted that
1t was ignorance on the outside which
raised the devil inside, and so we contin-
ued the practice of digging graves. TIL the
"a eneral became Q|S6uSteu ana panlSneQ
the gun from our service, e
AT KELLY'S FORD,
That the guns Of the Stuart Horse Ar
tiltery in those days were rarely silent.
unlike the Blakely. the report by Gen-
eral Fitz Lee Of the battle at Kelly's
Ford, March II, 1868, where our gallant
Major John Pelham was killed. bears am
pie testimony, In speaking Of the part
the artillery bore on that field he said;
las for the Stuart Horse Artillery. UNI
der the command OF Captain Breathed.
no praise from the pen OF their General
can add to a name won In every skrmish
and battle of the war. Wherever the army
Of Northern Virginia has been they have
been. and they performed their duty. as
they ever have done. we'll"
And SO may 1t ever be, "to fight a good
fight" ana to win the praise t'well dol e"
is all the army of Northern Virginia ever
laid claim to, Ill-paid. ill-fed, ill-clothed.
deprived Of every essential that makes
bugle call for duty and wrote on every
field Of conflict their tribute to valor,
"well done.
T.. y Ct q i