Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-05-29
Three MARYLAND Heroes.

uAts IL ukdttuOWo, VI thOoNuiCl Dui
timore county, in lengthy and able CON.
munication to the Baltimore NesOs, pays a
just tribute to three Of the Maryland men
who won fame in the Southern cause dur.
ing the war between the States. We make
the following interesting extracts:
The old and very apt quotation "a proph-
ct Is not without honor save In his own
country" is brought to my mind at the close
where Confederate valor is heraldel. Some
one usually produces a striking instance of
such heroism where deeds have been aired
to an admring public, but almost invariably
are not confirmed by the published official
records of the Civil War, the only real proof
and authority that such things did occur.
have noticed with great deal OF regret
the tendency of our public speakers to ig-
more on all occasions the brave and distin-
guished soldiers of the State of Maryland,
who have been recognized over the entire
South as the grandest types of soldiers the
world has ever produced. seldom see the
name of the peerless and intrepid Breathed
mentioned, except by writers across the Pc.
tomac river or by myself. His name is not
unknown TO those people his deeds OF valor
and unparalleled exploits are known and
recognized by the smallest child in the
humblest hamlet in the mountains and val.
legs of the fair Southland his record 10
bright and spotless his name untarnished
by a single blur. He stands to day as an
object lesson to the young men of this age
for all that Is noble and pure-the finest
type OF the American soldier In my mem.
DRY. The name OF "Jim" Breathed will be
handed down to nations yet unborn long
after the ashes of those who are trying to
force themselves upon an over-con6ding
public have been scattered to the four winds
of heaven. He was an engine of war that
dealt death and destruction to the enemy
wherever he went. II his battery was tenn
porarily silent, he took his sword and bore
down upon the enemy, determined to kill
or die. Officers who served In Federal
batteries write of his daring and courageous
conduct, of the great destruction that was
visited upon their commands by him and
his old battery, the Hornets.
The State of Maryland should be proud
OF hey iilustrious sons who buckled on their
armor and went forth at the call of the
South, determined to hur back the ruthless
invader from the shores of old Virginia or
die. And especially among those sons do
present as glorious trio as ever adorned
the pages of ancient or modern history
Gaze on them, you men who forget that
such illustrious soldiers are on your rolls
OF honor. Match them If you can They
are soldiers who never latered on the field
Of battle. They led where brave men trem-
blingly followed. Their very presence was
inspiration TO their command. They said
"Men, follow me n And their commands
did follow them-into the very jaws Of death
itself. 0 glorious old State of Maryland
crown them with a crown Of glory, even as
the dying boy soldier on the Confederate
monument (recently unveiled) is crowned.
Place a crown of dadems on their brows,
and let the whole world know that Mary
land honors her sons above those OF any
other OF the Confederate States They stand
together-friends and comrades. Let US call
the roll: Jim" Breathed, "Gus" W Dor
sey and Ridgely Brown. Refrain from
mentioning their names, as you please, and
bring TO the front men who are not worthy
so much as TO unloose their shoe latchets.
The names of these three llluslrIous Mary.
land soldiers and heroes will live forever.
Bresthed and Col. Ridgcly Brown have both
passed over the river and are resting quietly
under the shade OF the trees. The third,
Col. "dus" W. Dorsey is living quietly
near Brookeville, Montgomery county, Md,
and loved by all who know him,
many deeming It a great privilege to be
classed among his friends. The men who
were on the firing line in the old cavalry
corps to which he belonged always con.
sidered him TO be one Of the most fearless
and dashing cavaliers among the many that
that aggregation Of horsemen.
lie and his old Troop X, First Virginia
were known over the entire Con-
federate Army. 1t was while he was In
command OF "Old X" that the immortal
Stuart fell, MORALLY wounded, at Yellow
Tavern, on May IL, 1854. 1t was Gus"
Dorsey who supported him In his arms,
carrying him to a place Of shelter until he
could have him removed 10 place Of safety.
General Stuart again and again requested
Captain Dorsey 10 leave hm-that his ser.
vice TO his country was at an end-t0 go
back to his command. But no; he would
not go 80 long as his beloved General was
in danger of capture believe that II the
enemy had attempted 10 take Gen. Stuart
from him he would have died right there.
Captain Dorsey, 10 September, 1854, became
lieutenant colonel, commanding the First
Maryland Cavalry. succeeding Colonel
Ridgely Brown, who was killed on the
South Anna River on June /, 1854. May
time deal gently with the Colonel May he
be spared 10 the people Of the State that has
given him so little honor. Perhaps some
day their eyes may be opened and, like 81.
Paul, they will see a vision that may cause
them TO do honor TO as brave a soldier as
the war produced.