The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-26

ing man. and as gallant as he is pre-
possessing, was introduced and made a
brief address, which evoked cheers ana
held the close attention Of the comrades
as he detailed a war incident familiar to
ALL Colonel Herbert said:
Ladies and Gentlemen and Old Comrades
Of the Fifteenth Virginia:
1t was with no ordinary pleasure that
I received your invitation to be present
at your regmental reunion.
It is always pleasant to be remcnl-
bered. but doubly so by your old comrade
in arms: It's like coming homo and meet
ing friends after a long absence, to visit
once again the old familiar scenes.
In seeing Richmond at this season,
when all nature smiles, when the fields
are green when the trees are clad IN
tender leaves, when the bud and blossom
are bursting into life and the air is laden
with sweet perfume and filled with the
joyous song OF birds, am car
ried back to Seven Pines and
the seven days battles. when, under like
conditions. the tide Of war ebhed and
flowed around your walls. bearing on Its
crest scenes Of carnage, sorrow and death
hardly equalled in history. Happily all
that has passed. peace reigns. while
more beautiful than ever your city stu
crowns the everlasting hills.
A PAGE OF UNWRITTEN HISTORY.
Well. am certainly glad to see you.
and that there are SO many OF you left.
DO you recollect that page OF unwritten
history, that while at Kinston, N. c., IN
a demonstration against Ncwbern the
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Virginia, with
n battalion Of artillery, were detached
for an attack on Fort Anderson, on the
left bank OF the Neuse, to be supported
by cavalry, all under the command OF
Fighting" Jim bearing? Corse's Bril-
gadc was to attack on the right bank OF
the river, while Barton's Brigade was to
attack on the extreme right. Corse car
ried the outer line Of works and block
house in his front and captured tho
enemy's camps and stores. Barton's
Brigade failed to carry It's front and
Corse had to fall back.
We made forced march of fifty-three
miles in twenty-seven hours, but owing
to the fact that gunboat that was to
make the attack from the river stimuli
taneously with ourselves ran upon a
sand bar and never came to Time Dear
ing had to retire without an assault, as
he intended. The fort was surrounded
by a broad ditch flooded with water from
the river while the whole ground IN front
was covered with abattis.
You will see that 1t was n forlorn hope
that you We're selected for, and though
highly complimentary, I don't think you
would have appreciated the compliment
at the time had you known it, am sure
lleTG "Oulu IOI nave DSSii 40 AiittAy VI
you sitting In my front to-day had the
assault been made.
On such occasions as this ills we'll to
take a glimpse Of that shadowy past,
over which time Is so surely blottng out
the record. That period from 1861 to 1862
when the air vibrated with the trumpet's
shrill call and the incessant roll of drums.
when the earth shook with the tramp of
armed men, and conflicts fierce and bloody
desolated the homes and fields of old Vir-
ginia.
A REMINISCENT VEIN.
To the Confederate veteran memory TOR
a moment lifts the veil. The hardships OF
the bivouac. the forced marches by night
and by day, the weary days of continu-
ous conflict. the strain of heart and nerve
and the daily loss of comrades endearcd
by mutual dangers, pass in review, stirs
the heart and makes the stagnant blood
course through the veins as OF yore.
To the young among you these mem
cries are handed down as legacy with
no desire to keep alive animosity for our
former foes, but to keep green the mems
Dry of n time when the tide of Virgina's
manhood reached its flood. when Virginia
women, In the absence of the men, ruled
we'll their homes, bid the men God speed
sent them forth to battle for their coun-
try with smiles and CHEEKY words that
scarcely yelled their aching hearts. Then
let such memories be handed down and
kept alive, that future generations may
know how Virginia men could dare and
die and Virginia women could suffer for
the cause they held dear Not lost will
1t be If their descendants but emulate
the sturdy manhood of the men and tho
virtues of her peerless women.
TRIBUTE TO THE FIFTEENTH.
In closing / don't mean to flatter you
but viii say that the Commonwealth OF
Virginia has not upon her rolls the names
of any body OF men with better record
for obedience to orders loyalty to the
cause or greater gallantry In the field
than the Fifteenth Virginia Confederate
Infantry, and none have better right
TO perpetuate their record.
Among those here from distance at
tending the reunion Is Mr.. Jacob Shaner
who since the war has been prominent
citizen of Lynchburg, but prior to the
struggle lived for several years In this
city and married Richmond lady. Mr..
shaner WAS n member of Company II,
known as tho Young Guard, and left this
city with that command to be present
at tho execution Of John Brown, which he
Witnessed, Mr., Shaner Is thirty-second
degree Mason, and Is one OF the most sub
stantIal business men of the Hill City.
He Is at Murphy's Hotel and Will spend
several days in this city greeting old
friends.