The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-05

We bet on anything ana bet nigh; buf,
the South is only less reticent, and not
more reckless, in Its play. than any other
section. Camp gambling was perforce a
nominal matter In the Confederacy; and
the private games In Richmond were no
more frequent that have constantly
known In moro conservative cities, in
far less excitement-breeding days. They
were q drop In the bucket Of expenditure
Of people who were pouring their en-
erEies. substance and their blood into
q cause with a lavish prodignlity-and
calmness under loss unparalleled in the
story Of nations..--T G. DcLeon. In New
Orleans Plcaynne.
Battle Seen BY Virginia Boy.
In the month OF May, 1862 the Federal
army commanded by Gen. Banks. seemed
to be in lndisputed possession Of the
lower Valley OF Virginia, and the inhabi-
tants of that favored region had accept
ed the presence Of the allen foe as some-
thing Inevitable, to be tolerated. endured.
and they adapted themselves to the
changed conditions with patience. II not
resignation. The 23d OF May dawned up
on the sleepy little town Of Front Royal,
nestled In the foothills Of the Blue Ridge,
a mile distant from the Shenandoah Riv-
er. 1t was a hasy languorous day, and
the Federal garrison, lolling about their
tents and upon the village green, seemed
disposed to enjoy their fancied security
and immunity from the alarms rof war.
The writer. a. boy OF eleven. with a COM
panion, sought n sequestered spot to In
dulge In that favorite pastinae OF youth
q bath. A rude awakening was In store
for us. A few dropping shots were heard
In the distance. followed later by distinct
volleys. A few rods away Is a railway
bridge, across which 1lsmounted Fed
eral cayalryman is sean to dash. followed
by a zouave. In his haggy red trousers.
Pandemoniunf seems to have been sud
denly loosenedsin and around the village.
| i beat a hasty retreat to my home, upon
hill overlooking the valley below, where
the panorama Of war is unfolding Down
the main street disorgapized mob of
blue-clad men-the First Maryland Fed
erai Regiment--is making frantic efforts
to reach the protection Of their batteries
upon the range of hills overlooking the
town from the north. The head Of a
Confederate regiment debouches from a
land who have been awarded the honor
or opening the battle with their friends
and brothers. They pour In whitening
volieys upon the dense mass OF the re-
treating foe. Gen jackson has opened
his Valley campaign. that is to imnaor-
talize him for all time, and has hauled
his dauntless and invincible leg.ons upon
the left flank Of the amazed Banks, and
the race for the distant Potomac Ia on.
But Gen. Kenly will not yield the held
to jackson without a contest. He holds
the hill tenaciously behind his blazing
guns. and Jackson hesitates to make a
front attack upon this position. He.
however, notes-with that intuitive grasp
OF the whole sltuaton--the heavily wood
ed range OF hills parallelirg the Win
chester turnpike. across which his enemy
mas disposed his force. and masked by
Its dense foliage ne bours his infantry
upon their unprotected and exposed right
flank The air is TILED with shriekins
missiles, and seek temporarily tho shell
ter Of a cellar. OF on tho right the Con-
federate cavalry, under Mumford, Ia
pushing for the Manassas Railroad, to
cut Oft achievements from the direction
OF Washington and to destroy the tele-.
graph wires. The Federaln now turn
their attention to this force and soon
the bombs are hurting through the trees
putting the old family coach out OF com
Another has torn through the
NALL, Down In the meadow third
plunges and explodes In the midst OF q
herd Of grazing COWS, producing a wild
stampede. Out on another hill farm
house Ia blazing. while stray she'll ig-
mites a worm fence near the house. A
oronzedSand hlackened Confederate cav
alryman dashes UP. his face suffused with
the joy OF conflict He is recognized as
a near relative-who later yielded up his
life to tho cause-apd allays the fears
Of the family as to the sufficiency of
Jackson's force by declaring he has 10000
good and true men, behind him. He Ia
off again. to perform prodigies OF valor
that day. capturing. unaided, twerty-one
Of the enemy. But now success has
crowned Jackson's fank movement. and
the enemy's guns on the hill silenced and
abandoned, A mad race ensues for tile
bridge spanning the river. The Federals
reach 1t first, and drop lighted brands
upon 1t. but Wheats Louisiana Tigers
are at their heels. and the fire is thrown
into the water. Eefore reaching the North
River Kenly Is surrounded ana is made
captive with 900 of his men, The sun Is
now declining In the west, and the masses
OF Confederates are pouring through
the town A band strikes up Gay and
Happy and now comes the dark column
of the captive enemy, with downcast eyes
and detected mien. Ia visit the scene
where they lately figured as oonquerors
Night drops down, and the battle is end
ed, and stories OF the nght recounted by
The camphres One relates how broth
er in the Confederate army captured his |
brother In the Federal regiment; another
iells how Gen. Kenly refused TO yield his |
sword TO mere private, but reconsider
ID when the latter applied similar wea.
pom to his head and shoulders. The mind |
IF youth is like the sentative Aim of the
camera; It retains impressions that In,
mature life are crowded out by the large
hings of life. The scenes here described
IRE as living and Vivid as they were
torty-two years ago to
r c. BUCK. NJ D.,
In New Orleans Times Democrat
------------S-------------
T.,.a n.l.:a4