The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-06-10

Our diversions consisted chiefly OF
horse racing. and Prince Edward vas
always winner. The fastest horse oil
the regiment 3rd Virginia Cavalry
belonged TO comrade f.. II. Jeilress,
who recently died at his home al
Keysville. The animal was a noble
one, and we always felt safe against
all competition. The second on the
list Of racers belonged to "A member Of
Captain Collins company, Of Halifax,
but Prince Edward always threw the
dust i'm his face. Captain Thornton
became the owner Of the Jeflress horse
and was riding him on the bloody held
Of sharpsburg where he received his
death wound.
We were "at home" at Half Way
House. in the spring Of 1852, when
General Jeb Stuart appeared on the
scene to axe command Of the rear
guard Of the retreat when General
Johnston had ordered on Richmond.
His first order, to destroy all Of our
luggage except a change Of underwear
and one blanket, came asa great shock,
but it was issued to be obeyed. Our
men were well rested, horses fat and
General stuart seemed glad to put US
to work.
We drought up the rear, just then
the post Of honor, % and TO us Of un-
comfortable danger. We had not left
Yorktown many miles behind when
we struck the enemy planted across
our only way of retreat. They
opened on us with artillery, my first
baptism Of fire, and my recollection is
that everybody was scared" except
Stuart, who wa smiling and happy as
he ordered reply to the unexpected
salute.
The courtesies were continued fol
some time when we were hurriedly
Withdrawn and reaching James river.
at Groves Warf, made good u escape
under the bluffs and the shots from
our gunboats which were passing al
the time. On that day | was impress
ed a. never before with the value Of q
leader on whom men Of the ranks have
implicit confidence. "Follow your
leader and fear no danger was the
inspiration Of the hour.
Forty-two years have come and gone
since / had stood on these historic
spots, and you may know that memory
was busy as I touched the soil again.
Comrades who survived the struggle
have been falling out Of ranks since
and the time is not far in the futurv
when the last Of Us will be ordered 4
join our captain in the great beyond
The lad who was then IS is now 80
the matured man Of 80 is now II. /
looks like yesterday when Stuart
black plume waved DER that to us frs
battle field, and yet well nigh al
eternity Of events crowd the interven
ing years.
/ wish the survivors Of Co. X 3r'
Va. Cavalry could some time meet a
Yorktown and live over some Of tn
scenes that made war days so thrilling
If not before the jamestown Exposi
ton it may be then. They remembe
the old hotel, built in colonial day
and in colonial style. 1t still stand
and though all else in Yorktown seem
dead it is wide awake, especially a
dinner hour when land and sea unit
to furnish a meal fit for the gods
This table els waited on, too, by
colored woman who isn't ashamed
, have her head tied in a white kerchie
or to have her checked dress encircle
by a sparkling white apron. She look
ed like a picture out of the gallery {
bygone, but is a living, active and il
I d|ispensable parsonage ~ present-da
Yorktown.
There is but one church in yorktown
. Of the Episcopal denomination, fa'
, falling into decay as is the old gray'
yard which surrounds it. Here SCI
o. vices r only held once a month,
the afternoon, and are poorly attended
In this Christian land Yorktown shoul
4 hear the ringing Of the church bel
( every Sunday morning. We are nj
Justified in spending money on Il
China field when such home fields al
q neglected. Preaching once a mont
ought not to be the rule anywhere
Virginia. II nothing else can be dol
to supply such vacancies, u strol
churches might double up and ol
well paid ID. Ds. devide out.