The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-03
Sketch Of One Of the Noted Viz
GINA Commands That
Fought Well.
THE OLD Irish BATTALION \ /:
Story Of Its Deeds Of Nalor II; i,
Defending Home From
IA the Invaders.
written for The Times 'lspateh w
Charles Alcxandet.)

NdT1CS fnlSha'AS''S
Almost Immediately after the secession
OF Virginia, and before Virginia joined
tic Confederate States, an ordinance vas
passcd by the Convention directing the
erilstmcntSof ten thousand men TO COM COM
i,rise tho provisional army OF Virginia.
& and the "invaluable' engineer Of the
Mexican war. Robert y. Lee. was made mad
commander i,l-chlef Of the Virginia
forces. Recruiting officers We're sent out
and an effort made to procure a perlia-
8 nent army, butaroluntcers were called Tor
at the same time, and volunteer COM
4. NAMES were soon filed but tho regular
army after d strained effort 10 pro
cure enlistments only reached flvc conf com
panics which we're formed into q bat
TALON ;nd called. first Battalion Eir-
gina. Infantry. and ioftener unofiiciallE'i
Irish Battalion,'s for the reason5stf hat
perhaps nlne-6cntiis OF its enlisted men
were Irish, but few Of whom We're siaiuG-.
asaeG citizens of Virginia. q
Trey Were mustered into service II Tor
tirco ycsrs or tlle5 war, and served falth-
flliy 70 its close. aud stacked .theirGaIrI arms
III c.sler OF General * r. Lee
4 The. were mustered into service ny .A ia-
s0fvJpe feeiissi, - ~
MAR. AS Il FIRST lieutenant in orth s
c.o.nrns,nd he w..s .thcliirst man TO mount
the Mel If Chapuitepec: he save the
iit,w soldier ;iilailea Of wlg, for he car-
,isd onlySoro eye having left The other
Iat The foot of the scaling ladder
IRE FIVE captains selected TO command
these companies were well known as Eaen
VINO carried sand in their era We, anu 81,
j will intrcdu.r then according 10 rang.
n. s.f .il- Ia. ri mo N
al the Virginia StatcS Senate, and we'll
known for his cilyalric bearing and pa-.
1riotic worth. el;c was aibrother oI James
A Seldom, who was mot long after made
Confederate Secretary Of War.
!. joseph Pembroke Thorn. sol an OLD
and high spirited Virginia family, mad
served us Il lieutenant in the war witlt
Mexico, andfaccepted a captaincy IN INC
regular services i'll preference 20 COL
onclcy OF. volunteers which had been ten
dcrcd him. lie added CHRISTIAN example
& to stern discipline.
3. David h. Brdgford, a son Of Q
British officer who greatly distinguished
himself for valuable courage at the bat
lilo of Chippewa, and who Was after
ward made ilieutenant-govcrnor OF Upper
Canada. with less educa ion than the
other captaalsi he.. was the most praact-
,ical of thtmsmli. and possessed an abu fltil
dance OF mother wit; 4 lie causht on 70
The best things to do III an army. ana
had the gift Of attracting the notice
Of superior officers, but all in all he did
not measure up with some of the other
captains.
4 Benjamin Watkins Leigh. editor and
LAWYER, had resided in San Francisco
cal. as partner of ex-senator Foot, ana
returned 10 Virginia in anticipation OF
var between the States. lie was per-
lans thepsiost ambitious of III the cap
1ains. and did not permit danger to stand
in his way; lie was the Youngest son OF
the Hon, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, who
ut ono time almost had his hands on
the American presidency. Later on he
dcyelopsd special talent for staff duty. ~
8, James Young Jones was educated
for a physician, hut had turned his at
iention to other pursuits lie had visited
Europe hoping, through distinguished
Americans. to procure commission IN
the French service during her war with
Austria, but failed in his object. The
! war between the States opened up 10
him yisias or delight but he fell 10 die
I'm his first battle. Jieptcndpt Heth, bros
ther OF General lictl, MAS killed AZ the
same time; n duel Was pending between
them, which from tic nlakc-up OF the
Two men would hayo been bloody. pmSls
with nuskets generally ended In the death
OF both conibataiits, and IL was no donht
gratifying 10 tic friends of these ollcars
that they died aus soldiers,
Not one OF pye original taptal'is 81 INC
battalion now Survive Bad health COM
PEELED Jack ssnadon 10 resign nftcr lie
isatt,u Ot Cedar Ran, and llf fdied before
The close Of tho war, ic was allowable
character and his bright lively words
We're always cheering.
Captain 'riem Vas shot doWn at l',e
\ a,