The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-31
The Record Of a Brave Private
in the Cavalry Branch
Of the Service,
'DRURY LACY ARMIsTEAD
One Of the Humble Heroes Of the
Army Of Northern Virginia.
Anecdotes and "reminiscences.
editor Of The Tlmes-Dlsputch:

fAllSCuOlCS GtllA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EDITOR Of The Dispatch:
slr,-In your Confederate column Loften
see accounts OF the heroic deeds of private
soldiers Of our army. Many OF these
were men of small estate, their families
depending upon their daily labor for
their support. yet they we're mon OF Us
hish principle and as noble nature as
any patrlots who ever went forth to battle.
If the records Of every one of these noble
fellows should be written it. would take
volumes to contain them.
L desire to give the history OF one OF
Prince Edwards humble. modest anu
faithful sons, who. without hope off,
ward was among the first to volunteer IN
81. In the Prince Edward troop. COM
,nanded by Captain. afterwards Colonel
John I. Thornton, Of the Third Virgin1n
Cavalry-Private Drury Lacy Armistead,
in whose veins tho best blood OF virginia
flows, and vet who is scarcely known
out Of his neighhorhood, owing to his eS'
5tremc modesty and unobtrusiv eness. =,.s
PRIVATE ARMISTEAD.
After being mustered In at Camp Lee,
3Armistead's regiment was assigned 70
General Magruders Command at YORK
town, where in the .fcWiBklrnlShes lhey
were engaged in no was ever conspicuous
L for gallantrys and faithhlness TO duty.
ANyhen General Johnston took command 1r
the army, and during the retreat FROM
the Peninsula, Armistead was detalieu 10
4 roport to the General as o special cou-
rler. In many instances he was restrained
by General Johnston from going into
charges and attacks. During the engage.
ment at Williamsburg, especially did ne
desire to go into the charge With General
a Hamilton in tho memorable movement
of Hanpton's legion.
IN TIE STORM.
After General Johnston had cstabllshea
his headquarters on the Nine Mile road
on the 10th of May, g., during that terri
BILE electric storm and rain. the whole AT
nosphere being perfectly dark, the Cen
eral determined to attack the enemy at
daylight, hoping to surprise them. Not
& having advised his subordlnates OF this
determination, the General directed Cou'
rier Armistead to ride to the mead
4 quarters Of ench command. anu orlhs
back rece!ptcd order from each com
mander Notwithstanding the tact that
4 Private Armistead was q stranger IN thas
vicinity, by simply reading the maps a.
General Johnston's headquarters ano
only guided by the lightnng's flashes
e i,e delivered every order and returned be-
fore daylight with the receipts. This, too
{ though he had received q severe wound
tnShis mad ride having been brought into
4 contact with q trec blown across the
road. FOR his service on this occasion
Ne was highly commended by Genera
Vbhnston.
THE GENERAL. WOUNDED.
Ia on the next day, when tho batl'a was
at its height nll along tho lines and
when on,s of the commands on the right
failed TO mako the attack In time Gen
eral Johnston rode with his escort down
to the skirmish line Just at tho cross
4 ing OF the York River road, when INC
battle was raging with great fury, the
h enarny opened on our left heavy INC
of infantry and artillery, when General
Johnston was wounded-it was fearee
i rnortally. 49,,
When tho escort was scattered by thf
shock of the fire. Private Armistead a
once dismounted and, taking tha Gen
( eral into his arms, bore him from unde
fire, one of the staff leading their horses
WANTS HIS WEAPONS.
A litter was constructed, and the Gen
cral was then carried back TO a place o
4 sufety, wh,3re, when he had recovered
consciousness, he asked for his swor'
and pistols. saying that the sword hat
been worn by his ancestors in tho Reyo
lrtionary War.
Several volunteered to go back to lool
Fs for the sword, but failed TO go IA
enough, because the point at which u
General was wounded WAS within wv
4 hundred yards of The enemy's lne-ou
line having been driven back-but Pr
3 40 k.n. Nd \,
sword and pistols. When dlsmountin
I'd pick them up one OF the pistols-jus
as he stopped over 10 pick II up-w;
almost covered with Dirt from an en-,
Iays shell; yet Armstead brought o
the Generals weapons,
81 When near the Generals headquarteI
enc of the officers meeting Armistea
returning with the sword. ordered hi
A to give him the sword for him TO tai
10 the General. but Armistead said. IN
sir; no man. unless he is better ma
g than am. can have these arms" ]
went straight and delivered them to u
MA General himself In person,
A PRESENT.
General Johnston told me OF til
\ circumstance himself when on visit
mo al my home. He gave Armistead o.
OF the pistols, and had engraved upon
fton, to D. A, Arrnlstead. Private. TIL
Virginia Cavalry"
When, the General was ordered sot
waiter his recovery. he wf,,te Ia the "
sss Department asking il2 grlyate Arm
II tead's promotion, bat hi3Aequest was d
..ssSiliiIlegarded.
| On "a yisi. which the General did
the honor to pay me at my home, WI
n "a II llYsd on a part Of the acme o.