The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-03


bless. " III \. i. 4 I.
SECOND lieutenant w. Carter williams.
Second lieutenant, Edward Lakin.
Ii Second lieutenant, Daniel Knowles. @
!. Second Lieutenant, Charles Sharp.
'1rifst Sergeant, Adam BAUM,
SECOND Sergcast b ia yette r. Porter. b =
.Thirl 2Hergunnt,( w. n. Coston.
'1rourth scrgeunt, Richard Nelson.
at'ifth Sergeant, Nv. II. Cosby.
II ssixth Serkehnt, Carr
'Ordnnncc Sergeant, John y. Bullock.
First Corporal, Alphonso4 Bullock.
'sccond Corporal John Carstaplinn.( "
.,lhird Corporal, john Gills.
V tlTourth Corporal, George j. Allen. M
Musician, Eugene Solomon.
sMusca1,,t Emmanuel leicester
-Four. Years Under Mars Bob.'
1Tdl,or Times Dispatch: III Ia
Sir,-MS old comrades have, TOR the
most part. heartily endorsed my little
book -four Years Under Mnrse Robert
but there are not many whose CONNER y.
ntion value as do that Of Captain
Old Of Norfolk In his recent letter to
YOU, published In your Confederate coll
ui1in OF las. week.. Such a compliment.
from such a. sourco, merits MY sincere
acknowledgements. which l here tender
to tho gallant captain.
I But, for like reason Captain Odds
structures should not fail to receive at
'tontion--p particularly tho first Of them.
which Is most direct and pointed, though
entirely courteous and kindly. 1nGeod.
admit that II was Captain ODDS duty-to
me no less than to the rubllc--to Gull
attentiontto any and MI supposed errors
IN my book which ho had time to note;
but 1t Is equally my duty TO show, If !
can, that these supposed errors do not
exist. 5Sf f3 t
IN tho first paragraph OF his letter
above mentioned, Y Captain Old says
.'Thcre are some slight inaccuracies in
tho book, such MS tho sta ter1cnt that
jackson had left the Valley and was how
ering over McClcllan's left wing ana
rear Just before the battle Of Seven
Pines. page 81.
In this brief passage my friend IS
guilty of two Inaccuracies In charging
me with one. He represents me as saving
that Jackson was lowering over McClel.
l1an's left wing Just before tho tito OF
Seven PInes-a proposition erroneous In
both spccincatio What I did. say was
TINT he was lowering over McClellnn's
right wing, Just 9bnforc the Seven Days
battles. which rs accurate throughout.
#iIf my friend will Hrend q conss cutiyely
pages 01-g Of my book. and particularly
IL he will take the time to read through
chapter 5, OF my book, Of which these ,t
IN ges form a part, I think he VIII readily
perceive and admit that his criticism IS
not well taken. This chapter expressly
includes and covers ''Seven Pines and
the Seven Days battles" On page VI, I
finish what have to say Of Seven Plnes'
and mass, in another paragraph TO:
Lees grand plan OF the seven Gays
bnttlos." is 1l$i ifel tsH1
On page %, d, 4 recount what told Dr..
Rainsford, after the war, Of tine posi-
ton Of the two sarmies, Just before the
opening Of tho battle; concluding inc
passage with the tatemcnt that jackson
had been secretly drawn down from inc
Valley and was now lowering hawk
fashion, somewhere over, beyond anu
back OF Mcclcllan's right flank"
On page 50, in summing up the effect
and Significance OF Seven Pines. as
factor Of the great campaign OF lS62,
say that's ''The determined fighting on
the Confederate side probably contributed
to delay the general advance of McC.el-
Ian, thus giving time for Lee to set tho
rough hold upon his army, to acquire
their confidence. to mature his plans
generally, and in particular to arrange
for the withdrawal of Jackson from the
Valley" 3. VIZ
Is l trust may be pardoned for the time
and space consumed IN demonstrating
that ain not properly chargcable with
an erroneous statement, which would DC
sufficient OF itself to show thattl had
utterly failed to grasp Lees majestic
plan, and the consecutive unfolding ano
working out of his grand tactics Of '&.
Z o,,I ~, ,it tI1fJ "A
familiar story OF the oak trees cut dowr
by musketry fire on the 18th Of May
ga. at tho "Bloody Angle of spotsyl!-
ynnia, Captain Old says: "Hc seems r
doubt the fact, simply because he dc
not happen to see these trees himself
scarcely think this fair Inference
from what say OF this matter on pages
1928 of my book; but so far as wha
/ did, say, will properly bear this con
struction, ! recant and apologize. 4.
thought had sufficiently defined my at
titude in the premises, by quoting Colone
Taylors statement Of the facts and. ro
fcrrng to his deserved reputation, II re-
| cognized on both sides. for, careful ob
servntion and accurate report; then, b!
| vouching General Fitz.tLee in fun con
| firmation of Colonel Taylor; them b!
| limiting my own sonfN>yhat dlsparagtnl
| statement as to It's volume and Intensity
! to the fire Immediately I'm front OF on
| position" and lastly, by suggesting, i
explanation OF tho apparent discrepancy
that: "thc fighting must have been nue.
hotter further to the right"
I will only add that I can the more
readily forgive myself for the apparent
lack OF "renlizing faith" because Till
has proved the means or the occasion Q
drawing out Captain Olds detailed, mos
| interesting and valuable confirmation o
the marvel OF tho musketry fire at IN
"Bloody Salient" ol Mule Shoe" IN
Spotsylvania.
Ono point more, And have done. Cap
tain Old introduces his account OF hoy
the limo OF the Great Salient was 70
Gated by saying: major stiles. page 2C'
touches upon the subject Of faulty FOR
nations In our lines, with an implle
query about what was known rs N
Salient, or Bloody Angle" have moth
Ing to take back ns to tho subject Q
faulty formations of our battle lines, OK
ccpt that Captain Odds account show
that, In the special case of the Blood
Angle, the limo was not formed IN I'm
usual way" or In the very frequent wi'
,,ortr,vod nv mo Indeed, am ready