Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-25
(Wraen for she BeaeOa.)
Pelham-Breathed Battery.
.BY II. II. MATTHEWS.
PART XVI.

ShersdaRss RGid to fett0tc 1dUeya and
Mortal Rounding Of Major General
JE. B. Sta art, Nay III, 1864.
In the early part Of April, 1864. Capt.
Breathed received his wellearned but
long-delayed STAR as Major OF horse ar
tilIery. The boys, Of course, were all
pleased at his promotion, but were fear
ful that he might be sent TO some battal-
ion Of artillery in which we were not
members. So, when the news came
that Bresthed would be our Major, there
was great rejoicing over the good news.
Pandemonium broke loose in shouts and
demonstrations. To have lost breathed
at this stage Of our arduous campaign
would certainly been a calamity. Noone
outside OF the old battery can fully un-
derstand that strong bond of love that
existed between Breathed and the boys.
There was not a man in the battery that
would not have gone into the very jaws
Of death itself at Breathed's command.
He guarded their interests In the most
jealous manner, even more carefully than
be did his own. His only thought was
how to advance or improve the condi-
ton Of the boys. No one can dream how
he loved his dashing battery. remem-
Der ON one occasion we were sitting
around our campfire with Breathed in
our midst. l noticed that his eye gleam-
cd around that little group Of true and
tried veterans. At last he raised his head
and said: Boys, was just thinking
as have been sitting here that would
rather command you old ragged rebels
than be in command Of Longstreet's
corps" And he meant every word he
uttered. We looked upon each other IA
brothers, and woe be unto any man, be
he officer or private, who attempted to
annoy us in any way, Breathed would
pOunee upon them like n hawk upon a
sparrow. And let me say here while ON
this subject, that never tire of Breathed;
that there are some men who imagine
themselves oracles of Confederate Histo-
ry, and who have taken upon themselves
the selfimpOsed task Of criticising sol
diers who, in their faithful service on the
firing line, seldom visited Richmond; that
the warriors of Gen. Winder's Provost
MarshaPs Office and the deiences Of Rich
mond never had the opportunity OF meet
ing these bronzed and aveso.diers, so,
In their narrow and perverted vision,
come instantly to the conclusion that
they did not exist, but were only myths
OF some dreamer or rainbow character
who had created men like the very earthy
Breathed to highly color the picture and
to please the beligerent taste of their
readers. Letmesay TO them-and when
say them, mean men who fit, died and
bled for their Southland behind desk in
one OF the Departments in Richmond,
some Of whom live in Baltimore today,
and have the assurance and impudence
to pass on a Confederate soldier record,
rating him good, bad.or Indifferent as they
in their prejudice seem fit. Major James
Breathed of horse artillery imperishable
fame was the most real myth that ever
existed. lie was intensely In the flesh,
an instrument Of destruction that hurled
death and disaster among his enemy on
every battlefield in which the Army Of
Northern Virginia participated. He was
among Confederate soldiers. / have in
my possession two letters from iistin-
guished artillery officers on the Federal
side-Brig. Gen. A. c. NJ. Pennington, re.
tired, living in New York city, who, dur
ing the war, commaded battery NJ, 2nd
horse artillery-the other from Brig Gen.
Carl A. Woodruff. who was 1st Lieut..
Of the same battery. will publish these
papers that the reader may get proper
estimate OF what the Federal artillery
thought OF Breathed's battery, Stuart's
Horse Artillery. But have said enough
on this subiect-in fact, more than the
subject demanded-for look upon with
contempt men who during the war (wheu
men were needed SO badly) shirked and
entrenehed themselves behind the desks
and defences of Richmond.
But TO continue my narrative. The
battery on the LIST OF May moved out o.
it's winter quarters and proceeded in
the direction of the Furnace. Theenemy
crossed the Rapidan river at Ely ford
ON May 4th. Stuart, always alert. was
advised OF this movement and immedi
ately broke camp at Orange C. ii. Or
May 9th we covered the left flank OF A
p. Hills corps on the plank road, and
soon became engaged with the enemy
near Spottsylvania C. III. We kept up q
fierce fire all day and had to endure tbs
heavy fire of the enemy's batteries. Or
the 9th we were with our old division
Fitz Lees, and had some severe fighting
in the Wilderness. We pushed our piece:
by hand through the dense forest untilai
times we were in advance Of the line o
skirmishers. p. p. Johnston had beer
promoted to- Captain. Breathed wa
with US that day. He seemed to forge
that he was Major of the battalion and
not Captain. BE gave his orders direct
ly to the men and ignored Johnstoni
presence entirely. On the 7th this con
tinuad on the Cartharpin road. Brocl
House, Todd's Tavern. The Confederate
cavalry held its position all day. 0nth
Sth, Cen. Grant commenced to move hi
army by the left flank, vainly endeavor
ing to- interpose between Lee and Rich
.nend. Gen. Lee made all necessary an