The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25

~
when once secured the happy owners
were not particular about tho conditions
or environments that witnessed the en-
joyinnnt of this home spun luxury.
a hardy soldier may be a nit OF n
philosopher in prcfering stomach we'll
filled with apple butter to one that is
gnawng and aching with sheer empty
ness all this when life is so flcetiny and
easily snufrcd out.
The Georglhps were hard. but also
gay and festive fighters. Survivors of
tho "old Fifteenth Will kindly recall
Major-General MacI.aw's Fighting divi-
son,' as one of the famous divisions OF
General Longstrcet's Corps.
~ TELLING ONE ON PRESIDENT
LINCOLN.
In one of the companies OF the "Old
Fifteenth"-I think Company E'-thero
was tall. stout, robust fellow; dare
devil, rollicking chap, who gloried in
fight; in the Sharpsburg fight when
about half the regiment had been killed
and wounded my comrade and hero,
"Beauregard'-a nickname given him In
the rcgiment-was badly wounded and
left on the field; tho enemy already In
superior force and receiving additional
OF the terrible field, compelling us to
leave "Beauregard" with many others;
he was taken to the Federal field hospi-
tai, where he received MS good attention
as the crowded condition permitted
a bright, sunny day of the week fol-
lowing the great battle, there was n grand
review of the Federal army which had
failed to defeat, "Marse Roberts
veterans, President Lincoln did the re-
viewing. riding tall horse-both rider
and steed being tall-and all under a
very tall silk hat. Tho President was
not considered striking military figure
The was at his best as tall. gaunt. raw
boned, angular citizen in ill-httng clothes
and awkward manners). Our wounded
hero, with other badly wounded COM
radas had been brought out on stretchers
and placed on cots In front of the hos.
pital, doubtless with the idea of Impress
Ing them with the grand parade; several
hundred pieces OF artillery had passed
in most imposing array when the Pres
ident rode up and drew relns near our
"Beauregard,'' whom he noticed, and
thus nddressed: Now Johnnie. tell me
what do you think of our artillery, honest
now. square opnion?"
well, Mr.. President. / will tell you;
1t surely does look fine. and there's lots
of H. too. In our army we haven't got
so much, but it looks jest like yours, on
nearly all the timber chests there's the
letters u. s.. same as yours" This re-
tort courteous. and straight from the
shoulder, greatly pleased Mr.. Lincoln.
who never failed to see and enjoy good
Joke, no matter at whose expense or
whose ,lndoIng.
The kindly and tactful Lincoln was
quickgto see such palpable hit. He knew
full well how often the ranks of the Fed
eral army had been rent, shattered and
torn by the captured ~. s." guns, 30
well served by the Confederate artll-
lerists.
This incident OF the Sharpsburg fight
helped to impress me with the important
part performed by the Confederate artil-
1ery on that sanguinary field. have re-
Gently noticed published card from
Captain j. Thompson Brown, of Parker
Battery, or the boy Battery" In which
he states: In no battle of the war did
the artillery play more conspicuous
part and at so close quarters as here.
1t was handled as infantSy and In lieu
OF infantry in many points on the line of
battle. In front Of the Dunkard Church
the best work of the artillery was done
in three hundred yards of opposing in
fantry and artillery in an open cornfield
until the blue lines melted away to small
SQUADS and these In turn annihilated."
Many United States guns at Sharpsburg,
splsndldly served by Confederate artil.
lerists materially and fearfully contrl-
butcd to the Federal casualties that told
the sad story OF Zoo men killed and
wounded. The eloquent and truthful trl.
butte paid by Captain Brown to our ar
tillery In the desperate and indicative
Sharpsburg fight liz also applicable 10
other hard fought fields. when victory
20 often came to the Confederate army.
. The wrttar haldiv aeaary. that 49,. n.na.
Napoleon. in his most noted and brilliant
victories, never made better or moro
glorious use of his fayorite artillery than
did the Confederate artillcrymen. not only
at sharpsburg, but in every great battle
of is6l-igs5.
have often thought. with no little re-
great, that the artillery Of the Confed
crate army has receives seant praise and
Justice from our war writers when II
ever deserved our fullest heartiest, proud
est APPRECIATION.
c. A. RICHARDSON,
Company b, Fifteenth Viralntn Infantry.
February, 1906.
In this famous fight OF sharpsburg. or
Antletam the totnr artillery force was
$40 cannons of which the Confederates had
20 0mony United States gum, among
theml MS against 800 for the Federals, IA
~ '''httei-oJ-4hcl,g Hliu tl!lCcnluhlc rg9uita
shown by the casunlt'es on either siu..
the Confederate batteries far outtough,
! those OF the enemy the Confederate
| artillcrlsts used their guns 10
every possible advantage, they
were on tho offensive from start to rln-
| ish. they gallan,ly rushed In from point
| TO point of the desperate zelda field
contracted In area for so great n strug-
| gle often doing most effective, deadly
I work at very close range. The Disparity
In numbers was not 81 consideration:
| they were asking no favora and giving
| nonh With ,nflinchlng courage they gal.
| lantly accepted nll that was offered, or
hurled MT them, then dptanty returned
| oven more: all of this terrible carnage
only ceasing when there finally came
| With the closing day q very general and
| q seeming mutual halt OF the tired. bat
/ tle-wom comhatants
G, A. n.
February. 1906,
The second wear Of ,hc war lsGl-e5 tho
/ Confederate Army Ind In the field for
aetivc service two hundred nnd sixty.
two RFn batteries Of ileht ARTILLERY. ANA
eight G) regiments of heavy guns thtIk