The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04
FAMOUS BATTLE
IS FOUGHT AGAIN
Another Participant iii Fight at
New Market Pays His Re-
spccts to Mr.. Humphreys.
PRIVATE THE BEST OBSERVER
Testimony Of Eye-Witnesses
Other Than the Writer
Brought to Bear.

Drought W DSdi'
Editor Times Dispatch:
l9slr,-Some time ago wrote short
article which was published IN tho Con-
fcderate Column OF your paper. At the
time wrote this letter, had not seen
the Rev. G. w. Humphrcys's article of oc-
tober Is, 1906 Since that time have
read 1t with startling establishment IN
an article which see appears In the
Times Dispatch Of January IA. }9oe, ne
refuses to accept anything Confederate
soldier remembers as correct and true,
unless it is supported by documentary
evidence. Official reports, no. differences
from what source, are admissible at all
times. If official reports OF Federal Of
ficers are to be accepted as true, Jupal
A. Early had 10000 men In Maryland.
We all know he never had half OF IT.
ANYONE, who was ever In battle. knows
that It's incidents are better known to the
private soldier and to the immediate Of
ficers than to any other class. Give me
the testimony Of the Confederate private
soldier always in preference to the official
report of Colonel George ID. Wel's, VINO
left New Market to the tunc OF Yankee
Doodle on do,sble-1uick time. Tie private
soldiers did the lighting. and who knows
better how 1t was done than they VINO
did It?
CAN'T FORGET
C. w. Humphreys says In his last
article. Forty years changes the real into
fiction In memorys page rs Thoroughly
as a modern cartoon changes the appear
ance OF It's subject Can 1t be that my
recollection OF the fall OF my brother,
Colonel Wolfe, with his face to the FOO
and near my side-the fall OF Major 9once
in my arms is nothing but cartoon
upon the tablet OF my memory Hush
your idle prattllng Tell 1t not in Cath.
nor upon the streets of Asielon.
I wish now to show that Rev. G. w.
Humphreys, unfortunately. Is arroneously
mistaken In reference to several Incidents
connected with this battle. Will here
dlgress by saying that stated In my let
ter, wholly by mistake, that Colonel Fors-
berg commanded the Fifty-first in this
battle. 1t was SO seldom that he had
ever been absent, that I entirely over
looked the fact when l wrote my letter.
Had seen Mr.. Humphreys article be-
fore writing this letter. certainly would
have taxed my memory more carefully.
since 1 am satisfied Colonel Forsberg
would not encourage any man in CONVEX
sation reflecting upon his brigade COM
mander. Colonel Forsberg Is not only an
educated. brave and gallant soldier. but
as for truth and honesty. he Is the peer
OF any mortal being on earth. Mr.. Hum
phrey's in his article OF October 18th,
says that he heard a. conversation be-
tween Colonel Edgar and Colonel Fors-
berg, In which Edgar said to Colonel Fors-
berg. I've are away from our COM
manders. and you are the superior officer.
l shall obey you; let us move upon the
enemy" Now I ask him the question.
Is the above quotation official?
Over what officers signature Is 1t writ
ten? 1t surely Is not an extract from
Colonel Wells. This must be cartoon
Let us hear what Colonel rorsberg says
about 1t. In letter before me. nearing
date of November II, 1905, Is the plain,
| unvarntshed, naked statement of the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
| 81 regret my inability to give any remi-
niscences OF the battle of New Market.
| and for the good reason. was not there.
| ! was on sick leave at that time. The
day OF the battle spent on cot at the
Ladies' Hospital In Lynchburg, and am
sure was not represented on the battle
| field by my ghost"
BRING ON THE DOCUMENTS z
| am told that II attempt to disprove
this conversation on the battlefield OF
| New Market. that my Rev. friend will
quote documentary evidence against me.
Well, I have done 1t. Bring on your docu-
ments. do not suppose that there Is a
sane and truthful man on this globe who
would doubt for moment the above
quoted statement. Thanks to a merciful
God, Colonel Forsberg yet survives, lives
| in Lynchburg Va, and will not hesitate
| to reiterate the same as quoted. Long
| distance telephones were not In vogue
| at the time OF this battle. Tell me, how,
could our friend II. stand by Colonel
Edgar at New Market and Colonel Fors-
| berg in Lynchburg at the same time. and
hear Edgar pleading for orders from q
superior officer. Colonel Edgar was the
senior of the commander ~ the Fifty
first. Why then did he not give the
| order himself? Let common sense and
truth answer the question. 1t was simply
lbecause no such colloquy ever occurred
at that time and place between the two
| Cooncls, with more than one hundred
miles between them, and to contend for
the truth of my friends statement IS an
absurdity bordering on the ridiculous
impossible"
! Colonel Forsbcrg further says: ITO my
recollection never met with Colonel Ed
gar or participated in action with his
command" Colonel Forsberg was re-
garded as one of the most capable and
efficient officers in the army, being care
A full and exact In all things, and like other
Fmen. could not have participated in bat
/ tie without knowing it.
Mr.. III. says II have studied what
have written word by word and sentence
by sentence, as every historian ought to
do lie may have studied his words to
adorn his dictlon, and rounded his periods
to beautify his STYLE but he certainly