The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17
"REMINISCENCES.
Old Soldier Tells Of War-Times
as He Remembers Events.

Editor Of Tho Times-Dlspatch:
Sir,--Your Confederate Column Is a
source OF much pleasure to INC. as often
read OF some incident OF which l nm fa-
mliar. belonged to stuart's Horse Ar
Etlllery. and corroborate the story told by
Rev. Haley. Of Forest City. Me. knew
the Confederate personally who. In tho
battle between Todd's Tavern and spotsyl-
vania Courthouse. so bravely dismountedt
cut tho dead lead horses loose aud carried
tho gun safely back. This was Major
James Breathed. and he told mo him-
self OF this daring deed to save our gun.
He said he saw tho driver was bewildered.
tho Yankees were 80 near: but, witnout q
moment Of hesltancy, no severed tho
leather traces, while balls were flying all
around him. Major Breathed was from
Hugerstown, Md. He was Lieutenant in
the first old John Pelham company OF
Stunrt's Horse Artillery: then was elected
captain, and afterwards promoted to major.
He was about thirty years old and un-
married. 1t was my pleasure to mako a
brief visit home with him in 1882. He
was in command near Charlottesville when
tho Yankees came to destroy camp.
They had about ten thousand against our
little band of three hundred, but we put
them to A!ght.sy t
A citizen asked them why they were
running. TO which they replied: odd Jim
Breathed is after us, with handspikes
fencerails. X
On one occasion eighteen OF us boys were
guarding the bridge across Hazel River
with only two pieces OF artillery, when
twenty thousand Yankee cayalrymen came
within three hundred yards
Major Breathed placed Il fourteen men
with sticks across their shoulders, initial
Ing guns. over tho hill behind the guns
Dust 30 the tops of their teaas could be
seen). like infantry We cred two guns.
which i checked their. advance, and they
turned down the river We moved, down
the river and came In contact With the
same men. They brought up horse ar
tillery and struck us some hard blows, KILL
ing four Of our men, Mntor Breathed or
SGered US to lie down. and in this. position
a ball cut n limo ten feet long between u
comrade George Vaughan of ,Alabama)
and myself, who We're lying about a foot
apart. At this juncture General stuart
rode up and ordered the guns moved
further down the river. While moving, ono
of the gunnors, Charlie ,seymour,gfan Eng
his lanyard. 3Ms&1 ms s5ts7s fiSs35
Then let that gun retire: said Stuart.
That night Seymour said: We'll, shelor. I
threw that lanyard away. thought we
had had enough for one day."
But Major Brenthed never, tired, and
upon entering q big. battle he would jump
up and crack his heels together. and with
an oath, say; Nov. boys We're going to
have some fun"
He was wounded seven times. and was
as brave as the bravest. and ms gay as
the gayest in war; but In love perhaps he
was the weakest, and. yet must We call. 1t
weakness? After the close Of the war
no went to Baltimore. engaged In manu-
featuring, and In the summer of 1866 his be-
/ I proved "a. nndRC
his life by taking arsenic--dyng n suicide
While write many things arc called
| up in memory's train of those trying days
7 would like go we'll to join the old boys
| in Richmond at the next reunion. to &C
over the old ,batuehelds again, but my
| health will5not permit.
| Yours most sincerely. 81
| w. MARION sHELoR.t Il
lloyd, Va. Feb. 1907.