The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-21

iiilollE tlit IloM u lilp hIl''s S''NNIN1
ing and bidding goodby to the Wash
ington Artillery. boarding train for
Manassas. The bld gentleman was
somewhat taken aback when a hand
some young artilleryman came up, and,
with brief ceremony, requested him TO
take charge Of several hundred dol
lars, which lie did not want to FISK
to the accidents of camp life Inc
natural objection was made that they
We're utter strangers, and that the
youngster did not know that his con-
fidence might be misplaced. With
ready wit and fino courctsy tho boy
convinced the elder man TINT at least
he knew how to pick out In q crowd
n face that was a trustworthy war
rant. Needless to say that the stranger
accepted the trust. and the boy left.
With certain confidence that his drafts
or Mr.. William Gray would be prompt
BEFORE the Gum Fired.
In the first year of the war Rich
mond did not hear tho firing Of hos
tile gun, and the only visible signs OF.
|ly honorea to the fun amount OF the
Informal deposit.
wounded brought from distant battle
fields and sick mon from tho army
sent here to the hospitals.
Bethel Bull Run, and some other
minor conflicts were fought at a dis
tance, while her suburbs were being
rampnrted by lines of forts that COW
cred every approach to the city, The
next year proved the need Of her every.
defense. Meanwhile her. people had
been busy, straining every energy In
the work Of preparation for the storm
OF war that was to break in fury on
this citadel OF the Confederacy. The
first months of the year 1862 brought
a series Of disasters ominous OF m-
pending evil that might have chilled
the ardor OF q people less brave ana
hopeful. Fort Donelson and Roanok
Island had fallen, and the campaign IN
Western Virginia had failed. The Army
OF Virginia, retiring from Manassas,
| had been sent tn yorktown, from which
again 1t retired. sullenly falling back
El,cforc superior numbers and resources,
until It was concentrated in the very
suburbs Of Richmond. The enemy,
100000 strong, under an able general
so far victorious. were building IN
| front OF the city lines Of fertilization
and attack. whose completion Would
probably have resulted in capture OF
tho city. 1t was time that tried
/ mems souls when the guns OF the
4 enemy were first heard in the naval at
j tack, May Is, 1862, on Drewrys Bluff
seven miles down the river. and two
weeks later at Seven Pines. The at
| tack on Drewry's Bluff failed, and
= Seven Pines was a drown battle But
these were mere preludes to the great
contest to be fought for possession
oc the city. What to do and how tc
meet the crisis We're the tremendous
questions then agitnting the minds OF
) Richmond people. So far as they hat
; anything to do with the questions. their
!. answer was summed up In the words OF
old John Letcher, then Governor, who
in public meeting, proclaimed thai
if 1t came to the worst, and the al
formative OF surrender or Smelling were
presented to him for decision, his repl!
}, would be. "Bombard and be damned
: When his audience applaudcd the sen
tment, perhaps wishing that 1t hat
been framed In other words. they
Z showed the world the stuff they wer'
made of, and fDspircd fresh courage il
the hearts OF the troops standing be
= tween them and the enemy. And whel
the tug 5of battle, the long Seven Days
! battle, came. these troops proved them
solves worthy of the confidence an,
: loving faith OF the good men and wo
: men OF Richmond. Tho people knew
the troops, and the troops knew tn
, people. for they were one; and to-as;
we may be proud that we were an
:. are of and from them.
y Cnnnon's Rom.
a A newspaper sketch has not room t
= recount tho history OF those seven day
v OF Juno and july, 1862, in which Nc
!. Ciellans army was driven from 1t
q lines before Richmond, to find shelte
under the guns OF the fleet at Harr
s sons Landing. 1t was wonderf,
IS conflict OF battle. whose daring an
y success have seldom been equaled
i modern times. From Stunrts bold ra!
j. completely around the hostile arm
IS and from Hills and Longstreets al
e vance across tho Strawberry III
S meadows TO the initial attack at NJ,
t. chanicsvlile and Gaines's Mill, and {
% to Savage Station and FraZier's Ear,
y and to the final terrific conflict at Ma
ar vcrn Hill. 1t was marvellous stroll
at Of war, thought ont by genius and a
V. complished by devoted courage.
l. there were blunders that defeated Il
J. full logical results. we may leave the
n TO the parlor critics to carp at, wi
n reminder to the critic that the
troops were the raw recruits OF on
he ono year before this time and til
or many Of them were now under fire f
at tho first time.
10 With tho glorIes OF victorious bat
70 the city had also It's experience of I
n tragic eide OF war, when the long trail
IS OF wounded We're brought in from
ny those stricken fields Every hospi
eT was crowded to Overlooking, and I
r. official resources We're overtnXed
as the care Of the thousands Of wound
On and Sick men, tho victims OF conni
g. The memory Of the private charity n
U.s. solf-sa crihce OF those days Is n Gro
&n OF glory for tho women and men
ca Richmond, whose devotion was son
en- thing wonderful, and that won
'es undyirg gratitude Of many ~ wretcl
'at su!f.rer. 70 say that every house
IL came hospital ~, OF course. an
me aggcration, But 1t Is entirely safe {
u true to say that the Inmates of ey
Try house were engaged, directly or In
ous rcctiy, IN hospital duties, The mir
rn- trations OF noble, tender women w
put lavished on obscure strangers MS
re- kindred: ministrations beyond MI pr
nd, nnbuyoble because they were the /,
rb- of love for thu cause. Many p
and fellow yet lives to thank God for