The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-23
A SHATTERED LEG
MADE HIS TRADE
Man Who Suffered First Loss of
Limb Became Cork-Leg
Manufactures.

Editor OF The Tlmes-Dispatch:
slr,-1 notice on the Confederate
page of your cstimable paper very
fine picture of my old-time friend and
comradc, James u. Hanger, now of
Washington, ID. c. l wish to say, with
due regard for tho truth. duly sup
ported with my personal Knowledge
OF the subject. the picture fiatters Jim
Hanger" very much, although he lis
really a good-looking and finc-ap-
pearing man OF sixty-four years.
Lest should be accused OF POSSESS
ing an envious spirit, / am entirely
willing to admit It is true the picture
only does him Justice az he looked
some thirty years ago. whenI knew
him we'll and true. Then we roomed
slept In the same bed Often l have
seen dear old Jim hop In and out the
bed with his one limb
We arc about the same age, and L
easily recall the fact that my friend
was a handsome man Mt thirty, when
envied him no little on the score of
his personal pulchrittde. Then he
had not married. although a great
ladies' man.
James T. Hanger is a true "Old Con-
fed" He Is to-day and well he should
be, proud OF the fact that his leg was
the first one shattered by Federal
cannon shot in the Confederate War
OF 1s61-'65. The fact OF his being an
inventive genius. possessing great
mechanical skill, led him TO first pro-
vide an artificial limb for himself
all the work OF his own hands. Hfs
own misfortune, II such 1t be. caused
him to establish In Washington, D. c..
a large and prosperous plant for the
manufacture OF artificial limbs. This
he has successfully conducted for
many years with an enviablel reputa
ton North and South, and every Gee
ton OF our common country.
The writer has also been told tho
quality of his wares is well known
abroad. and often orders from Europe
are received and filled.
Our veteran friend In to-day hale,
hearty man, n few years passed three
score: a most pleasant, agreeable, In
tellfgent gentleman, who In his lusty
youth was unable to stop or defect
the fatcd course OF Federal cannon
ball without retaining grim evidence
OF the untimely experience.
| For four heroic years after this
| first and early cannon-shot episode
many and many gallant men in gray
| had the same experience in battling
| for a glorious cause they felt and
knew to be eminently just and right.
Only recently goodly number OF
these now noble old veterans marched
through tho streets OF our grand old
city with their dear old hearts warm
and proud, cheertuily throbbing with
vigor In memory OF the heroic days
of 1876. when they left their youth
full limbs on the bloody battlchelds SO
valorously fought for the Southern
| Confederacy.
| Once more we all kept step. and felt
the elbow touch with the old mus.
OF the old days. when heroism anG
| valor and warm young blood forever
made sacred the many memorable bat
| tleaeIds that now honor the pages 1t
a great nation's history. I take 1t
| there Is not an old man among US
whose eye did not brightly kind,e.
whose heart did not warm up beating
true as ever. those two memorable
days OF May Goth and June 8. 1907. In
old Richmond.
My old conrade and friend, James
L. Hanger, was present. deeply IT,
|terested witness and participant. He
remembered that early June morning.
a Sabbath day, 1851, at Philippi, and
that cruel cannon shot But. after all.
my gallant old comrade has every
reas son to congratulate himself. for he
knows that his old and honorab1 G
friend Brutus, OF classic memory, was
less fortunate at his Philippi SO long
ago. Surely we all do know "Brutus
was an honorable man." Were he ltv-
Ing to-day he would be only the peer
OF the dear comrade whose name I
have mentioned with loving but faint
praise C. A. RICHARDSON.
Co. "B," 18th Va. Infantry.
Richmond, June IS, 1907.