The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-13

lapse OF time has failed TO erase thcIn.
This battIe occurred July 1, 1862. Our
regiment. the Fifteenth Virginia was
encamped within about two miles OF
Richmond. The night before my Old
icomrade, G. a. Richardson, who has
contributed so much interesting mat
ter to your columns. and the writer.
ran the block" to attend a Starvation
party" given BY some fades In our
honor In the city. We reached camp
In the wee hours OF the next morning.
We found tho camp deserted. but our
blankets and rifles were In our brush
tents and only "a few sick and lame
comrades to point out 10 US the route
the regiment had taken. We knew
THAI if we did not catch up and get in
line before the battle began we would
be liable to arrest and court-martal
Tor being absent without leave. so we
struck out before the sun wap up In
the direction indicated and marched
through the hot sun and the clouds of
DUST raised BY the wagons and artillery
that .thronged and obstructed the
roasis to Malvern Hill.
We caught up with our comrades
Just before they reached the battle
field of the day becore-Frazier's Farm
and were appalled, by the sights.
sounds and doors OF Uiat fearful con
test Hundreds of dead. Federal and
Confederate. as well as horses. were
mingled together Just as they fell, and
under the fervid heat OF the summer
SIM began to emit most sicken.ng
doors; the wounded were grooming in
temporary hospitals. We We're
Semmes's Brigade. consisting Of the
Fifteenth and Thirty-second Virginia.
Firth and Tenth louisiana. Tenth ard
tFifty-third Georgia, moved up within
LOO yards of the enemy's batteries and
held in reserve in ravine, and were
subjected to a Smelling unsurpassed for
severity in any conflict during the
wsr. The concentration of our forces
was not completed until late in the
day. and It was between 8 and r. NJ.
before the advance was made by Ma
homes and Wrlghts brlgades.whch met
with terrible repulse. Such was the
accuracy OF the fire OF the enemy that
the field was swept clean. One of our
batteries that went In with the above
named .brigadas did not have an OPP
.portunity to uniimber: the horses being
killed and the catssons blown up and
guns dismounred before they could get
into action.
Soon the reserve was called for. We
moved towards the right and were
ordered to charge with fixed bayonets
through \ meadow. at a distance OF
about 500 yards. in full view OF the
guns OF the enemy. Before attaining
the meadow we moved through ~ body.
of woods and over a fence. the limbs
from tile trees cut by the shells drop
ping on us and the rails of tho fence
knocked from under US as we got over.
In this body Of woods were trees as
large as 4 telegraph pole cut almost
In two by musket balls. On debouch-
Ing into the meadow General Semmes's
coat was cut by fragment OF shell
and our colonel tThos. r. August) was
severely wounded In his leg, but the
colonel was plucky. When the stretch
er-bearers were about to bear him
from the field. he made them halt, and
amidst the storm of lead and the
Shrek of shells. delivered this impas-.
stoned address: Boys. remainder you
belong to the old Fifteenth Virginia: :;
remember you are fighting for your
homes ana your flresldes. Give them
.h---l. DIN EN- The words were.
scarcely out OF the colonel's mouth,
before the stretcher-benrers were
struck down and the cnlonelssttil bleed
Ing was tumbled ingloriously into a
DITCH.
We continued to move obliquely un-
til we reached the base. of the Hill
upon which Wns concentrated probably
fifty or sixty of the eneny's guns,
helching grape and can!ster from their
livid mouths intoiopr very faces, 1T be-
ing not oyer 200 yards from the base
to the crest of tho hill. The sun was
fneariy down. Had the Rev. John Jas
per been present at this point, his cele-
.hrated sermon .the sun do move would
never have been preached, for not.
withdrawing we prayed most fervently.
that it would set, II hung in the heaE
ivens and seemed perfectly stationary.
for what appeared under the oircum-;
stances and excitement of the coca sion.
to be hours. About $50 OF our regi-
n,ent reached the base OF the hill, In
er, formerly captain of the Virginia
Life Guard, of Richmond eco. 3D.,
who assumed command as soon as
Colonel August was placed hors de
combat Here we rested. under severe
and continuous fire that did not admit
of our raising our heads from the
ground, AS twilightwas dee opening into
the shades of night, the word was
Passed down the line y. y. e prspars to
Walker stood up with drawn sword
and aashng eye and gave the COM
mand. Forward, charge" 1t was the
last word this gallant officer ever nt-
tered. He fell, and was dragged Into
the little branch which flowed at tho
foot Of the Hill and expired In the
arms OF his brother, Captain Norman
Walker, Thus persisted as brave n SOL
der as ever flashed his sword In any
cause! &s
1t was now quite dark, ths sky
cfpuded by the coming storm. and the
Inuttering Of thunder ana the fash OF
lightning added to the wtldness OF the
scene, which was grand and terrific,
The fire OF nlllskstFy and artillery now
ragged with great fury. ~ no hill was
olot hed Ia sHko he and Rsss Eel tsvsd