The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-16
THE BIRTHDAY OF
MAJOR BREATHED
Splendid Tribute to a Noble OF.
ficer of the Confederate
Service.
GENERAL LEES ESTIMATE
Editor of The Times.plspatch


Sir.--I am reminded by the flight OF
time that Thursday, February 18th, is
the SEVENTEEN anniversary of thel
birth of that magnificent soldier, that
matchless peerless Confederate Horse
Artillery officer, Major James Breathed,
whose name is still household word
among the hills and dales OF the South
land. / do not think that the deeds
of valor and the sterling characters
tics of such a splendid soldier and true
southern gentleman can be written
about or talked of too often. The
memory of such man as Breathed
should indeed be an inspiration to tho
youth of the land to emulate his cx-
ample. and to make for themselves and
posterity a name that shall so down
through the ages and be written on
the fair pages of the book OF life. This
sentiment: a man who was one of ma
lures noblemen, without blemsh; u
man who possessed all of the quallfl-
cations that goes TO make a man-"for
he was q man indeed" ] would not
attempt in this short article to mar
rate in the smallest degree the Incl
dents and deeds OF valor connected
most closely with his record as IN
artillery officer in that grand old aS-
Gregation of horsemen--the old Cavalry
Corps-commanded by the intrepid
leader the immortal General j. u. Il.
Stuart, whose life blood baptized tho
virgin soil of dear old Virginia at yell
low Tavern, May IL, 1864. Major
Breathed's achievements on eighty
1.a,,Y
to the average Confederate soldier for
me to attempt any lengthy encornium
upon his life or record as soldier.
Autograph Letters.
! have in my possession autograph,
letters from his various commanders.
All speak of him as man whose place
could not have been filed In his par
ticular sphere as Il horse artillery Off
ficer. Among the tributes that l have
received is one from his old commander
General Il. T.. Lee. that was written 20
him after the Wilson and Kautz raid
against the Weldon Railroad south II
Petersburg, Va. in which the gallan,
Breathed was seriously wounded while
leading charge of the sixth Virginia
Cavalry near Stony Creek. When We
take into consideration the fact tina,
General r. T.. Lee was an exceedingly
busy man during the spring and sum
out of Richmond. Va. and holding his
minions back by his skeleton army
does 1t not then add very much to the
high esteem In which Major Breathe,
was held by the commanding general
that he should have found time to per
to mere major of artillery the beau
tiful expressions OF love and sym
patty as contained in the letter tina
have before me. and which 1 repro
duce.
Headquarters Army of Northern vir
ginia. Richmond Va July 9, 1864.
Major James Brcathed,-I have hear,
with great .Eesret that YOU Were
wounded and incapacitated for activ,
duty. / beg to tender you my sympathy
and TO express the hope that the arm,
will not be deprived of your valuable
services. The reports that | have re
ceived of your gallantry and good con
duct on several occasions have givcr
me great satisfaction, and while the,
increase my concern for your persona
sufferinGs. render me desirious tina
your health viii soon permit YOU t,
resume a command that YOU have oxer
cised with SO much credit to yoursel
and advantage to the service.
Very respectively
Your ohedient servant
r. q LEE, General
Great Tribute.
Mr. Editor, could General Lee hay
done more TO show his high estimatio
of the ability and excellent record a
valiant soldier or Major janle
Breathed? l think not. This letter I
me would be sufficient TO prove 4
any one that without "A single add
tional line being written the letter !,
General Lee places Major Breathed
a highly favored class-unmatche,
peerless, the most dashng artiler
nff tba nf I,a
tillery corps of the Army Of Norther
Virginia But. Mr.. Editor, ] have ais
in my possession letters from the 70
lowing distinguished general officers
all of whom speak in the most compl
mentary terms of Breatled and IL
fighting battery. an organization TIN
has gone down into history as beir
one of the hardest lighting batteries
the Confederate States Army. We fir
letters from Generals Wade Hampto
w. II. +. Lee. l., L. LomaX, 7. II. Nun
ford, w. H. Payne, I1itz Lee, and lette
from acknowledgements Alexander
NJ. Pennington and Carl A. Woodrui
Artillery Corps United states Arm
retired, who testify TO the iightir
qualities of the Breathed Battery al
Its gallant commander. These two Fee
eral officers commanded horse ba
teries during the war on the Unite
States side, and almost daily came
contact with Breathed's Battery, Gel
sral Woodruff writes that lie alwn,
IS knew when Breathed ana his batter
were in his 'front.' that he dreaded
meet the battery, because he knew tn
Breathed's Battery was always reat
For tghti foe to be respected"
General Pennington writes: II lsne
the battery Well, and can testify to I
bulldog tenacity and conspicuous ga
tantry.'
Mr. Editor, am again reminded III
am writing more about my gala
commander aud friend than ] antit
stated when ] took my pencil IN har
,ut pardon the unconscious pride IN
.% ,yercpmes me when attempt to wrt
sf the character, the magnetism a
The valor of Major James Breathed. t
G dol OF his battery, and an engine
"A destruction To the enemy. He died
hancock, Nd, February Is, 1870, a