Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-09

Il volunteered in the second COM
pany that was organized in Mercer
county for the defence of virginia.
VIM. b. Dorman was elected CAPTAIN.
j. c. Straley. c.. D. Straley and Jas.
Nj. McCue were elected lleutenants.
The company was first sent to Ri,h-
mond, Va, where II was incorporate
ed into and became a part of Wise
LEGION. Co. l. 50 Va. regiment. com
manded by Brig. Gen'l Henry A.
Wise. Subsequently this brigade
was transferred TO the GreenLrier-
Kanawha sections. and later TO 10.
anoke Island. n. c.. where the en-
tire command were made prisoners
or war on the Sth day of February.
1852. by the federal army. com.
manded by General Burnside.
We were detained as prisoners
about ten days and then parolei.
and later on in the following sum
mer we We're exchanged.
The one year for which we volun-
teered having expired, and after we
had been exchanged, we assembled
at Princeton. where we organized
out OF Dorman's former company. a
company OF cavalry, with Jacob G
Straley as captain. which company
was attached as company r.. of the
18th regiment of Virginia cavalry.
commanded by Colonel William II
French. and assigned to the brigade
OF General A. c. jenkins.
Our first service with this cavalry
regiment was with General Loring
in the Kanawha valley in the fan OF
1862.
AS / have started out to tell the
story OF my wounding and capture
at the battle of Monocacy. July 9th.
1864, and my subsequent escape
from prison, do not think that II
would especially interest the read
ers OF this story to tell OF our march
es, and our ups and downs between
the period OF our return from the
the valley of the Kanawha in the
fall OF 1852. and the date of our
march with General Early to the
battle OF Monacacy. In this battle
the brave and gallant brigadier gen
eral, John A. McCausland, com
manded our cavalry OF brigade, I'm
the midst Of which battle was
wounded and carried to the field
hospital by some Federal soldiers.
On arriving at the hospital / was
laid down near a man who, from
his groans, ] took TO be, and as IT
proved afterwards. was badly wound
ed This man looked at me and
said: Robinson, are you wounded
too?" / answered in the affirmative
and inquired: Colonel, where are
you wounded?" He answered.
through the breast" A truer.
drawer man than he never lived. He
was my lieutenant colonel, Tavener.
Afterwards, in a day or two after
/ had been removed to the hospital
at Frederick City, a man came in
where was, inquiring If there was
any one there belonging to the 18th
Virginia Cavalry. whereupon I an
swered: THAT is my regiment" He
said he was sorry to inform me that
my lieutenant colonel was dead
had died at his house.
I remained at Friedrich city one
month. wanting six days. We were
very kindly treated, the citizens Of
the city supplying US with every
thing we needed, and a great deal
more than we could make use Of. ]
have ever since bad a special liking
and high regard for a Marylander.
and especially the true chiva1ric and
generous people OF Friedrich City
and Baltimore. We did not receive
this nice treatment for all the time
we were at friedrich, but at the end
OF about three weeks the good peO-
pie referred TO were not allowed to
do anything for as. and we had TO
put mp with what the United states
government furnished as.
As fast as the wounded would got
able 20 travel they we're removed to
West Building hospital Baltimore.
Having made up nay mind that 7
would probably be one OF the next
number called for as able to be
transferred to Baltimore. I began
the use OF my crutches that had
procured a few days previous, and
found that IN two or three days I
was able TO hobble about few
steps at a time
Il was only few days until the
ambulance was brought around and
an inquiry was made TO know who
was able to 90 70 Baltimore. Of
fered myself az a candidate. was ac-
cepted. stepped out and in just as