The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-07

opposed by greater NUMBER or guns al.
mrnb1y served, and at times to eniilad-
ing fire thcy coolly and manfully stood by
their guns working them with such pre-
cision as to silence n greater. portion Of the
the warm positions they held during the
action. The gallant Cutshaw and Barton
fel. wounded at the same moment. the latter
iainng all most dear to him. for which he
was 20 manfully and courageously fighting
having won tho esteem and admiration OF
all, and met soldiers death in this, our
glorious cause"
DR.. James p. Smith who was with one OF
Poague's guns on that flaming crest. Will,
no doubt agree with me that General Wlndcr
might we'll have used, without the slightest
e,asgeration. stronger term than warm. .
To the infantry line. which IVES In close
proximity. but less exposed than the bat
teres, hot was thought to be the proper
Mad. Cutshaws wound was so severe that
no could not be removed when our army
fell back. somewhat hurriedy YOU may
remember, and he was n paroied prisoner
for nearly a year. After exchange he was
for active duty and was assigned as acting
commandant Of cadets at the V. NJ L.,
where he remained until September. 1863
Many man under similar circumstances
would have been content to rest upon his
well earned laurels and have felt that his
still painful and unhcaled wound fairly
entitled him to exemption from the hard :
ships and dangers of further active field
service But cutshaw was cast in heroic
mold. and such was the ardor OF his zcal,
such the Intensity of his self-sacrincns
devotion to the righteous cause of his state
and people. that he simply could not with
hold his entire conservation to their service.
The drilling Of boys upon the Lexington
Tnrade ground-the culture OF the seed co.n
or the Confederacy, so to speak. useful and
honorable service as 1t was--was insipid MS
compared with the command OF men In tho
fierce grapples of war. He !onged for the
roar OF the great guns. the shouts OF the
captains and the din OF battle. His request
for active field duty was at length granted
and he became assistant inspectors general
upon. the staff OF General Long. then COM
handing tho artillery of the Second Corps
of the Army of Northern Virginia. In his
report of his operations from October. 1853
to January 30, 1864. General Long calls
In the performance OF the duties OF their
respective departments" OF Captain w. y.
Cutshaw and the other members OF his
quentiy In the line OF our respective staff
duties, being myself at tho time tho chief
OF STAFF of General Edward ("Alleghany')
Johnson. commanding ono OF the three d.
Visions of the Second Corps. Cutshaw had
all the qualifications for stan service-the
quick intelligence. tho trained eye of the
engineer for the Topography OF a field. the
session in the midst of tho distractng up
roar OF attic. expressed by tho phrase. Mems
aequa rebus In ardius. and witha, that SPLEEN
did courage. dash and prompt.ude to carry
to lead the way for troops into action, as
Captain Nolan did in the famous charge of
the 600 at Balaklava. But, although thus
admirably equipped for stan duty. his pre-.
ference was for branch OF the service
which would give him the dir ct command
OF men. and In recognition of his we'll cs-
a major was placed upon his collar. and he
was given q battalion of the artillery, at
tached to the Second Corps.
We come now to the most strenuous AMI
In NJ th, Gov nj ~, WI
derne ss' -extending not "all summer
which was the utmost limit Grant would
allow himself In his .On to Richmond" but
only from May 5th, when the heads Of his
advancing hosts We're struck stunning blows
by Ewens corps on the Old Turnpike, BY
a H corps on the Plank Road. and on the
division was driven back by Rosser's single
cavalry brigade. until June Sd at Cold
Harbor. where Grants army met such a
bloody and decisive repulse at all points
along front OF six miles that when n re-
newa! OF the attack was ordered In the fore
noon there was no response. In the euphe-
mstic words OF the historian swinton, His
immobila lines pronounced silent, yet en-
phatic. verdict against further slaughter"
In his dilemma Grant sent Sherman with
his cavalry TO make a junction with Hun
ttr's and Crooks united corps then moving
towards Lynchburg, and to bring them To
MIN as reinforcement. But this plan was
rolled by Hnmptons and FitZ Lees cavalry
divisions, with Chew's and Breathed's horse
Sherldan's path Mt Trevllians but after
severe engagement sent him reelins back 10
ms refuge behind the right wing OF Grants
detected army. Thus ended the ever mem
orable overland campaign of 1864. and on
the night of the 18th OF June after hearing
OF SheItdans defeat. the Federal army ST.
iently began Its march to the south side of
the James
But l have anticipated. The specially
strenuous days twhen all the days were
to which referred. were the
h. "a St,,
Cutshaw and his battalion were consplc-
uously in evidence. About 6 o'clock in the
afternoon, of the 10th the enemy in large
force. under cover of a pine thicket, in close
proximity to our lines. by a sudden dash,
broke over Dole's Brigade. of Rodes's diyi-
SION OF the Second Corps. 1t was done very
Upton tof whose work
on tactics all soldiers have neard) was in
command of the Fedora His lines moved
at double quick, with trailed arms and not
u shot was fired until our lines were reach
made but slight Observation-Disclosures linton
says there was "a deadly hand to hand con-
fllct' However this may be, our lines a t
that point We're broken. and Smiths battery
Third Howuzers) was captured. General
Pendleton, In his report OF this fight paws
a well-deserved tribute to the superior
s.eadiness Of the artillery He says: Our
being soon rallied and reinforced
Tepuised tho enemy and recovered the guns
The captain had fought his battery until he
was actually seized by soldiers from the
carried of by the retreating foe and not rc-
covered On this occasion Hardaway's guns
atone We're engaged and were extremely well
served. Two of Cutshaw's batteries were
UP for the crisis and put in position
10 command tho broken line The mon from
one of these batteries (Garbers) being called
Tor TO work the guns on tho line left weak
handed by the capture OF Smiths canon
GERS. sprang forward under their captain and
served two Of those guns with fine spirit"
Major Robert Stiles. In his -Four Years
Under Marse Robert claims that the ar
tilleryman's loyalty to his gun renders him
less liable to stampede than the infantrym nan
or cavalryman. and he gives philosophical
reasons for IT. Now. | must not be consid
cred unappreclatiNe of, or, In the slghtes,
degree. disloyai to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
te that glorious "old Stonewall Brigade" tr
which feel proud TO have belonged in tbs
early part of the war, when I say that my
observations as a staff officer incline me
TO agree In Major stiless contention.
cannot recall single instance In which on,
artillery. when properly supported. failed te
render signal and splendid service
Mr Commander, It would take mo ali
night to tell what I know about the BATH,
o'clock in the morning until after nightfal
OF the 12th OF May. 1864. I realize Tho
fact however that it is proper on this oc.
casion TO refer only TO Colonel Cutshaw's
participation In 1t.
Napoleon Bonaparte said: "'rhe creates
general is the one who makes the fewes
mistakes" and he spoke frequently, durins
ms captivity at ST. Helena, of his own mis-
taxes. with regard to the mistake which
cu to the disaster to our army on tina
dreadful morning. VIII not express an opin
= ~ hn.t has , 40. '