The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-01
RIGHTEOUS CLAIM
FOR A SOUVENIR
The Last Defender Of Richmond
When She Fell Into Hands
Of Enemy.
Editor or the rimes-plspateh:

Grin the Confederate Column II
Tho Dispatch OF recent date /
read with intense interest the account
given by Sergeant Christian thinner OF
The evacuation and surrender of the
city OF Richmond. Tho account was
OF more than usual interest to INC. be-
cause too had been a participant In
that trying ordeal. the closing DAYS
of our dying and belsagucred and be-
loved city of Richmond. the capitol Of
our shcr.-lipcd but grand and glorious
Contederacy. After an interval of
moro than forty years OF time and my
memory taking HE back TO those war
like days. and as | row look down the
long dim vista OF time IT. seems an "
there must he some mental halluc!nation.
PcrllaDs ] have been under the in1u-
ence Of some hideouy nightmare that
there Is not anything real about our
experience as soldiers. Yet II is never
tholess true, and thpt ] am as proud
TO-DAY as u prince of that experience.
] rejoice witt, exceeding great Joy to
know that I WAS n soldier In the Army
OF Northern Virginia. and that l lived
in tho same days and generation and
treathcd tho same .lberty-ioving
patriotic atmosphere OF Generals Leo
and Jackson and that Incompatible
JiVSL VI NlloSS SdIDT anu heroic
achievements for their cause has chal-
lcngcd tho admiration OF the civilized
world. was too young to compete
with tho Oldest veteral OF the jewel
cd cross of honor taken from the Mer-
limac; was too old to compete with
the youngest for the same honor, and
have always felt satisfied that i have
honor enough left me in having been n
soldier of any age or of any capacity in
the Southern Army. Vet have always
felt that there might be another great
or honor IL possible attached to my SOL
der life, and that WAS I might have
heen tho commander OF the last body of
organized Confederate soldiers to do
duty In defending the city of Richmond
before It's evacuation and surrender
will here present my claim. and IL The
Times-D lsratch would give me A SOU
yenir from the Merrimac on being the
last defender of the city at its sur
render might win OF that claim.
The Call tn Duty.
I was n member of Company L. 18th
Regiment. Virginia Infantry known as
the 6lacH Eagle Company, of Cumber-
land county Va. Hunton's Brigade.
Pickett's Division. The 18th Regiment
was commanded by that peerless gen.
tieman. Christian soldier and states
man, Colonel Robert T.. Withers, of
Wytheville. Va. Our color sergeant.
Scion a. Boston was Killed at Will
liamsbure. Va. and Colonel Withers
appointed me color sergeant for his
regiment. which position filled until
the battle of Gainess Mil. when was
painfully and severely wounded. / was
a patiant at Chimborazo Hospital under
treatment from DR.. Baylor. of Norfolk,
Ma. when General Ewell directed ME
10 form an organization at the hospital
composed of clerks. hospital stewards
and soldiers canvalescing from sunshot
wounds and diseases, or III other words.
the manned. the blind and the halt.
scarcely an able bodied soldier amongst
them; cosmopolitan makeup indeed
and IN truth. ! suppose every State In
.1lie Southern Confederacy was repre-
scented. The unsuited physical condi-
ton OF these soldiers for this service
Gin their tattered uniforms, with
bright muskets bearing the revolt
upon their baSonets. should be suifi-
Client efidence--yea criminal test-of
their loyalty and devotion for the
cause they were espousing. Arms. am
1nunltion and equipments for war had
been deposited at the hospital. to DO
used by this organization in defending
the city against raids and sudden
dashes OF the enemy. on Saturday
night. April 1. 1865. I had retired, and
was awakened during the night by
some one calling for me. went out
and found soldier on horseback. It
was Major Chestnut. who handed mo
an order from General Ewell. COM
mandlng mo to have my organization
formed as speedlly as possible and re.
port to him on the Capitol Square.
While ccnverslng with Major Chest
a Ca11ad NV a. 20
1lnued lightning-like flashes "painting
hell on the sky" in the direction OF Pc
tersburg.
1t was the glare from the flashes
of the artillery and n1usket firing 60
Ing on between the two contending
armies around Peter sburg l marched
my command over to the Capitol
Square. found General Ewell near
where the marble statue Of Mr.. Clay
now stands. surrounded by his staff
officers and the officials OF the city, ana
with whom he was busily engaged In
conversation. I had to touch him 10
engage his attention. He turned to
mo and said: IF you have anything
to say, say 1t quickly" ! handed him
the order Major Chestnut had given
me, He read 1t and told me he wanted
me. with NY command, numbering 1890
uI' 4bVpus " tdH6 at!lS paw HLilcllN CCCu.
pied, I think, by General Fields Di-
vision, on the Williamsburg or River
Road, and he would send a guide or
courier to direct me,
We marched down Main Street and
through Rockets, and after going a
few miles we came to fortified POSI-
Non AS we left the city we were
toined by tho cadets of the Virginia
Military Institute and they took their
position near us on this line Of de-
fanse. We relieved this division. and
] suppose it went to join General Lee's
retreating army. TO I'LL the space oc-
rupied by these soldiers. had to
stretch MY skeleton al a command all.
1t could bear by nlacing a soldier here
md there In sight of and In calling
Instance OF zach other, made the
most follnidable and warlike display
possible of these soldiers along the
3lntrenchments frownins furlously in
The direction Of the enemy. Nothing
Unusual occurred during the day to,
Nl6turb tlleF! lulletutie nf I'll AN II nrf] IN ry