davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14

upon her. AS soon as she got off she
stood down the bay, the little battery
chasing her with all speed when sud-
denly the Merrmac turned around and
ran full speed into her antagonist.
For moment I was anxious, but IN
stantly I saw shot plunge into the
iron roof OF the Merrimac, which surely
must have damaged her. For some
time afterwards the rebel concentrated
their whole battery upon the tower
and pilothouse OF the Monitor, and
soon after the latter stood down for
Fortress Monroe. and we thought 1T
probable that she had exhausted her
supply OF ammunition or sustained
some injury. Soon after the Merrimac
and two other vessels headed for. my
ship. and then felt to the fullest
extent my condition" What was his
condition? Abandoned by the Monitor,
the wooden ships could with the Merit
mac attack him, which could not have
been the case had the Monitor re-
NAMED on the ground. But she did
not, all history TO the contrary. and the
Virginia, after waiting for two hours
her return, steamed for Norfolk with
tho other Confederate ships. And what
an ovation did we get. We were so
elated by our reception into the port
| of Norfolk that we needeQ. IKE SS'Pio'
some one to remind US that we were
mortals.
In this fightNthe wooden ships OF the
Confederncy did not participate. They
We're merely spectators. The casual
ties were none on the Virginia. The
United States gunboat Whitehead was
| blown up and sunk alongside OF the
| Minnesota, and lost five killed and SIX
teen wounded. Stray shots from the
| Virginia killed three on the Dragon.
one on the Roanoke, two on the Moni-
tor and nine killed and sixteen wound
ed in tile Ninety ninth New York IN
| fantry ashore.
| The Virginia having lost her Prov
| In striking the Cumberland, went into
dock at Norfolk. the Patrick Henry
repaired her boilers, and everything
was ready. when Commodore Tattnal
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
as 81 he Glnle6 Qigpnattb =,
d s GENE IEE4EfAE CAL COLUMN

tolerably diligent.'' and that Batter
sea and the mills are leased for $1,000
per annum. which. with the amount OF
sales that have been made, the execu-
tors inform me they shall be enabled to
pay OF all the debts" The thirds OF
these and other valuable plantations
Will enable me to live very comfortably.
etc" She also remarks that soma
| young person has just died with the
| "Chincough.'
| in letter dated "Ceeleys. MARCH, 90
1799." Mrs. Banister says her son
| Theodorick's trip TO the Northward was
| OF great service to his health and good
/ looks. He has just begun the study
OF Physick, and son Monro I fixed at
Princeton College, etc
I In a letter dated August 10, 1893:
.I shall fix with the good Dowager
| Lady Washington the time of going
Ito Captain Byrd's; she has promised
!. to cary ME there. Yesterday we were
/ at afr. Bayler's. I made myself Sick
with Ice Creams. Water Melons. Piumbs,
| etc. expect Monro in tir-
! ginia early in October. Theodorick
/ will then be settled In Richmond In
1 Chroegnan and Adams's Shop: a year
or two hence he goes to Scotland. After
4 finishing there he Will visit his friends
at Litchield. This is looking n long
! way forwards. Heaven knows wheth-
or shall live to see It,
williamsburg, August 10, 1902: Il
l wrote you some time since that I ex-
4 pected my Theodorick 10 go soon TO
Scotland. He is gone. ! have seen
.Ihim perhaps for the last time. Never
i thclcss, there Is no sacrifice that I
would not make for the advantage OF
/ my children. He sailed the 5th III
slant, under favorable auspices, in the
/ Endymion." She did not see her son
/ Theodorick again. for In 1907 she writes
that her son Theodorick enjoins her
not to write much. In 1909 she says
that she has removed with son Theo-
dorick and family TO healthy place
near Petersburg" July 23, 1870 she
writes from Clay Hill. in Amelia coun-
/ ty. and announces: 'Thoodorick's wife
1 has another daughter. Three days pre-
lviousy she caught the measles. and was
very sick for few days. The infant
was born very full of it,
4 These letters are published in full
4 I'm History of the Blair. Banister and
Braxton Families by DR.. Frederick
4 IIorner; Lippincott & Co., publishers.
!. 1898.
i, Banister arms: cross neurie. la
beled with four points. Crest: demi-
I. lion, rampant, holding cross neurie.
1t may not be an,iss to add In con-
cusion that the Bishop OF London. on
his recent visit to Richmond October.
l19O7) made an interesting allusion to
: the Rev. John Banister.
References-'V magazine of
|, History and Biography, Vol. nj, pages
!, |163 ct seq: "History Of the Blair. Ban
lister and Braxton Families" pages %
, ct sea-; colonial Virginia Records" in
| Virginia State Library.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14

had made every preparation to destroy
her. rho Vanderbilt. the AraBh, Illl-
rOis and Erlcsson, large ana fast
steamers, were in the roads to riin her
down, and yet no attempt waa naae.
Z Commodore Goldsboro. 81. recreaan.
tMnrylnnder, had assured his Yovern-
ment that he could destroy tho Virginia
with fast steamers running her down.
Tho government gave him the steam.
ors, but no failed to uao them. The
English and French war vessels In the
Roads reported to their governments
on the Same limo that Fulton reported
to his, yet Northern historians tell ug
that tho Monitor whipped the Merrlmac,
or Virginia. Now. WAS this cownrdice
on the part OF tho United States navy?
At the second trip OF the Virginia to
Hampton Roads tho Monitor was rein.
forced by the ironclads Naugntuck and
Gnlern, and yet they would not take
UP the glovo thrown down by tho Nir-
ginia. We arc inclined to think -tt.@,Nas
no cowardice, but prudence. Had the
Monitor been captured VIC could have
ended the war. The United States re-
fused to take the risk In all prob
ability sie would have been, with
great loss to the Confederacy. Then,
with both the Virginia and the Moni-
tor flying tho Confederate flag. Nc
Clellan's stores at Yorktown could
nave Deen captured ana tho United
States shipping driven from his sup
port, they being tho only two ironclads
Mt that date. With his base in our
hands his army would have had to
surrender We then could have starved
out Fortress Monroe. and with that
fortress in our hands the war would
have been ended, for we would then
have controlled the Chesapeake Bay
and It's tributaries. and have given to
Norfolk an open port, through which
we could have imported all merchan-
disc desired Tattnnll had this in
his calculation. and was willing to.
make great sacrifice to accomplish It;
but on the other hand the United
States had likewise calculated. and
hence they refused to allow the Monitor
to meet the Virginia a second time.
and upon every occasion thereafter
they refused to allow the Monitor to
meet the Virginia. Yet their historians
say the Monitor whipped the Virginia.
Tattnall finding that he could not
get the Monitor from the protection OF
Fortress Monroe. after holding tho
Roads for three days, returned with
his fleet to Norfolk.
] CONTINUED Next Sunday.)
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
WAS NOT CAPTURED
BY HIS LONG HAIR
General Gordon Tells How He
Was Taken Prisoner by the
Yankees.
Times Dlspatcn Bureau.
Munsey Building,
washington, %. G. juno i:

General George W. Gordon, member
of Congress from the Tenth District
Of Tennessee. and one of the few Con-
fcderate brigadiers now in public life
in Washington. has not that tender re-
gard for good stories that is inani-
tested By many public men. For many
years there has been told IL story con-
corning the capture OF General Gordon
at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee,
In 1864. which had all the elements of
romance. but wore the plain garb OF
sober truth The story was to the
effect that in charge on the Federal
works In that battle, General Gordon
mounted the parapet and was seized
by his own hair and pulled over into
the trench prisoner.
Il have heard that story frequently"
said General Gordon. some time ago
/ met man in Memphis who seemed
mighty glad to see me, saying we had
not met since the battle of Franklin.
He then went on to recall the circum-
stance of my having been seized by
the hair and dragged over the breast
works, L assured him that nothing of
The kind happened, but he insisted
W
that 1 had forgotten what had occurred
on that day, and that he had himself
seen me when my hair was seized by
a Federal soldier and I was dragged
inside the works, a prisoner.
II was made Il prisoner at the battle
of Franklin,"a continued General Cor.
don, but the capture was not made
in any very striking way My brigade
charged the Federal works that day
Ny old regiment, the Eleventh Tonnes
see Infantry. under Colonel Horace
Rice. consolidated with the Twenty
ninth Tennessee, broke the first an,
second line OF the enemy and got int
the works. l charged with the mer
and was on foot, having dismountcd i
order to present less conspicuou
target"
Here General. Gordon told how, bein
without a musket and more lightly az
coutred, he was able to outrun hi
men. and reached the works first
characters tically modest way of put
ting the fact that he was ahead of TIL
front ranks of the charging column.
Eve broke the first line" said Gen
oral Gordon, I'VE rushed on toward
the line of earthworlls. The fire wa
very heavy. Musketry. shells and can
lister moved our men like the scythe /
grass. But the gray line did not faltei
end we reached the trench in front o
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14

Der a. 1879. In 1851 he was lieuten-
ant-colonel commanding one of three
regiments OF State troops under Cen
eral lawson. and resisted most actively
the invasion OF Phillips and Arnold
into Virginia. He married first, Patsy
Bland daughter of Theodorick Bland.
sr., of Cawsons. Prince George county.
Va. His second wife was Anne Blair,
daughter of John Blair. president of
the Virginia Colonial Council. BY his
first marriage he had three sons
Robert John and. Nathaniel. All died
without issue.
By his second marriage he mad Thes
odorick Blair ca Banister, who mar
ried Seignor, daughter of Colonei
John Tabb, of Clay Hill. Amelia county,
and John Monro a. Banister, who
married Mary Burton Boiling. daugh-
ter of Robert Boiling. of Centre HILL
Petersburg, Va.
Theodorick Blair A) Banister and
+! Seignora Tabb, his wife. had L. Mon
70 go. 2. Tudor 90, Yelyerton go.
Daughter t5). Eliza Is. eliza 90 Ban
| lister married John peachy. of Williams
burg, and had two NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
! ia t6) and Mary Blair Co.
Augusta married Conway Bnrksdale,
of Amelia county. and Mary Blair mar
ried George Wilkerson. of the United
States Navy. Both had issue. Mrs.
| Barksdale and Mrs Wilkeraon We're
the only surviving grandchildren of I.
B. Banister.
| Join Monro CD Banister and Mary
Burton Boiling had Issue. i, William
10. (5). of Petersburg. soldier 9. S. A.
who married Caroline Lewis and had
issue: 2. Mary Burton (5) married Ger
| man 3. Gin, of Sussex county. 3, Anne
| NJ (5) married VIM. NJ McCandlsh;
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
THE CONFEDERATE NAVY
By Nv. F. CLAYTON,
Late Past Midsinipman Confederate States Navy.
By w. F. CLAYTON,
I Confederate States Navy.

tance and the water was well churnei
up at that point, but we sustained
only the cutting of our port foretop
sail brace, which unrove and dropped
on the deck. The o,ner boats passed
in safety. At the lower battery we
were not so fortunate. as they had time
TO change the range of their guns.
and Il shot entered at No. gun, quar-
ter deck, killed one man and wounded
two The death of this man recalls
that when we left Mulberry Point We
were ten short of a full crew and
asked for volunteers from the army.
All volunteered AID we han &c make
choice, and this man was not of the
fortunate. but In his zeal he paid a
SO soldpiece to so in the place Of
another.
Passing the batteries we found the
If.igate Congress ashore with head8a,l
set. She had attempted to escape. Our
| first duty lead us to the ship contain
! ing the commanding officer and as we
ran alongside OF the Virginia, Com
modore Buchanan greeted us cheerful
| ", and this was the message or order
he communicated to Captain Tucker:
L you have made a glorious run: use
| your own discretion. do the enemy all
/ the harm YOU can, ana sink before sur
| rendering"
l. Now right here let me say that Adj
miral Tarragut has claimed the pres
\ tige Of having won forts with wood on
! vessels but like many other claims Of
\ the Federas, it was false. We then
I proceeded to pay our respects to the
4 Congress.
In the meantime the Minnesota, Roa
\ .noke and st. Lawrence came up tc
/ engage us, but the Minnesota running
/ aground, the others returned to thu
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
bore on its surface only tho rebel fleet

bore on its surface only tho rebel fleet
and two French and one 1cngllsh men
of-wnr. which, with stea,u tip, still
maintained position. Curious mnnocu-
vres! $3.50 o'clock: For tho last hour
apparently been directed towards de-
coying our nect up towards Sowoll's
Point When tho Merriinac first mp
pcared she stood directly across the
mouth OF Elizabeth River. followed her
consorts us II bound for Newport News.
The Merrimac approached tho English
slOop- f-wnr, and after apparently COM
niunlcating with her, fell slowly and
moved back towards her consorts In
rear. The French and English ves-
sells then moved up as IL they had
been informed that the lower Roads
WIS to DO tho scene OF conflict, and
they had been warned to get out Of
range For an hour tho rebol fleet
kept changing position without making
any decided advance III any direction.
"On our part no movement was made.
The Monitor. witt, steam up and III
usual anchorage. Tho Naugatuck
(Stevcns's Battery came out and took
position alongside the Monitor. Sig
nails were exchanged between our ves-
sells. tho fort and Rip Raps, but no
movements were made.
Curiosity grew rapidly into suspense
a bold stroke. At length the Yorktown
tshould be the Jamcstown) moved rap
idly up. and after advancing we'll to-
wards Newport News, steamed rapidly
towards Hampton. The object was
then seen-to be the capture of three
smiling vessels, two briggs and n schoon
er. transports. which We're lying either
aground or had not been furnished
with steam tug In order to make
their escape. The bold impndcnce OF
Imanoeuvring continued. the apparent
apathy OF our fleet excited surprise
and Indignation.
There was a rebel boat. not built TO,
/ war purposes. having the protection
of the Merrimac and her consorts
/ where 1t appeared to impartial eye.
she could easily be cut off and We,
| no attempt on our part to do 1t. o.
course. there were good reasons for
this policy. the the crowd could no.
see it"
| Now this was the situation. Tho
| Merrimac. or Virginia, had come dowr
to engage the United states fleet. and
they refused to engage. although they
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14

the works, though our loss was ire
mcndous.
when we reached tho works we
We're subjected to II very heavy en-
filadlng fire, owing to an angle IN
the works, and in addition a cross
fire from our own men was doing ms
much damage. We were not strong
enough to take the works, so we lay
down In the trench in front, hoping
for relief. But us we lay there men
were being killed and wounded all
around us. until finally 1t was agreed
to surrender. signal was given to
the enemy on the other side of the
breastworks. and the men We're helped
over the parapet and sent to the rear.
II was not willing to surrender and
another man and myself did not go
over with our comrades who Ind given
up the fight We laid perfectly still
fire became SO heavy that we finally
determined that as to stay where we
were would mean certain death, We
would take our chances
The enemy on the inside of tho
works did rot know we were where
we were, and we had some difficulty IL,
making them hear us. We finally sue
ceeded, and Were taken over the par
apet. y Federal soldier tried to brain
me with the butt OF his musket, but
one of his comrades warded Off tho
blow so that T received ~ on nv q, on
der. o'' ny S''o''-
eve we've dis,r,,., ~
the rear 1,nda,. ,i,a - 80. Wv ~
diers W. Ma ~ r,s... ~ ~ 80
knoll in e.o;,r ~ ~ IL, 49,
swept by the Confederate fire The
bullets Kicked UP the dust all over the
crown of the knoll md q ,nolsad
mighty doubtful whether we would he
able to get through alive. Our guard
wanted us to run. but / refused, until
they We're about to bayonet me. we
went over the knoll at pretty lively
clip. and none of us We're injured.
when we were we'll to the rear.
and just before we We're turned over.
to the officer who had charge of pris-
oners. a straggler, who was a German.
think-certainly, he was a foreigner
trled 10 XIII me, and would have sue
ceeued had l not been protected by my
guara.
wren Seieral 'hehliiahi. my uiVis-
ron coii,i'ii1iaer, hea,u OF my capture
i,e nI , I" REMAIN ti,a. ia'ihee So
wy, nau piopapts so' me " NY 10.
e. pur ~. .a,,, ~, ~.
~ ,II,,,;,. - ~, 49,. ia, ,,.,,,oh
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14
sells. altogether seven In number.

sells. altogether seven In number.
"There was instantaneous activity
among the transports and vessels In the
upper Roads to get out of the way of
the steamboats,. several of which were
crowded with troops, and moved down
out Of DANGER. Steam tugs ran whis-
ting and screaming about. towing
strings of vessels behind them. while
sloops. schooners and briggs. taking adj
vantage of what air there was. got UP
sail and moved out of harms way. In
the course of an hour he appearance
Of crowded Roads was greatly altered
The forest of masts between Fortress
Monroe and Sewell's Point disappeared
and the broad. open cXpanse Of water
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-14

his government.
by the time she had fired her third
shell the little Monitor had come down
upon her. placing herself between us
and compelling her to change her
position. In doing which she grounded:
and again I poured into her al, the
guns that could be brought to bear
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18
NEW YORK STOCK MARKET

New York, Feb. ia keen desire
to realize profits was clearly mani
fest in the action Of the stock mar
ket today. Professional operators who
had bought stocks yesterday on the
early indications of success in the
New York city bond sale hastened to
resell today The outside demand at
i tracted by the bond sale was not
sufficient to absorb this selling and
prices fell sharply. The Professionals
turned to the bear side and helped the
decline
Statistics of railroad earnings for
the first week of February indicated
broadening of the margin of de-
crease from last years level compared
with the average of January earnings.
Some of the specialists were again
under pressure Of the special kind
Which has been a feature earlier in
the week and this had a sympathetic
effect on the tone of the general list
The action of the stock market did
not materially alter after the convic-
ton of the significance of the New
York city bond sale as an evidence of
improving health in the financial sit
uation as a whole.
The general bond list today was
little influenced by the New York
city bond sale. The statement showed
that whatever new loans had been
taken out in connection with the
city bond sale were from the other
banks and trust companies and not
from clearing house members.
Bonds were steady and quiet. Total
sales par value s2,37S,0O0 United
States As registered advanced l IL
per cent on call during the week.
Total sales today 424.S00 shares.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18
COTTON FUTURES.

New YGrk, Feb. 15.-The cot'on
market opened steady at an advance
of to points and showed a net ao-
If 7 to points during the early ses-
sion on covering by yesterdays sel-
1ers, higher Liverpool cables, oulllsh
weekend figures and reports that III
terror holders were not meeting the
decline in futures
Sentiment continued very nervous
and unsettled, however and after the
first half hour the market eased OH
under liquidation prices during the
middle Of the morning, being only 3
to points net higher. Trading was
quiet. The market closed steady with
prices net unchanged to points low
or. HAIE
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18

Liverpool, February 15.-Cotton:
Spot in fair demand prices points
lower, American middling fair SIT;
good middling Gal; niddling 6.15;
low middling 5.S1; good ordinary 5.39
ordinary 4.S9.
The sales of the day were 5000
bales of which 500 were for specula-
ton and export and included 2,S00
American. Receipts $500 bales all
American.
Futures opened barely and closed
steady. American nliddling G. o. G.
February and March 5.71A March and
April 5.71a; April and May 5.71; May
and June $40; June and July 5.6S:
July and August 5.64: August and
September 5.55: September and Ccto-
ber 5.45; October and November 1855
November and December 6.34.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18
COTTON RECEIPTS.

New York. February 15.-Receipts
a the ports today 1928 bales agafnt
28,556 last week and 1855 last year.
For the week 150,e00 bales against
I7B.6S0 last week and 252,742 last
year. Today's repo33 at New Orleans
5,748 bales against 11,86S last year
and at Houston 3,766 bales against
1882 last year.
Total today at all ports-Net re-
ceipts 1928; Great Britain 1896;
France 4,341; Continent 20,199.
Consolidated at all ports-Net re-
ceipts 18,288; Great Britain. 4,341;
Continent 20,199
Total since Sept at all ports
Net receipts 6,67O,826; Great Brit
ain 2,362,561; France 636,756; Con-
tinent 2,357,082; Japan 1859;
Mexico 1929.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18
NAVAL STORES MARKET

New York, Feb. 15.-Turpentine
easy, at SIC. Rosin quiet at $500.
Savannah, Feb. 15.-Turpentine
quiet As; sales 191; receipts 201;
shipments 163-
Rosin firm; sales 1853; receipts
1927; shipments 1,701; stock 101,-
079. Quote: A B $50; d $50;
E .3.35; F $40; G 3400345; Fl
3.45 $3.50; 3.75; K 500; NJ $40;
N SIS; w G 6.25; W w 6.35.
Charleston, Feb 15-Turpentine
firm at soc; sales none.
Rosip firm: sales none. A B
800; d 1926; E 325; F $50; C
$50; H 335; | 3-65: K 4.S0, NJ
500; n $50; w G $40; w w 500
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18

CORN-Soot steady; No 6S ele-
vator. Options is n &c nes higher.
OATS-Spot quiet; MIXED 57h
LARD-Steady; western prime q
PoRK-Barely steady; family 49,
509 1900.
RICE-Steady 3Aqs1z.
MOLASSES-Quiet 2SQ42.
SUGAR-Raw steady; fair refin-
ing 3.17; centrifugal 90 test 3.67;
molasses sugar 292; refined quiet
No. $50; No. 4.45; No. 8 4.40;
No ABS; No. 10 425: No II
4-20; No IL 4-15; No 13 40;
No. Il 4.05; powdered 500; granu-
lated 40; cubes SIS.
COFFEE-Spo steady; Rio No. Z
6A; Santos No -Sh; mild coffee
steady; Cordova 9 q ola. Futures
net unchanged to points lower.
BUTTER-Weak; creamery spec
ials 32; extras 31@ BIZ; third to
firsts % a 30; common to fair 81 q
20; process second to specials "a q
2515.
CHEESE-Firm, unchanged.
EGGS-Firm; nearby brown and
mixed fancy 23; western and south
ern firsts 21; seconds 20Q2015.
PEANUTS-Quiet, unchanged.
POTATOES-St unchanged.
CABBAGES-DuH, unchanged.
Cotton seed oil was firm on com
mission house buying and better gen.
eral inquiry. Prime crude % q % "
prime summer yellow 81 q off sum-
mer yellow Sc u G37A; good of
summer yellow 36A @37A; prime
white 3S % 40; prime winter yellow
80 II GAIN
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-18
TRAINS LEAVE WILMINGTON AZ

No As connects at Hamlet with No.
sc for Raleigh and Richmond and
points north. At Monroe with No. 3
for Atlanta.
No. 80 connects at Hamle, with No.
Il for Atlanta, Birmingham and
Charlotte, with No. "a for Washing
ton and New York, No. 32 for Ports
mouth and Norfolk, and No. AZ for
Columbia, Savannah and Jackson
vile.
For time tables and any ipforma-
ton apply to your nearest Ticket
Agent, or call Phone No. 1894.
J. ID. EDWARDS,
Union Ticket Agent
r. A. FETTER, Agent.
Phone SO, Wilmington, N. @.
G. III. GATTIS,
Travelling Passenger Agent,
RALEIGH, n. G.