The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-23
CRIT by Major Robert stiles, 1863
Aftcr SuOtsyiynnin.

Alter Spotsylynnin.
Tho fierest battle he was In was al
tho Bloody Angle, Spotsylvanin. on
tho 18th Of May, 1864. where a white
oak tree twenty-five inches In diameter
was cut down by mimic bullets. There
tho battery was captured Mr.. Hunter
was Immediately assigned to Captain
Charles Fry's Orange Battery as sec
ond lieutenant. to take tho plnce OF
Lieutenant Cochran, resigned. He held
this place until about February, 1856,
when Lieutenant Cochran sent in a
claim for reinstatement on tho ground
that his resignation had mover been
formally accepted. Cochran never serv-
ed in tho army again: the war closed
sooneafter. and Mr.. Hunter never heard
tho full facts In the case. There was
good deal OF criticism OF Cochran and
dissatisfaction among the men, but
Mr.. Hunter Immediately asked to be
transferred and was ordered to report
to CARRIERS Battery as sergeant. There
was no sulking In his tent for this
true soldier! Devoted to his country
and to her cause, he but asked to serve
her IN any capacity. He was still With
Garber when. toward the early spring
Of 1856. Cutshaw's Battalion, to which
Carringto toms and CARRIERS batteries be-
llonged. was ordered to Petersburg to
man heavy guns there.
1 Mr.. Hunter was in a number of
| skirmishes at various times that
| spring, and did some fighting on the
retreat from Petersburg, when he and
others OF the battery took muskets
and served az infantry. fIe was pres.
Iend and On duty at Gauley River. Port
Republic. Gamers Mill. Malvern Hill
] charlottesville Winchester. Gettys-
burg. Mine Run, Cedar Creek, the
/ wilderness. Spotsylvania, Second Cold
! IIarbor, in the lines at Petersburg
ana was at Appomattox on the day OF
the surrender or Lee and his army.
a photograph taken Just after the
war shows him still wearing his old
gray Confederate uniform. but the
buttons are coverd with crepe.
His feeling for the cause Is best
shown In his own words. TO quote
from an address delivered at sol-
alcrs' meeting In Richmond. many
years later:
Tho duty Is laid upon each and
every ono of us to do what we can to
preserve on It's simple truth tho proud
story of our struggle. Go and teach
your children that their fathers were
! patriots and not traitors. that they
7 fought for right and principle, aud
| not for selfish greed. Let tho rising
SsuerdllCIl KNOW tIldt no page OIL " IT =.
sirla's history IL frcer from shame
and dishonor than that which tells
tho story Of Leo and Jackson, Long
street and Johnston. and the mon who
followed them.
And 80. drawing inspiration from
the examples OF your heroic past.
those who shall como aftcr you-will
not be unworthy of you. but they,
too. In their day and generation. will
be truo to that guiding star OF duty
and honor that their fathers followed
from Bethel to Appomattox.''
This Is his record as soldier of
his country. yet one word of his ser
vice as a soldier OF the cross. Hts
liberalIty that responded to every
necessity, his patience. gentleness.
| moderation. and greatest OF these his
charity. that knew no evil. are his
witnesses. The highest qualities OF
mind and heart were devoted to this
service. With unusual culture with
an intellect that Investigated the
scientific theories of tho day. lie still
by searching found out Cod: and
in singleness OF heart he served his
Master. fighting life's battles with
courage and great humility, conquer
ing In this warfare because
His armor was his honest thought.
And simple truth hia utmost SKILL