The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-23
THE TIMES DISPATCH; RICHMOND VA SUNDAY JANUARY % 1910

eral Floyd to assist In drilling his
troops ana was assigned TO duty with
tho gallant t'Itty-nrat Regiment. He
was in Ills first battle at tho light be-
tween Floyd aud 1,osecrans Mt the
Gauley ltlvett diary kept during
these first months OF service describes
fully his life whilc with General
iloyds command. Tho diary begins
IN neat little book: the descriptions
or chc days doings are very full.
but gradually the record grows bricfer
and closes abruptly on November q,
l1ssi. the last parts being written OH
/ the backs OF old envelopes and scraps
of dingy paper.
Floyd's command consisted OF Col.
onel Wharton's, Colonel Hetl's. Col
onel McCeusland's. Colonel Thomp-
l.kins's, Colonel Ecton's. Colonel Kus-
I SELLS regiments, and Philiips's Legion,
Major Waddell's battalion and several
batteries of artillery. In the diary
their camp life is well described. Their
mess was composed 1f Colonel e.
c. Wharton, Captain Hutton, Captain
Mccue. Ficklin Moore, Dc Rusoey,
Peter Otey aud John Hunter. These,
with Major Cunningham, OF Alabama;
Washing ton, the painter: Forsberg,
Wuyland and others, formed n conge-
NAL company around the campfire.
where they criticize the government,
censure their generals. discuss Tcnny-
sons Princess" Washlngton's sketch.
es. the fare, the beds. the Yankees, cn-
Joy little music on banjo and bones
and later sleep we'll on tho ground or
sometimes six In bed. The mess
instituted fine for swearing and
amy one late for breakfast was fined
| 20 cents. the money to be devoted to
the ''mess." There iu good descrtp-
ton OF Colonel Thoripkins watching
| through Il spyglass his little children
at play In the yard around his house
which was occupied by General Rosc.
Grams. and of II note received by Nc
| Crcary from Iartsuff, a Federal Off,
Ger. returning photographs captured
I, from McCrcary's baggage at the battl'
/, or the GauIey (Carnifax Ferry, nns
regretting there was no picture of Nc
Creary. who had been his friend befor,
/ the war. BY October liz provisions hat
/ become scarce, transportation was bad
sickness was in camp, some democrat
ization in tho command, and paymcn
TO troops WAS overdue.
! Served with j. II. Floyd.
During this time. a period OF little
over four months, John Hunter served
not as an enlisted man, but as an In
IlNPChuRIti Gnu we'll Will Ilcyo y
command to what Is now West vir-
| ginia. remaining with them until Floyd
was ordered West to Fort Donelson.
He gave satisfaction, and when Floyd
left for the West he gave Mr.. Hunter
| a letter TO the Secretary of War rec
! ommendsng him for appointment as
lieutenant in tho regular army. From
a feeling OF modesty he did not pre-
/ sent this letter himself, but sent Il to
Judge w. G. T. Nelson, then in tho
Virginia Legislature. On reaching
/ Richmond he found that Floyd had
fallen into disfavor because of the Fort
Donelson AFFAIR. and the letter had
never been presented.
! Mr.. Hunter then enlisted In a bat
terry formed at Charlottesville. COM
manded by Captain James Mcdowell
Darlington, and at time of Organization
was made sergeant. lie was still serv-
ing as sergeant in the battle OF VIM
chester. where his horse "NIadge- was
| killed under him by canuon-ball.
which entered her body just under the
knee and passed through without
wounding him. Several soldiers who
were present have spoken of his alb
| soiute fearlessness. and of how, quiet
" calling for another horse. he stood
| by the gun of the Charlottesville Bat
terry of which he was In charge. as cool
| as if nothing uncommon had happened
| (Sec -Four Years Under nIarse Rob