Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-06
WHEN WADSWORFA FELL
EVENT RECALLED BY RECENT
CORRESPONDENCE.
Effort to Have Returned Gauntlets
to the Family of the Deceased
Federal General.

An echo from the desperately fought
battle of the Wilderness is contained IN
q letter lust received by Capt. John L.
Callag Of this city, who served IN
the Confederate army as member Oh
Purcelrs Battery of Richmond, Va, I'M
der Mai William J. Pegram. The COM
munication is from Capt. a. j. Erwin or
crawford, Miss, who was commander OF
COMPANY F. 18th Mississippi Infantry,
G. s. A.. 1t is in relation to the death
Of Cen. Wadsworth of the Union army,
who was killed at the Wilderness.
The sword taken from the body of Gen.
wadsvorth was returned to his son, for
NOR Representative Wadsworth of New
York, several years ago through the efforts
of Representative John Sharp Williams OF
Mississippi Capt. Callaghan having
learned that the gauntlets worn by Gen.
Wadsworth were I'm possession of Capt.
Erwin, wrote to him requesting that they
also be returned to Mr.. Wadsworth.
Death of Wadsworth.
MY recollection is Capt Erwin
writes, that on May 6. 1864. Gen Wads-
worth of New York was killed in front
of my regiment. 11th Mississippi, on the
falling in our lines, T. b. Morehead of
my company took from it Il very fine
sword and also a pair of gauntlets. The
sword lie gave to Col. r. Q. Reynolds of
the Nth Mississippi, and the gauntlets
to me. I was then captain of Company
+. nth Mississippi.
Il was wounded few months after at
Petersburg and coming home brought the
gauntlets with me- They remained in pos
session of my family for years, stored
with other relics of the war, until being
, so decaYed and moth eaten they were
| thrown away several years since. | re-
/ gret exceedingly that I had not an op-
portunity to restore them to Gen. Wads-
worth's family. / am gratihed that TIE
sword has been returned.
Several years after the war the
writer continues, Il was visiting at the
home of Col Reynolds and asked him
! why he had not returned the sword lie
| laughingly replied that he would do sc
when they returned him his lett arm, lost
at Petersburg, adding that when he had
opportunity he desired and expected to
| return it to some member eff the family
Hills corps, or part of II, HethS dlNis-
| ion Confederate army, was left at the
| Wilderness to bury the dead after Grant
moved to Spottsylvania Court House.
| remember being thus engaged with a
body of men, burying the dead Of both
armies but ! do not know the disposition
/ of Gen. Wadsworth's body. though ] was
an the very mound where he fell. helping
! Ia bury several members OF M company
Monument to American Manhood.
You may inclose this letter to Rep
resentative Wadsworth with my re-
CARDS, and with the sentiment that the
suffering and sacrifices on both sides
are evidence sufficient and indisputable
of the sincerity and honesty of convic-
| ton on both battle lines and the fight
| perpetuates and is a sky high monu-
/ ment to American manhood.
II remember the gallant services OF
Pegram's battery Of artillery" Capt
| Erwin said in conclusion. My regi-
ment often passed and was passed by
! the battery in our marches and ma
neuyers / hope to have an opportunity
To NEE, YOU some day, when | will
tel, YOU of my love for old Virginia
| where found two mothers who
nursed me to recovery from severe
wounds at second Manassas and Get
tysburg."
| can't. Callaghan said Gen. Wadsworth
| was killed by member of company
Of the 18th Mississippi acting as Skin
mishers at the Wilderness. The Union
force fell back and the body fell into
the hands Of the Confederates.' 1t was
sent through the lines by the southern
commander to Gen. Wadsworth's com
rades.