davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
IInnRfnrl.

Il. st.i HnusfOTd.
John Hansford patented land in
Gloucester county In l6h3. and thereby
affixed a name 10 the soil which will
cling to it forever-a name synony-
nous with romance, tragedy and for
titude He was the father Of Thomas
Hansford, who has been called the first
native MARTYR to American liberty.
here is no end indeed to the ro-
manccs of Virginia.. and although they
have been treated agali and again in
song and story, q stu more cunning
pen has yet TO do them Justice.
John Hansford had land in York, ms
we'll ns Gloucester. and lived in the
latter county on Vests Creek in 1851.
He was justice In ] 655. lie died about
1861. and In his will he not only de-
sisss land, but IL largo number of SER
wants and much plate
To his sons John t2) and william (2)
nc devised a plantation known ms CLAY
Bank, which plantation is now cut up
into several small ones but the name
clinRs 60 the locality and To tho wharf
which stretches far ont into the river
and, with Its truck dra VII by q tlrelcss
mule is almost historic.
Clay Rnnls" Is suggestive. High
above the river and REQ against the
woods rises the unyiclding earth which
named it, To many II means coming"
u
early and careless memories 1t is The
gateway TO the fields and shades Of
fertile. lovely Gloucester which one
can hardly reconcile to the unadornsd
loneliness of Clay Bank.
Clay Bank has Its attraction in tile
Asohers who live there. who welcome
the wendcrcr lie he coming or going,
end sci before him all that they have
OF Kindness and comfort; that he may
have good cheer. To others Clay Bank;
means going--lea Wing what they know
for that which they do not Know
breaking the last tie 10 press on Is
What Is before in faInt-henr.ctl uneer-
taint&
Who could not write an essay on
wharvcs, railroad stations. on paths
ahd roads which lead from home. which
may lead back hont ut last? But We
wera writing OF John Hansford He
Ind besides John and William, Thomas.
OF WHOM later. and Charles. TO these
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
evening. at which hour the guns boom
ed at regular intervals OF twenty min

evening. at which hour the guns boom
ed at regular intervals or twenty min
utcs.
All the batteries .on Morrls's Island
bearing upon the channel. kept up q
steady fro for some time after the
shot Into the Harriet Lane. and that
tho steamer. having advanced as far
asfthc ruined Star of tho West Battery.
was crippled by weli-aimed shot, az
ter which she deemed 1t prudent to
give up tho dangerous attempt, and
turned her sharp how TO the Hee
Stcvens's Iron Battery played con-
spicuous and important part In tho
brilliant. and as far ar our men are
concerned, bloodlees conflict which has
placed tho .12th OF April 1881, among
the m8lorable days. The calIbre Of
Its guM Its nehrness TO Fort Sumter.
its perfect impenetrabiity. the coolncs;
and skill OF Its gallant gunners, made
this fortfication one of the most for
midable of Major Anderson's terrible
opponents. The effect OF Its Dahl
grens and 64-poundcrs was distinctly
visible at an early stage Of the con-
hict. Clouds OF mortar and brick dust
arose from the southwest wall of the
fort as the shots Kissed on their err
rand of death. Shot after shot told
with terrible defeat In the strong wall.
and at about 3 o'clock Major Andcr-
son ceased to return this murderous
fire. In the course OF the afternoon
the joyful tidings that a breach had
been effected In that portion of the
fortress was horne to the city.
We dare not close this brief and
hurried narrative OF tho first engage
ment between the United States and
the Confederate States without re-
turnipg thanks to Almighty Cod for
the great success that has thus far
crowded our arms, and for the extra
ordinary preservation of our soldiers
from casualty and death In the ht-
teen hours of almost lncessant firing.
our enemy one of the most expert
cnced and skilful of artillerists, no
injury has been sustained by single
one of our gallant soldiers.
The result of the conflict strength
ems and confirms our faith in the Just
ness OF the cause for whose achieve
ment we have suffered obloquy and
dared perils OF vast magnitude. At
the outset OF the struggle we invoked
the sanction and aid of that God
whom we serve, and His hand has
guided and defended us all through
the momentous conflict. His favor
was most signaily. we had almost said
mlraculously. manifested on this event
full day. We cali the roll OF those en-
gagged in the battle and each soldier
Is here to answer to his name. No
tombstone will throw It's shadow upon
that bright triumphant day. II so, 1t
scemeth good I'm the eyes of Him. in
whose hands are the issues OF life
we fervently pray that our brave sons
may pass unframed through the per
lis of the day now dawning
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
Mntor Jonas the AutI,or.

Lines on the Back OF Confederate.
NOTE, concerning the authorship ot
which there has been much dispute.
were IN truth written by s. a. Jonas,
editor Of the Aberdeen (Miss.) EXam-
iher. circumstances surrounding Mr..
Jonas when he wrote the Zines" Bow
ion tomas himself. In a letter to Major w.
W; Screws. they are related below:
the circumstances attending the first
publication OF The Lines Oh the Back
Of a Confederate Note were these:
After Johnson's surrender atltlligh
Polnt, y. c., number OF us who nrO-
posed writing home for money secured
transportation to Richmond on tho top
or box cars. where the big hearted
landlord or the Powhatan Hotel. took
long chances on n bunch of us officers
p. L. Sublett. OF Virginia.: Captain i. b.
Schell, OF Cheatham's Sharpshooters.
and several others whose names do not
now occur to me. stopping nj one ho-
tel was vaudeville company. and Of
course, they took an interest in TIN.
Johnny Rchs, as they called US. and
one one OF them having secured num-
cer OF Confederate notes. chiefly five
hundreds blank on one side. part OF a
carload lot seized by tho enemy and
generally scattered, she brought them
write q sentiment on one for her as Il
souvenir.
as had q scrlbhiinF reputation
job, OF brewing tho sentiments; To nc.
while they respectively took ther nen-
cilings copied them on their allotted
bills and signed them. They wer. ali
In rhyme On my bill, ! wrote the lines
referred TO. Captain Buck Schell being
the FIRST To read them.
The lady. Miss Annie Rush. OF Ph!,a-
delphia. left MS a day or two after
wards Whom She gave the bill ~. |
know not but 1t found its way 10 the
office of tia New York AIetropalitan
Record. doubtless well remembered, as
u southern sympathiainE sheet. In great
favor. with our people In the year sue
ceeding the war. In that paper, 1,
made It's first appearances. under the
iiattering heading Something 'rou
Good 10 De Lost, over my signature.
since then, like John Browns soul.
II has been marching on. stolen a
thousand times By all sorts and condi :
tons of pirates. and often attributed
to honest people who FASTENED 10 re-
store the goods, Montgomery Advcr-
ttSer iH.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
North Carolina arnne.tx

Confederate veteran OF Cu,nenor
- ~; H.i va, has sent to a friend in Co
iumbia. S. G.. the following:
was the custom during tho .ya,.
LOT All the gentlemen who from aye
or other disabilities were not In tSc
hhr oy. TO visit any soldier who came
Hili Tucker lived In tho plny woods
no iar from Colonel LIS plantation,
a an, was wounded at Fredericksbure,
a usual ca Gn1on home on a furlough. AS
f ni was at home and wounded than
old Dan wat hitched TO the buggy and
y pa pedkf 6x OF It's somethInE good" was pre-
hfurt. and intensely Gattcrcd by Colonel
80 visit 1t happened to be Sunday.
s several Of the neighbors had drop
PED IN. SO Bill Tucker laid himself
cut TO entertain the company.
For Some time the conversat ton was
genera and consisted OF INQUIRIES after
me absent boys; Finally. Colonel L..
sot hurt" ~ II ~ ~
!, ,,Wc-e.ell. colonel, Til tell you.r sn,d
Bill. You see our brigade was on
men. mem big rollin hills | was tellin' YOU
N, general Lee rides up. he did, and he
snid. 'Whnr is General Hoke? And
G zen, iioke. he says. Here is, gen
General Hoke. who is the brnvest man n
you've got in your brgade?' and Gen
eral Hoke. he says. says he. .Gcnccal.
MT. BIZ Tucker is the bravest man /
ever seed and he says, Call him mere
ana General Hoke. he says. Como lherc,
Mr., Tucker, IL you please and ] come.
l did. and tuck off my cap, polite like.
and says. Good mornin'. Ciineral Lee
good mornin'. Gineral Hoke,' and they
moth says. Good mornin'. Mr.. Tucker
anu anu General Lee. he says. says he.
Them Yankees is a comm after me
asin.' and says. .Gincral, I'm powerful
sorry case somebody's bound 10 git
hurt and nc says, says he, MIR. TUCKER.
they tell me you are a brave man. and
You must help me- here's bran n ew
oeichtn' rifle and box of explosion
balls. and want ycu TO get out Wonder
behind that thar wall. and don't YOU let
EN- come on me. Mr.. Tucker And !
says, Gineral, I'm gwlne TO do my best
but, Eineral. don't you let em ntnk
me- and he says. says he. MIR. Tucker.
you can count on ME dom M best and
III tell Stonewall jackson to look out
for YOU, too
We'll, sir, 7 went out and laid down
behind that thar wall. and tuck out
my explosion balls and laid them han
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
z Esl(ssasN tQpd J5uleB plYpolrE) Al
ERlEz CkEs G0EUR
saSS4EE - <-/l-<@ (1
With assurance of my high regard,
Yours truly,
(SiEneAD w. II.LTAYIOR.

sons he left lind in York county. He
also had Eliza beth or, who married
first Christian Wilson. and second,
Randolph Holt. Mary. who married DIR.
Thomas Robins. OF Robins Neck (see
Robins genoalogy In Richmond Critic
md Virginia Magazine of History and
biography Volume H. Nos. 2 and IS.
and Margaret. who died early.
One Robert Jones was tho instruc-
tor OF these children, and a Robert
Jones was executed with Thomas t2)
Hsnsford. Were they one and the
same? Was this Rooer; living to-
day as he tutor OF the Iiansford chill
drcn--also q fiery, fearless fellow like
Thomas lInngford, who died for prin-
clple?
Thomas IIansford married Elizabeth.
daughter OF Richard Jones. nine years
before I'acon's Rebellion. at which time
hn had iive children. He WAS eviden:l
fellow who undertook 10 regula .
things In lG6S no wa- passing by 9
COW pen, supposedly t-c property 81
ono Ann tluddlestone, for lie sheer
insly said 10 Ann Huddiestonc's dame
60 and rob Tho onion patch aga!n!'
Was 1t his own onion patch ,het had
been rohhsd--else what business Of
mis-?
The dame was no mock one. either.
and she in anger. asked Can YOU
prove Your words g;
Hansford answered; "Yes." aud tho
dame straightwav stled HIM for SLAM
der II 1t were slander,w we hope she
won. but We can, ina out.
On enc occasion ne accused I6r WIZ
liam Townsend of stealing 'Slulrt
piESes'a cost, ana Std IN another suit
we hod thatshe Won 200 nounjsaof to-
bacco for damages done his bpusa. In
view of these recorded facts. we eau
ny call Thomas ilansford a quiet fell
When the people locked around
bacon S standard lIanstord WAS good
and ready We can imagine TINT he
wns on the oui vive TO beistcrous,y air
MS opinions In The faco OF amy oprosi-
ton and in an alteration and per-
spnal cncountcr with Captain William
ptSges, of Benholh he lost a nngcr.
When Bacon icft JdmcstownIito so on
the indian warrath again. he showed
his faith In the courage and judG
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11

short timo after tho above was bull
letined. confirms tho cheerful news.
Twelve o'clock-we have Just learn
ed by on arrival from cummings Point,
that tho batteries there are doing good
service. Stevcns's Battery very sue
cessful. Not single casualty has hap
oened. Tho troops arc in the best
spirits. Two of tho guns at Fort sum
ter appeared to be disabled. Consid-
cradle damage has been done to the
roofs OF the officers quarters.
AT o'clock the following was re-
cciyed from Norris island Two guns
IN Stcvens's Battery temporarily dis
ooled: Anderson's fire having injured
The doors of the embrasurcs. Tho
damage will be repaired speedily. /,
Is thought that Fort Sumter Will he
preached in two hours. Three steam
vessels of war were soon or the bar
ono of them supposed TO be the Har.
riet Lane.
Captain r. s. Parker reached the city
prom Fort Moultrie at half-past .
O'Clock, and makes tho following re-
port: Captain Parker visited Fort
Aloultrte and the Ennlading Battery
nearby. and found all well and in high
spirits. He left the Mortar Battery
Lieutenant HollInquist, at ten minutes
past 2. The soldiers stationed there
are giving good account OF them
SS''e'' ! ne y lOdlIUS battery mad been
struck eighteen times, and received
no material Injury.
The venerable Edmund RuTln. who
as soon as 1t was known battle was
inevitable. FASTENED over to Morris Is
land and was elected member of the
Palmetto Guards. fired the first gun
from Sterens's Iron Battery. All honor
TO the chlvalric Virgnian. May he
live many years to wear. the fade
lees wreath that honor placed upon
his brow on our glorious Friday.
Another noble con OF the Old Domin-
ion. who rebukingly reminds her OF
her past glory. was appointed on Gen
eral BcRuregard's star on Thursday
bore dispatches to the general-in-com.
Inand. from Brigadier-Gcneral James
Simmons in command of Morris Is.
land. durin gthe thlckest Of the fight.
and In the face OF n muJderous nrc
from Fort Sumter. Colonel Roger a.
Pryor. the eloquent young Virginian
In the execution OF that dangerous
commission. passed within speaking
distance oC the angry and hostile
Despite the fierce and concentrated
Gre from For Sumter, the rival forth
iication on Sullivan's Island received
nut slight damage. Its merlong stood
unmoved. and arc this morning In ms
good condition as they were be-
fore their strength was tested by the
rude shocks OF the shot
The Floating Battery came out OF
the iron storm without losing n plate
OF Its Iron cover or n splinter OF It's
pine
a brisk IRE was kept up By all the
batteries until about o'clock in the
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
a coNFEDERATIs,s BIBLE.

Some time ago I promised TO send
you letter and no doubt YOU condemn
ed me for seeming forgetfulness, but I
did not forget It, and am glad l did
postpone It, 80 -
or January last. wrote to The
IA :: tional Tribune. of Washington. Is.
second battle of Manassas. While o ose
slsting in burying our dead The day
ener the hattie little Yankee sol-
a,er boy asked mo for drink OF water
wounded. He then asked me 10 write
70 his mother in New York. I did
.nd Inc note was about, this:
me in heaven" ny eoun' s.1, ace
"a to signed hls name. He told me to
would send 1t. did SO. and when
returned tho little fellow was dead.
n rnoW sorry | was I did not keep that
National Tribune. received soma
tnnirty or forty letters from Yankees
- -, a., a. H's) and one of item told me
June is: 1861. with my name in itennd
nsking II l claimed 1t. / answered nnf,
SS artxl MN to send Il to me. but after
IL - Icy tseSeh years cannot recognize II.
ana II my children did not want 81 = r.
,sr my death to have them send IL
t PACK TO him How strange that after
por,,o - n SeaIS inns should occur
more of the second battle of Nian,e.
Sas; It was indeed n fearful slaurhtnr
- Pore could have kept that hattie of
ABLY would have ended then, for we
we're entirely out OF rations. novar
.tnew until two weeks ago that we 'lost
. nn1 more by death in Northern pris.
ern nrisons--yet all that stuff nbn,,
unreasonable, and Wirz was innot
Gently hung for It,
T.|jR. COVIhGTON
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
each othor by bringing their re

In each other by bringing their re-
spective commanders together In u
hnndshake over n reunited country.
But before we too hastily conclude
discussing this question. we of tho
South should defer TO tho opinion OF the
women who have tcnderly cared for
General Lees remains and have laid
about his memory garlands of love iIall
these years. BY their constant devo-
t9on to noble principles they have
moved our mon to activities that have
brought victory out OF defeat They
should have n voice as to what at.i.
tude the South should takc towards
the plan. 34
Il feel sure that these women Will
be ready to lend their aid in the cree
ton OF tho Joint monument TO tho
chivalry Of two OF Americas leaders,
Baltimore Sun.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
COLONEL rArLon.s rEsrIMoXr.
Says That Pickett md other general,
---- AAcrc IL cIicYc Icrnni Dur -----

Were Relieved From Duty.
Concerning the charge that General
Pickett was not. on friendly terms with
General Lee. Colonel Taylor, Of General
Lees staff. wrote the following letter.
In 1905:
Norfolk Va. November TO- 1905.
MIR. r. T.. CowRrtf Dallas. Texas:
Dear Sir,--I received and read with a
great deal OF interest your letter nf tho
9Th OF Novemher. II am glad To sea- that
YOU are disposed to write Your per-
sonal "reminiscences Of the exciting
events in which-Sou took part in 1861
1868. Such contributions will be Of the
Greatest value In iransmitting 70 pos
cur old Army or Northern Virginia
Much has been Written of the infor
tunate affair ut Five Forks, and your
In this connection. l have recently had
sent me for examination letters from
General Rosser and Colonel Mostly con-
corning that unfortunate engagement
and. while am pretty we'll satisfied
In my own mind that some mistakes
were made and some blame attaches to
personally n witness to those opera
lions. and am not. therefore, qualified
TO write full account OF the battle
or Five Forks. MS suggested by YOU ii
l We'll recall letters written To me
by Soma tor Culbcrson, General FItz Leo
and General l;ppa tIunton, asking IS 10
The truth Of the report that General
Pickett was relieved from command on
Our retreat to AppomattoX. In Zach
case my reply was carefully worded.
for would do Injustice to no one and
am deeply sensible Of the desrahility
OF building up Confederate regulations
rather than tearing them down Gem
eral Pickett was relieved from duty
with our army ON tho retreat. as were
also General r. II. Anderson md Bush
rod johnson. The orders relieving these
officers were issued by me. ny order OF
General l-eeN who gave me his reasons
fer thcm;, but tho orders themselves
conveyed no word of Ccnsurc. no .,na-
cial reason being assigned for them.
No charges were preferred, nor were
any arrests made in connection there
with.
With assurance OF my high regard,
Yours truly,
(SiEneA) w. H.lTAYIOR 4
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11

dy in the cracks OF the wall. and bims-
oy about sunrise. Gineral IIoke. he
hoilered out. no did. and ne says says
ne. Look out, Bill. they're a comlnE:'
and here they como, and laid thar all
day. did. and shot 'cm with that
belchin' rifle and them explosion balls.
= q gotn' and comm. tell YOU. And
night. one great, long. high Yankee. he
waved his handkerchief till | stopped
nrin'. and he. got up. he did. ana he
says, MT. Tucker. great Goddlemigity.
Is you swine 10 kill MS ;Ill?" And while
l was n foolin, tallkin' to him, some
one crep up and shot mo In the arm.
ana ! was bore of from tho field, and
TWO south Carolina and Il Virginia rlE! :
meht was sent up to take my place.
The Columbia State
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
BRAVE BOSTON
GAVE UPHIS LIFE

where the bullets were thjckcst-under
The ammunition wagon, scared like
hell.
But perhaps i have trespasscd too
long on your time and patience. With
the last bugle note st. Peter at the
gate" Will meet US with open arms,
some heavenly orchestra vihrat ting with
the grand old tune OF Dixie" This at
least is my slncere wish and hope.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
Queries and Answers.

t1ollEls institute. HollinS, Va, HI
May 81. 191l.Sifs
Editor Genealogical Column: .3ij''
l write to-day in behalf of a silver
spoon. When came into possessioI
OF my grandfathers old homestead. q
also found some OF the old familve3
silver. Among a lot Of large tableJ
spoons with marker Up" was one WITH
this name In full--"John u. Cooke, q
How 1t came into my family do noS
know. nor have l been able to dis4j
cover any connection
have had 1t put away In the banlS
with other old silver. etc, fifteen yea.rsA
or moro. but now think the riEhtfu1g
owner or his descendants should1
nave II. ard thought of the Genealog45
ical Column as a way to speak of itya
Il Could you Insert something like the,s
inelosed and thereby put any membeM
OF the Cooke family In communicaL
tion with me? i9G
a lady writes that she has In her3
possession a large silver spoon markeea
John u. Cooke found among ma
silver spoons inherited by her froniJ
her mothers family. This spoon is ana
alien one. and there is no connect ions
with the present owner to the Cooked
family Therefore. should any mem n
Der OF this particular family of CookessS
wish H. write to Miss Lucy P. stoned
HolnnS, va. s55SSj
Rolln. Mo-, April 20, 1911. 4,
Editor Genealogical Column:
In letter OF mine TO your depart-
ment. dated April is, 1911. askeGj
some queries concerning a John DAVIS
son. father Of Jane or Lucy Dawson.3
who married Edward Tinsley. That
Is as tho line has been given mo
by quite a number, until to-day's mail
brings inc the following !nformation1 "a
That Pleasant Dawson and not, u ohIIfs
Dawson is the father OF Jane (Daw-
SOM Tinsley. SO 1 wish to correct my.
query. have ms follows: Pleasant
Dawson, born in Alhcmarle county. \
Va IN 17Ii; married In Amherstl
county March Q. tT9i: his first wife,
Sarah Christian. She was born and3
died In Amherst county. Va. His sec /
ond wife was Mrs. Jamima Salnons:f
He died in Bedford county. Va. The
children OF Pheasant and Sarah Chris
tian) Dawson were; RUSSELL Jane,l,
born 1877, married. Edward ,Tinsley;s
Braxton. Rhoda. Judith. Roderick. j ohnill
r. and Elizabeth. Children of his sec2i
Old wife were: George. Mary. SUSAN
and Sarah. b. RI hi y 81
Can You give me the names OF tn ~
parents of Pleasant Dawson, with hiss
mothers maiden name Dates andf
where they were born. married and !
died? $$..'f s..SSii
Was Pleasant Dawson's father IN tho
Revolution?i ttii,sss 81
Also The names OF the parents d OH
sarah Caristian. with her -mothers8s
maiden name Dates All. where werais
they born. married and gdied? WasS
her father in the Revolution?
The dates ard where Sarah (Chrissi
itianl Dawson was born and died? sa sss
IF The date and where Pleasant D wsoirs
died s ss
The date and where Jane nawaolfs
and Edward Tinsiayi were married 2lSS5sI
Tho date andbwhere lime FDawsnnss
and Edward Ttns!ey died? 81 D.
: Tho datn and where Edward TinafasJ
was horn? III NJ x
I Sincerely hoping some one can HsSA
me some help on hcsc lines, tcrta Iisys
Ne-N sincerely, s.. Nv q ~ - 3
MARGARET souTHGATES RUcKEEtTs,