The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10

bohind which NO hoped to lessen our
danger from attack.
The hcroiam or tho good people OF
Petersburg should DO IN example for
futuro generations to emulate, and
their patriotism ana solf-naorlrico Will
1.-Two In history along with tho deeds Of
Vnlor or hor matchlcss soldiers,
Her bravo ind cultured women.
though bereft OF every comfort and
soreiy pressed for the necessities of
life, found time and means to ad-
minister to the crying wants OF the
Southern soldiers, and gave freely and
generously of their scant means. oven
sending out to the trenches, under IRE
at times provisions to 'tbc hungry.
worn and weary men, who night n,id
day werc at their posts of duty. with
out the necessities TO keep body and
soul together
We would lilo in our trenches at
night with our eyes upturned, watch
Ing the play OF the deadly fireworks
mortar shells with fuse aflame, dart
Ing across the heavens In graceful
curves. presenting grand mcteoric
display. NO matter how beautiful to
tho eye, Ii WAS appalling, because It
meant, possibly. tho destruction Of the
beSIeged city.
These frightful messengers of death
crashed through sacred edinces. resi-
OeuCsS pleCcb allRe, nlUA
ing living In that beautiful city al
most unbearablc. The people of Pc
tersburg, however, were made of Tine
metal, and through 1t all We're I'M
dhunted and determined to resist to the
very last AS an Illustration OF the
stubborn determination and the grim
and daring bravery OF the people at
that time, 1 must cite an incident. One
lady asked me to go and rescue an
nII lad ffn har ,,.1,t, ~, ho.t
been almost demolished by the rain
OF shot and shell which was being
hurled relentlessly into the city by the
long-range siege guns OF the enatnys
batteries. i sought her and urged her
to go to place OF safety with me. She
replied: Let them do their worst:
] will not be driven FROM my home"
1 pointed 10 the heaps OF brick and
mortar lying Oh tho hoors. caused by
the crushing Of shot and she'll through
the walls OF the building, to no avail.
She would not stir from her home.
This was the sublime spirit which.
like Il burning fire, kept aglow In the
breasts Of these grand people during
the trying times OF the siege Of Pc
tcrsburg Tho same determination and
the same spirit OF patriotism and
hcroism Slowcd in the breast of every
Southern soldier. Ia II q wonder, then,
that our WORKOUT and ragged littlc
army ahuuld have held In check for
so many weary months tho grand and
imposing army of The Union, COM
posed. as II was. mainly OF drafts upon
the nations of the world? It has been
said. and said truly. that when the
Confederate army laid down their arms
at Appomattox they did not surrender
to Grants army, but to all the nations
OF the world.
My heart throbs with varied and
conflicting emotions When ! review my
career rs n soldier, but above all comes
the sad recollection of thoae who
served us so faithfully who have boen
left behind on the battlcields. And
then. again, since the war so many
have gone from us to their last rest
ing places. All those wounded with
inc at Bull Run have answered their
last roll call. My dear brother, Page
NJ. Baker, with whom 7 had been ne
sociated for u half-ccntury. ono Year
ago passed over tho silent river, to rest
OF the Ave brothers who enlisted in
the army. nut the saddost part OF 1t
was that just as his beautiful daugIi-
ter, his only child, Constance, was
budding into womnnhood, he was taken
from her.
This is the first chapter of my en-
perienco in the army, and as II IS
written entirely for my family, I trust
| may not be charged with egotisn. for
have never sought notoriety, but
on tho contrary-I have always avoided
anything snvoriug OF vainglory.
have simply related incidents Just as
they happened when my mind was
young and retentive, that is all.