The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-06
FOR LIBERTY.
NOT FOR SLAVERY
Principles Actuating Confederates The Fiji.
teenth Virginia in Camp and on the Field.
Memories of WILLIAMSBURG
ny }. sTUNToN MoonE.

the fftieth anniversary Of the de-
parture for tho field of the Fifteenth
virginia Regiment from Rlchmond.l
Comrades Of the Fifteenth Virginia
Regiment / Greet YOU
There are comparatively tow who
80 through q civil war. such as we
went through in 1ssl-G5. with dangers
seen and unseen, It's battles. its hard
ships, the diseases incident 20 camp
NE and survive that event half n
century; but my comrades. such has
been our good fortune. and we stand
upon the same hailowed ground upon
which we stood fifty years ago. To
Him whose dsys are unnumbered aud
to whom orc day Is as a thousand
years and a thousand years 3 one day"
half century is OF little account. mere
eecond in the countless cycles of time
moment in tho vast cons OF etern-
ity. but with man. whose days ~ our
age arc threcscors years and ten.
and though men be so strong that theY
come 10 fourscore years. YET ia their
strength then but labor and sorrow
50 soon pas.eth IL away. and we are
gone" II is more than half the aver
age life OF man. Let us. comrades
lit np our hearts in gratitude TO God
who in His Kind providence has spared
us TO see this occasion, and let us pray
that He may so teach US To number
our DAYS that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom. Flf;v years ago this
day we left Richmond. having resp nd
ed to the call OF Governor Letcher TO
defend our State against invasion by
the government we had been instru-
mental in creating. As stated in ruy
circular letter. this is our first semi.
centennial. comrades. and We can rest
assured II VIII be our last. How well
do 1 recall the march from the Fair
Grounds TO Rockets. whore we
boarded the Glen Cove" for our trip
down the river. Our march from the
Fair Grounds 20 the wharf was one OF
sadness and pleasure. we felt sad at
leaving our homes and friends. but the
sadness was tinged with Measure at
the enthusiasm OF the people, the
grand ovation paid. the bright hopes
Of youth. tho anticipation of quick and
easy victory and speedy return-for in
those daya we all thought we could
clean out the Yankees in sixty days
We were cheered as VIC marched IL
Eaudy array. every attention was
shown US. our pathway strewn with
flowers and our going illumined with
IN. smiles Of the fair sex. men and
women waved handkerchiets and en-
,cIraeing words erected ns on all
sides IL seemed more like parcel OF
boys on pleasure bent. going to pic
mic. than men Just about 10 engage in
the sdn dIaind OF ciHii anu ilulIISiudi
war Our regiment numbered about
zoo and was under the command OF
Colonel Thomas z. August. and was
known then as the Third Virginia
Regiment 1t was not designated as
the Fifteenth until after the battle Of
Bethel and the State troops had been
turned over TO the Confederate au-
thorities we marched down Main
Street with heads erect. with proud
and confident step. but notwithstand-
ing the fact that the orders were eyes
'front.'" we unconsciously glanced
right and left to return the smiles of
our sweethearts and lady admirers.
We kept step to the inspiring tunes
OF pixie" and the sadder notes of
THE Girl Left Behind Me" and other
pleasant and patriotic airs. The JOY
and enthusiasm was dimmed by many
n sigh and tear shed by wives. moth
ers and sisters, and as the soldier of
the legion who lay dying in Aigiers.
said: There's another---not a sister"
who shared in this sad parting
The scene at the boat though an
incident in my life fifty years ago, and
have gone through many scenes and
events since, still fingers in my me-
mory 1t was the first time many of
us had ever parted from our parents
and those endeared to us by the strong
est ties of love. certainly not one OF
us had ever parted under such serious
circumstances. 1t was solemn. try
Ing and Impressive scene. which caused
many heart to throb. many an eye
10 moisten. call unused to the melting
mood Soon after our embarkation
the first bell rang for clearing the
deck OF visitors-all visitors Off and
nl aboard were the cries-the scene
which ensued. the last handshake. the
last pressure of lips to lips. the last
farewell, the final wave OF the hand.
the boat starts and we gently glide
down the stream. In the rush to the
side of the steamer to say the last
goodby. the boat creened and coliided
with the patrick Henry" and Jack
Alison, of Company b, went overheard.
and was hshed up none the worse for
his ducking except wet clothes. We
reached our point of destination on
James River that night When we
landed IL was quite dark, and although
we had plenty to eat on the boat. we
thought we must at once begin camp
1ifo bv boiling some coffee. to drink
with our hardtack We imagined 1t
would have been unsoldierlike not to
have done so. one or the boys was de-
tailed to hunt up spring, another to
grind the coffee. a third to light the
camp nres. etc. We enjoyed our cup
of coffee hugely and all declared 1t
was the most deiicio"s VIZ ia" '''i
drunk. then wrapped ourselves in our
blankets, committed ourselves to His
keeping who watches over us always,
beneath the twinkling stars and slept
profoundly until roll call the next
morning
In preparing for breakfast. our cook
discovered a curious gelatinous sub
stance In the coffee boiler, which prov
ed to be boiled tadpoles mixed with
the coffee grounds, the water with
which the coffee was made having been
taken from a stagnant pool instead of
n limpid spring in the darkness of the
& .nrAxioua night, Many of tho boys be-