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

90 N oAsahuous eheoT Breetcd I'D
ns We spod through N1lssis.ippi. Ala
'oama, Georgia, Tennessee and Vir-
Einia- Our first stop was Lynchburg,
where grand banquet was prepared
lor US and 4 cordial wclcouo o6tcndcd
tho battalion. Tho citizens were SO
earnest and sincere in their welcome
that they insisted upon taking us to
their various homes
Colonel EBhlcman and l were enter
tanned by Mre. Daniels, whose husband
was prominent banker OF that city;
In fact, all our command were royalty
entertained By the hosp!table citizens
of that city. They made heroes of us
before we could chow the good people
Of Virginia what stuff the Louisiana
boys were made of. Leaving Lynch
burg. our next stop was at Richmond.
dear old Richmond, that we were to
know and love SO we'll afterwards.
From Richmond we were ordered to
point near the afterwards famous
Bull Run. One morning while we were
peacefully resting in our tents orders
came to dispatch tho second comreny
of our command to the front, sup
posedly TO engage the enemy. who
were it was reported, advancing to-
wards Bull Run. 1 sought Captain
Eshleman and requested that he give
me transfer to the second company.
] had been placed In Captain Eshie-
mans charge by my brother. Marion
because he thought I was too young
to take care of myself. Captain EshIe-
man asked me why I wanted e. trans
fer. Being cornered. replied with q
subtcrfugc: Captain" / said, IT have
more friends in the Second Company
than have in the Fourth" The dcar
kind captain smiled and said. "Now.
Baker. i don't want TO lose you, and I
promise you that you shall get in tile
first fight of the war II you stay where
you arc. in my company, the Fourth
[ told him was satisfied. That night
ON tho slope of mountain we laid
down TO rest and sleep. our commits
snry wagon had gone astray and was
hungry and fatigucd, but nevertheless
] slept the sleep of the blessed. Just
before the break of day T was dis
tnrbed by some one shaking me to
wake nc UP. | was sturtlcd for an
instant but l SAW my captain, who
had come to keep his promise, Now,
Baker" he said. "if you arc In earnest
you have the opportunity this morning.
Get UP and go over TO the First Com
pany and ask for sergeant Payne.
l have arranged with him to take YOU
with his detachment" The First Com
pany was 10 engage the enemy at
Blackburn's Ford. was soon with
Sergeant Payne and the company was
or in a jiRy to meet the enemy. Wo
halted for a few minutes on the road
side, and ns we were without rations
VIC filled our caps with blRckberrics.
which grew III great profusion on
the roadside. Our bnttery had not long
TO tarry, however. for a courier dashed
up and ordered the guns forward at
n gallop. Cannons were booming from
the opposite side of Blaokburn's Ford,
warning lis ito be quick" for there
was serious work for us to do there.
Excited horses with wagonloads of
supplies were dashing peli-mell over
the fields, ambulances scurrying hither
and thither. picking UP the wounded.
All the animated confusion. and the
dead lying on the roadside as We
passed to the front, presented very
exciting and narrowing scene, par
icu!arly to the mind of q young and
Inexperienced boy like myself lust
across the neld, we'll up IN Tho front
stood General Bcauregard, holding Il
small riding whip. switching his trous-
crs az unconccrncd as IL he were mere
~ looker-on, when in reality he
was directing the placing Of tho
troops. Our battery was halted for an
Instant behind neck of woods. so
that we might select commanding
position: then we unlimbered and the
battle commenced in earnest. The
enemy having gotten our range, we
were literally pcltcd with shot and
shell. We FASTENED to advance our
position, so as to get ont of their
range. and while their shot screeched
over our heads our guns were having
telling effect and doing great cxecu-
ton. was acting as supcrnumerary
on Sergeant Payne's detachment. and
my duty was to carry ammunition
from the caisson to the guns. George
Muse, whom 1 was assisting. would
dive down in the caisson chest and
hand me the cartridge Taking il.
quickly. I would dash up to the front
with 1t On one Of these trips 1 missed
Muse. I looked around and saw him
lying on his back with crucifix 10
MS lips and the blood gushing from
his shoulder. / quickly bent over him
and asked him what had happened. He
replied, Baker I am done for; am
going to die I tried TO assure him
that he would be all right soon, and
binding Il. handkerchief about the
wound to try to stop the flow of
blood. I left him to resume the carry
Ing OF cartridges alone. Poor Muse
died that night. In one of these runs
I was suddenly brought 10 q half by
singing lick, which carried me to
fantrymen, and. little dreaming that
had been seriously wounded, waved
my hand to the boys and assured
them that I would be back In q min
ute. 1 was deposited in the rear of
my battery, and soon afterwards II
was announced that the enemy had re-
tired from the field. Tho battle of Bull
Run had been fought and won by tho
boys in gray" and the WASHINGTON
Artillery had defeated the crack ar
tilery corps OF the Union ~. sher-
mans Battery, thereby winning the
first laurel which was to be added to
In each battle of the war, thus rolling
up honors for the battery and win
ming for them the first place among
the great commands of the country.
Sherman's Battery was commanded
that day by Captain Rickctt, OF the
United States Army. know, him
personally. Is he and his family had
been constant visitors to my mothers
h., ~