The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-23
a BRIEF MEMOIR OF
COL. r. b. BOSTON
Gallant Leader Of the Fifth Virginia Cavalry
Unscathed in Bloody Battles, Onyto Die AL
most Within Sight Of Appomattox.
The Career Of His Regiment

Ordered TO Tic Valley. Of virginia In
august, iset with the division of Con
o"hh ~ kcrahaw the men of ktz
Lees command obcycd with alacrity.
and Mt the baltic OF Winchester .a,d
~ General John 3. Gordon 10 hav.
necn tho hardest fought battle
2, aeh'''9l Tie greatest odds In witch no
! -, 10 snEagcd' Colonel Bonton and
sno fifth virginia Cavalry bore try
ing part. Time would fail ~ to,i =,
i.nraH. and of tile numbcrlcss skir-
/ thishes succeeding IL. Of Toms Brool
where Colonel Boston led the regi
incnt IN q forlorn hope to have General
,.osFnrs men when routed: OF Cedar
Si.ovi., an" OF me surprise and Eout or
oneriuah; OF New Creek Lacy Springs
and OF iEc arduous. trying ana sever.
| winter campaign that followed. or Tho
| ictufh OF the remnant OF the regiment
General II. 4. Lees army at Peters
purg. still standing like a stone wall
| ~ aetehse Of that sorely beieagucrcd
hut heroic city. az VIC had left them
| changed. '- ~"
! In the battles nf ninwiddic Court.
mouse aud Five Forks. the regiment
wa ''s antN. as well as In tho subsc-
Mu1ni retreat Arriving at the High
l'ridge. near FHrmvile, Virginia aprIl
9. 1865. II was discovered that a force
ilnt Tie enemy had preceded them and
tHaNing failed in their attcmpt to de-
| sitoE the bridge, were returning in
an endeavor TO escape In this they
were not successful. though they made
| Il Enllant charge upon our mon. thor
| whole force OF over 500 men being
! either killed. with their commander,
! wounded Or captured. except about
| l"cnty-hVc, who escaped But here our
Eauant nero. mounted and leading his
men OF foot. and encouraging them on
ny WORD ami act. after passing I'M
scalhod through countless dangers and
conflicts. within sight as Il were OF
me mai end at Appomattox. fell from
hls morse shot through the brain Yet
! " Is some consolation 10 know that
| nc died In the arms OF victory, pursu-
| ing ;lceirg foe from whom a heavy
! reanital was made for q life so true,
:" noble. and so dear. Brave and kind
! Is hands bore his lifclcss body from
| ne field where he fell. and laid him to
| rest III n garden near the scene OF his
last earthly conflict OF the regiment
nc led and to which he was so much
attached that he would not leave 1t
| Tor the wreath OF a brigndicr. which
General Icb Stuart in a letter TO
James y. Seldom, Secretary OF War.
January -. 1863 called the .'FIghting
! Fifth.' II only remains TO be said tina
deprived OF It's head. II struggled on
| 10 'NPp'lld ION, ana tnere, Win mo
Army OF Northern Virginia. ceased to
exist, overwhelmed by countless num-
hers. Very soon after Colonel BoS-
toms deaf his body was taken zip by
kindly and loving hands and tendcrly
horne 10 his ancestral home. Red Hills.
on the Rivenna River near Palmyra. in
l'luvanna county. Virginia. and there
finally laid 10 rest with father moth
CT and other members of his family.
| amid tokens of 1--we and deepest dis
trcss..
His warfare ended, the soldier sleeps
Ills last long sleep. leaving an example
Of duty nobly done. even unto death
Thus ends this tale OF long ago. In
| hrefcst outline told. Not flight OF
years. nor carktng care, nor T,ethean
hood can efface the memory OF his sad
, taking off; yet with each recurring
npring. kind nature spreads with nng-
crs deft, her mantle green above his
lowiy bed. and from her bounteous
store with subtitle art eNhales the
fweet perfume of flowers. while fea-
thercd songsiers of varied hues, with
joyous notes acclaim their part In ma
lures resurrection Shall wa not meet
ngain? Can these bones live?" With
ono OF old we answer oh Lord God,
Thou knowcst"
There hrnss n sabre. and there a
with . rusty buckle and green curb
chain:
4 pair OF spurs on the old gray wall,
Md a mouldy saddle-wel. that Is all.
Come ont to tho stahle--it Is not far;
| The moss grown door Is hanging ajar,
Look within! There's an empty stall.
Where once stood a charser--and that
is all.
The good bay horse came riderloss
home
Flccsed with blood drops as well as
foam:
Sec yonder hllock where dead leaves
.rhc good bay horse dropned dead
that is all.
All? @ God! 1t is all ] can speak.
question me- not, I am old and weak;
Ills sabre and his saddle hang on tho
l wall.
And his horse is dead have told you
all"