The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-28
RECOLLECT|ONSOF.
AN OLD SOLDIER
Incidents Occurring in Company
c, a8th Virginia Regiment,
During the Civil War

While our regiment was stationed
along Warwick River in May, 1862. the
year for which our regiment had en-
listed expired. they were called upon to
re-enlist, not for one year, but for tho
war. Strange as IL may appear. Com :
pany c. without a dissenting vote. all
re enlisted. and reelected the old COM
pany officers. l believe the other COM
panies Of ths regiment did the same.
The company officers were then called
upon TO elect a colonel. licutenant-col-
oncl and 4 major Company C and pes
haps one or two other companies voted
to retain Colonel Robert Z. Preston.
who was always at the head OF the
regiment, whether marching or in bat
tie, but he was defeated by Lieutenant-
Colonel Allen. L!eutenant-Coionel WI
liam Watts was reelected lieutenant
colonel. do not remember who was
elected major. There were several mud
dams across Warwick River. (Tradi-
ton has It that General Lafayette had
them erected during the Revolutionary
War; Many of his earthworka were
rcopened along thu river. After the
Reorganization OF the regiment and
companies we were engaged in the bat
tie OF Williamsburg. as we'll as MANI
skirmishes. Until we crossed the Chick
ahominy Creek. The enemy remained
tabiished our camp about two miles
souta OF Richmond and awaited de-
velopments. 1t was the latter part OF
May, 1862, we moved TO the east OF
Richmond, near the old race track.
The night we arrived at this camp wo
received orders to make an early start
next morning for Seven Pines. Cen
eral Johnston. who was in command
OF the Southern forces, made an early
at Il hz - ln =,
at breakfast and drove them from the
held. Our forces rcplenlshed their
haversacks from the many boxes and
barrels OF provisions the enemy had
brought with them. General Johnston
, was wounded in this battle and was
taken from the field.
General Stewart assumed commas nd.
We arrived too late to engage In the
battle Of this day. The next day our
regiment marched out upon thu main
road. General Stewart had gone down
the road TO reconnoitre. Our backs
were toward tds enemy. a regiment
OF the enemy had advanced TO the top
OF the hill in our rear and fired upon
us while our guns were stacked in the
road. They did not touch man. GEN
eral Stewart, hearing the firing, came
galloplnS back and gave the order TO
charge, which we did through the fall
en- timber. Our regiments. well as
companies. became greatly disarrang cd.
Company e, instead OF being In the
centre. was adjoining Company Ii a.
, the extreme left OF our line. General
Pickett requested ME TO go up the h!ll
In our rear go as to overlook the
, slight rise In our front TO the cnemy's
position In the bottom. / reported Ii
him that the enemy was advancing. lie
( instructed me to go along the line 10
the left and instruct the men not 10
fire shot until they could Sc. the cne-
rny's belts As they advanced to the
top OF the ridge in our front our men
fired as one man, and killed every man
in our front. Soon the enemy was
again approaching in grenter numbers
than before. and a little to the right
OF their former line of approach. David
Gilmore, of Company c, was having
trouble On getting sight AT the ensmy
l removed n small bush for him. Soon
he fred and turned to me and remark
ed that he got him that time. The next
vollsy from the enemy shot struck
him In the eye and he was taken from
tho field. Just 1T this time general
from the enemy's line dashed up to III.
line. reached out his hand and de-.
inanded our flag. Sergeant Lee waved
1t back and forward, rcmnrking, Take
| 1t If you can" simultaneously Com
pany c and one or two other companies
fired upon him. He fell OFF his ilorss
backwards: his feet hung in the stir
rups, and the horse ran down toward
the enemy's line. kicking at every
jump. with the general dangling at his
heels.
We had two very bright young men
In our company -brothers-who had
heretofore occupied positions next IL
the color. guard, being considered tho
most dang crous position IN the COM
pany. Our captain ordered that they
BIO separated, one to remain mex. TO
the color guard. and the oth.r was re-
moved to tho extreme left of the com.
pany. Both were killed at tho same
voliey from the enemy. the last fired
that day. Companies B and c had ca-
hausted their ammunition. Our cap