The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-08
Some War "reminiscences

and wc dashed of to The Crater eand
saw all its horrors, though 1t was as
ccrtained that our battery could not
be used 1t was mere that saw Gen
eral Malone who was as cool as the
proverbial cucumber. returning to
camp. We remained Jus, watching the
enemy until the battle on the Weldon
Railroad. where we saw aerce and merry
good and gallant soldiers. Altar this
battle we were transferred TO Major
Marmaduke. Johnetons Battalion on
the north side OF the James. In an
engagement Oh October a. 1854. was
wounded After being doctored in
chimborazo Hospital was given
wounded furlouEh. with perini;sion to
go to my home In fredericksburg
During my stay there I was required
to report a, stated intervals to Cap
tain Hugh s Doggeti. Provost Mar
shall. and on one OF these occasions
met Senator Henry s Foote, of Missis-
sippi Senator Foote mad made himself
persona non srata 10 the powers that
were at Richmond. determining; TO take
leave Of the Confederacy and go to mis-
daughter. the wife Of Senator Stewart
u Nevada He made his way north
ward via Fredericksburg. vslere ne was
detained and arrested uirsu the au-
thorities could be heard fDom at Rich
mond Tho Senator was one ~ the
most interesting and brilliant CONVEX
sstionalisis I ever met HIS powers o..
description was as captivating as those
OF McCauley-his narrative OF his life
and experiences In the pioneer Gays OF
Mississippi I can never forget. He told
with much pathoss or the great men Of
the past whom he had seen and known
All went well and sereneiy until Pres
ident Davis came into his review, then
the fireworks began. Thsn there were
no expleiives-no words--in the Eng
lish vocabulary TO eNrsNess his con-
tempt and hatred OF Mn Davis. whom
he denounced as unfit and unworthy
to lead great and good people In n
revolution" While fun OF glory for
the pert he had played in Mississippi.
he prided himself that he was a Vir-
ginian. horn in Prince william Coun-
iy.r I parted with Mr.. Foote very re-
luctantly when the order came from
Richmond that he might be released
and allowed TO depan in peace. for
however I might differ with him as TO
many things, greatly enjoyed his
daily talks
After Aging pronounced ht for duty
rejoined my Company in front OF
Eachmond where we were awakened
from our camp life by the bugle call
and tho march comm enced that ended
at AppomattoX II would only be re
petition and rccepiLulation for me 70
describe this march. veritable via
doiorosae" with Richmond in ruins
with the Suffering OF the soldiers. with
its slsepless nights and its hopeless
days. all this has been told OF often by
writers OF notion nd OF history. AT
Appomattox was standing by the
roadside, the troops had stacked srms
and were YEARLY resting. nring had
ceased. the silence was really appall-
ins. when saw &c neral Long. chief or
the artillery. riding by and weeping l
braced myself UP and asked him what
was the matter. We have surrender
ed my boy said he. then ran to
the battery and told our men the aw-
full news. our old battle nag was taken
from its place ard torn in strips. so
that II possible, each member could
have a piece as 2 sacred relic. p. Y. D.
Conway. Esq. OF this city has his al
lotted piece, which he has revorently
and loyaly kept until now. AS long as
life VIII last can never forget the
scenes Of that fatal day / can see
now the brave and chivalrous Gordon
sitting erect. m'oud and undauntcd on
his horse. with uncovered head. sur
rounded by the brave men OF his legion
TO whom with an eloquence born OF
the hour he . AIDE farewell Many Il
gallant Georgis.n who had barred his
iront o. many battles, prepared TO die
for the South i nd its course. surround
ing their belo we'd commando wept
like chiidren-,and then Maior Marina
duke Johnston gathered his BOYS and
addressed th"Dl in words OF pathos and
power. while something on many a
soldiers che'Ie washed OFF the stains
of powder" But above all and beyond
all, there CO ines the picture Of that
great man, the most colossal hguro
who stood - . highest and nobleat in
our young ma tlon's life as we bade him
good by. Lie stood erect. fsultless.
with no blalr for the failure that had
come to hts peoples hopes fingered
with two comrades for several days
where our battery VAS parked We
watched cEg chance and captured from
OR own HORSES an nttenuated speci-
men. He became our burden bearer
as long nc could stand il without
food We traded him off for some not
corn bread. and sorghum molasses to u
farmer atti r two days desperate trial
or ondurais &C. In due time we reached
Richmond. where we were refused per
mission to go home until We took the
oath WIKI we refused To do, claim
Ing that dair parole was sufficient and
so 1t wal ordered by General Grant to
a numh'T OF soldiers who were in the
Same rs as ourselves. And here
badc - rcwcl to many Comrades with
whom had associated In tho great
drama Of war MS contender ~ the
Frederic ksburg Artiilery known as
BraXto MS Battery company that