The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-16
ANNIVERSARY OF
 NEW MARKET V. M. I. Alumni Gave Ban-
 quet Last Night MAJ. TUTWILER SPEAKS Gives Extended Narrative of Cadets Part in Famous Battle-Colonel T. o. Smith Presided at
 The Country Club
MAJ. TUTWILER SPEAKS

1 The Birmingham alumni of the Virginia Military institute celebrated the anni- versary of the battle of New Market by attending a banquet at the Southern club last night. It was the alumni's second annual meeting around the festive board, and was very happy social event
 l Col. T. O. Smith presided On his right sa Maj. E. M. Tutwller, who as a cadet participated in the memorable battle of I Just 4S years ago. Others at the ban quet were: ". F. Mathews. J. w. Moore, Richard F. Johnston. William Ryan, V. l H. Hanson, J. Mercer Barnett, Arthur Adams, John s. Porter, Macln F. Smith, T o. Smith, Jr, Reuben C. Chapman. D. F Turnbull, W. F. Venable, E. Marshall Rust, J. Gray Burnley and Herbert Tut wiler.
 Major Tutwiler was the principal speak CT of the evening He began by saying that it did not require so much courage for young man to go on the battle field, but that it did require considerable courage for man who was now old erough to have been at New Market, but who tries to look young and feel young and pass himself off for a young man, to stand before an audience and tell of | his experience in the New Market en- gagement. Oaughter.) As Major Tut wi.er was expected to give an extended | narrative of the cadets and their part in 1 the famous battle, he had written sketch, which he read impressively. Early on the 1ith day of May, lS64," said Major Tutwiler, "the N M. l. cadets started from our barracks in Lexington, Va, to join the army of Gen. John c. Breckenridge at Staunton, 70 miles dis tant We were all delighted. We had petitioned the governor of Virginia to let us join the Confederate army, and he lad offered our services 10 General Lee who said he would call for us when need ed; so when General Sigel started his march up the Shenandoah valley. General Breckenridge was sent with such troops as he could collect to drive him back; ttese consisted of Echols' and and Whar- tons brigades, Edgars battalion, Im- boden's cavalry and the V. M. l. cadets
 After graphic narrative of the march ir the mud and rain, Major Tutwiler de- scribed the formation and line of battle. '1he federal batteries" said he, 'shot wild at the first line, which got out of range after marching down the hill to a ravine, but when we advanced, they had the range to perfection, and 1t was go- ing down this hill, that John s. Wise, Prof. Govan Hnl and General Randolph were wounded When the front line got to the ravine, the soldiers were required to leave their rolls of blankets and knap- sacqs. After doing this and leaving d few soldiers to guard the baggage they cor tinued the advance up the hill, be- ycnd the ravine. We also halted and took off our blankets and knap-sacks, and started up the hill behind the first lire. As soon as we reached the crest we got to range of both the infantry and artillery. and it was here that CabelI Jones and Crockett of my company, were Killed by bursting shell. l was the fourth man of this quartet and l con- sider my escape as almost miraculous. We reached the level ground and here the enemy's fire was most severe My room mate, Mcdowell, was killed here his heart pierced by a minnie ball" The speaker continued to describe the heroic
 
 old seasoned soldiers. Many of their number were killed and many more were wounded. It was one of the most splen- did achievements of the great war. Af- ter the battle the cadets were marched | to Richmond and there reviewed by l President Davis and complimented by the Confederate Congress Major Tutwi1er's address contained many bits of humor and many touching incidents. It was re- | garded as one of the most valuable con- 1 tributions to the south's military history and it will doubtless be preserved in the Confederate archives of the war depart ment at Washington.
 l Mir. Moore read a poem written by n cadet in 1871. Among those who mSde ren arks in response to calls were Her bert Tutwler, Mr. Turnbull, Mir. Ven able, Mir Barnett Maclin F. smith, MT. Ryan, Mir. Johnston and MT. Hanson.