The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-07


paper to tho great book. tho ma gazine
Of month TO the history Of the great
est Of centuries; the lnrid scandals
az murderers trial to the story OF
nation IN the making
Especially in our new South which
s. telling evory day its allnrne story
o. magic possibilities arc 80 In dam
scr Of Forgetting the past, WIN the
ew!ft Judgment OF the young our cnn-
dren are prone 70 see nothing ont mis-
takes and defeat IN tho lives Of their
forefathers 50 it is that. not n Bit
ttrn4ss nor strife. nor IN the pride OF
the aoastfu varquishod. 10 the United
Daughters Of the confederacy on such
occasions as this purpose 20 recall
events OF the four terrible years that
followed the secession Of the Southern
states. Rather 1t rs our hope 20 keep
alive the hearts Of our sons ana
daughters the Nigh sense OF honor.
courage and eonstancy--ylrtues when
7ye love TO think grow nowhere more
1reeiy than On the son OF virginia.
Shall we send our children 70 Athena
nnd TO Rome for Inspiration 70 nero
ism when The bare record Of virginia
pari N The unequal S.ragg!a betwecn
the North and ihe south IS anano with
tales Of splendid courage and OF an
BROKEN fa!th2 Must we leave them too
blind 20 perceive beneath the prosaic
figure az the old veteran goins about
tae commonplace duties OF every day
1ne daah.ns cavalier once the hero OF
snany q hsrd-won battleheld2
Rather let u Ae oir task to preserve
the records OF co lrageus deeds. OF
salth, 81 sacr.nce. More especially ac-
counts OF the war history OF our town
end country Tales cf that nrst com
gany ot Infantry tho Smyth Blues.
mho marched out ~ the Southwest 20
tho gay crash OF music. crowds hnzza
ing IS they passed. not knowing how
sicrn THO lessons they we're to learn
ii the ar; of war under THAI ncOm-
parable military gonuS stonewall
Jackson stories OF the S,ny,h ORA
yoons the dashlng cavalry company.
who rode away with ags aAoat. sllken
tanners made hy the fair hands 81
their sva.thearis. with no vision of
those who were 20 die AZ Gauley River
and on tho Potomac. AZ Mooreheld aud
Morrntown
II is Tho purpose of tho Holston
Chapter H. . g. at some time to
complete the records OF each Of these
companies. For this evening. however
we have arranged to present chapter
OF the local war history OF tho town
OF Marion and tho vicinity
SO far as we know there has never
been published by a Southern author
an account OF the campaign OF Cen
cral Stoneman through Southwest VIZ
g.nia. Yet General Brisbln. OF the
ederal army. refers to this expedition
Is one OF the most remarkable OF the
war The following description is
gathered from his graphic account OF
the battle OF Marion. as well as from
"reminiscences of men and women who
were living here at the time OF the
invasion:
troops marched from Kentucky for the
rurpose OF destroying the Salt Works
Several previous expeditions directed
10 this end had been met and repulsed
by local troops and BY Confederate
troops under Mocausland and Morgan
ent now a. last a force OF overwhelm-
ms numbers was to accomplish the
destruction OF the treasure so highly
valued by the Confederacy.
The Federals had three brgades of
HOO men each under the command OF
General Burbridge. These were ioin-
ed al Bean Station, Tenn. by four
mounted brigades OF Tennesseans UNI
der General Gillem. The whole force
including Captain Coles regiment OF
colored cavalry, was under the COM
mand Of MajorGeneral Stoneman.
Early on the morning Of December
- Burbridgc encountered handful OF
Confederate troops. who were drawn
UP under Colonel Morgan to oppose
his passage OF the Hoiston River at
kingsport. Tenn All efforts To force
the ford were repulsed by Aiorgan's
mn .ofl
Burbridge OF an unguarded ford two
miles further up the river. lie crossed
by it and caught the Confederates be-
tween his two columns. forcing them
TO retreat toward the Virginia line.
The Federal army then advanced
npon Bristol which they captured at
E bout 2 o'clock IN the morning so
complete was the surprise that the in
habilants were at the mercy Of their
ceptors.
Two hundred prisoners were taken.
most Of them inoffensive citizens: two
trains OF cars. five engines and small
quantity of ammunitions of war. The
telegraph operators were taken at
their instruments and ordered to re-
main at their posts One of them bold
~ resisted. declaring that he was a
sworn employe OF the confederacy and
that he would not send messages for
the Federal general Burbridge offered
10 absolve him from his allegiance to
the Confederacy and swear him into
the service OF the Union. At this pro
posal the Young operator rose from tho
Instrument and bravoly declared his
Indignation. Burbridge ordered ser
Rcant to bring . rope
Wen hang the rebel. he cried
The Federal General Brisbin. know
Ing the certainty OF the boys fate. went
up TO him and begged him to 40 back
10 the instrument He seems Ia have
convinced the brave lad OF ihc useless
ness of further resistance. The oper-