The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-14
COLLEGE BOYS CAPTURE
YANKEE BATTERY
ny r. L. Bi,uFFEY,

verse, in song and story. in every
tongue, for years gone by. The stori as.
twin recitals Of vaior and heroisih.
have been drilled Into the pupils Of
every public school in nearly ev.ry
land Tor almost century, and yet so
graphic and picturc-llke are they tina
F, times has not diminished in the least
the halo Of glory belonging TO either.
Even right herc in America, where
deeds Of heroes HAYS produced hero
worship unsurpassed hy any nation on
earth. those who took part in tina
charge of the light brigade or those
who went down to death In that mar
no" path, arc surrounded by n halo OF
glory that not only never dinrs, bu, is
always growing more brilliant.
And yet In this new nation, ptill In
Its infancy, moro iashing, daring,
self-sacrihcing, loyal and patriotic
chapter In the heroism OF the world
was written In letters OF blood JUS,
forty-seyen years ago to-day-during
tho last year OF the titanic War Be-
tween tho States.
have reference to the capture OF
the Won kiiSer battery. one OF the
most thoroughly organized and bcst
equipped artillery companies in the
United Staten army. u battery com
manded by trained German officer,
who had seen service under the Kaiser,
at the battle of Nav Market. in Shen-
hhuouH Sthty, on Sunuay afternoon,
May l5. 1864. by the Virginia Military
Institute cadets. $50 strong, n com
mand of beardlcss boyx ranging in age
from twelve to fifteen, not ono OF whom
had aver laid razor on his face.
Il WINS Conquer or Die,
with Talor, bravery and 3ctcrmi-
nation to conquer or die, equiied only
by the aeasoned veterans of the South
with whom they were aligned liz that
"a huf IL 81 ne
the union soldier. agains. whose
breast the cadet pushed his bayonet
point In that gallant. never to be- FOR
gotten charge, those beard!ess boys.
rome away from tho home nursery but
few months, went UP that slope to
tho top of tho hill upon which was tho
Won klizcr battery, whose shot and
shell were tarlng great gaps In tao
E ranks of the cadets. IA We'll as those OF
Brcckinridge's old tried and seasoned
observation-disclosures who had sccn service
under Stonswall Jackson at the lrst
Manassas, under Lee AT the Wilderness
and in front of Eichmond--men who's,
courage and bravery had stopped Grant,
that ruthless and desperate fighter IN
his ION TO Richmond" troops who had
bsen hardened In every campaign from
Bull Run TO New Market.
But never did that line OF Southern
Iads. sons of men who were at that
moment lighting back the invaders on
other batuefields. waver. Ncver did
that Sray clad line of beardless hoys
vary In its correct alignment as with
teeth set. with lips compressed ana
muscles drawn taught, ,h,y advanced
steadily In face OF that whitening.
death dealing fre from the Federal
battery-for Won KiizGr's gunncrs were
the pick OF that army lad up the val
ley In May, %.
More like a dress parade than a dcs-
pera.e, life-taking struggle. WAS the
advance OF those V. NJ. !. cadets.
And when quick t!ma was ordered,
tnnt same perfect alignment was pre-
served. even as the cadets rushed mad
~ at The very muzzlcs Of those Napo-
leans and engaged In n hand-to hand
night with Won Killers artillerists. Tho
pick, the cream of the Federal army.
then operating IN tbs Valley of Eir-
ginla.
The Line Once Threatened
Only once during that advance, every
second of which was made In u storm
OF bullets from Yankee guns. n ter
rife tornado OF shot and shell from,
the battery on the knoll opposed to
the Confederate right, did that line of
cadets waver, and then only Tor see
ond. But when that second had gone
by, the boys were again In correct
military formation. and once more NOV
s Ing steadily. tramping like veterans
of many campaigns up that hill
1t was at that crucial moment those
boys made history and fame, secured
thu highest compliment General Rob
ert Edmund Lee ever paid body OF
troops. won tho gratitude OF the an
tire Southland and challenged the td-
Iniration not only OF the Union SOL
diars who witnessed that drcss parade
Oh ..f ~ Il
but drew words Of praise and common
dalton from the entire North, President
Lincoln himself givln; ihcm ;inStinted
praise when THAR hcroism ana deyo-
ton to their home land WINS related
to him.
In front of the Won Nlixcr pa;te.y
was division OF tried and trained
Federal soldiers, men who had been in
many battles. These veterans In blue
were there as support 10 that bat
tory. They were lined behind Il fence
which made an excellent brcastworl,
and us thu cadets and the SIXTY sec ma
Virginia regulars marched up tina; hill
1t was under fire OF that blue division.
as we'll as the shot and shell from the
battery those guns carrying their
charges over the heads OF that sup
porting line until this advancing VIr-
Sinians were SO near that the Federal
troops came in range of the Won Killer
guns. 1t was then, and not until til, n,
that that Yankee battery ccas I'd TO
fire. And 1t was the last round from
those guns that produced tho sigh,
waver in the ranks Of the cadets. Thdt
round toro great gap in the cadet
formation. young Cable. OF Richmond,
and several OF his companions going
down to rise no more.
Making Time Under Rain of Lead.
Dress right rang the cadet com
mander's voice over tho clash of mus
kerry and the singing OF mimic bull
lets.
Instantly those boys obeyed and
within Il second thar great gap was
closed. But in executing that move
ment ono end of the line moved too
far TO tho front. and for second q
tremnr ran from one end 10 th,, O thnr.