The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15
CONFEDERATE GUNS
AT NEW MARKET
Veteran of 81 st Va. Regiment Takes Issue With
the Conc ions Of Box On This Campaign
Written In ter st f tn 26tn Va
Battalion.

members OF the Tventy-sixth Battalion.
And In no history OF the var, nor any
other book dealing With the battles OF
the war, go far as I have been able 70
discover, IL this accusation even hlnted
a. But IL il fact that ! have not
been able TO find a single statement OF
any officer or any man of any com
n4and concerning this disgraceful con
duct OF the Fifty-1rst. or that the
1wenty-sixth captured the guns. except
by members OF the Twenty Stat
Virginia Battalion. ! his fact, ! think,
TO say the least. should have some
weight ia the Judgment Of the Professor.
One OF the members Of the Twenty
sixth Battalion. Mr.. HUMPHREYS
says. The Fifty-hrst very properly
laid down 20 avoid the nrst voliey and
their mistake wac in not rising at the
proper time" The fact that at tho
command OF General Wharton the
Flfty-erst did lay down at the foot OF
the hill and did lay there for come little
time before tho order was given 10
charge When the order was given 10
was promptly oDeyed. and not only the
Fiftg-nrst. but the whole line, moved
forward. Tiers Was not single break
o. CULVER in our line except N crossing
a fence some distance in front OF our
starting point and but short distance
In front of the guns on the bill. The
confusion incident 10 crossing this
fence was rectifed In a few minutes
and the charge Vas heroically end
successfuily carried out. and the limo
halted Just after taking the guns, when
General Wharton rode along the line
instructing the different commanders
TO reform their lines. II was at this
point that / erst learned Captain Tate
was killed and many others were
wounded. And IL must have been Just
at this time that the TTenty-siXth
Battalion captured the guns They
certainly did not DO 80 before. In fact.
| ana like many others who have made
statements In this connection L never
50 much "a saw that battalion during
the whole engagement.
In the forty-eisht years that have
interviewed since the day the battle OF
New Market vas fought and tine pres
ent / have never seen in print or other
wise heard of a single criticism o. tho
conduct OF the Fiity-hrst except these
statements made by members OF the
Twen:y-sixth Battalion. and made for
no other reason that ! can conceive
sxcep. TO give themselves undeserveo
fame at the expense of their comrades
in arms. If l have made single rlis-
statement OF facts in this notice OF
Prof. Turner's book. ! stand ready and
willing to correct II as soon as ana
shown the error.
Comrades OF the Fifty-frst Virginia
ttESiiAtl4ts -Is SED &c" " - WV O. :
vet on guard arise as one man and
rsfute tho SANDER that has been
attempted to be placed on the memory
of all those who have answered the
las. roll CO. ss well as on the brow OF
thoee of US yet left. Let Us guard well
the honor that has been SO dearly
bought on so many hard fought battle
fields
SAMUEL STONE. Company
B. Fifty-hrst Virginia Regl-
u1ent.
P S-If any member OF the Fifty
FIRST Regiment at the reunion in Pulaski
next week feels like and thinks It would
De q benefit 10 him TO have a good
spell of 'cussin." l advise that he take
a dose Of Prof. Turner'S book. and I VIII
guarantee the result