The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15

w tue NouAeocrdte army sHitstou AZ
good faith: expected 10 take ny
chances with others In battle. God
Knows / had rather q thousand times
have been killed In battle than to die
In this horrible place. but 7 had rather
die. even here. than to be d'shonoyeo.
Whatever else may happen / will die
loyal 70 lie cause have espoused"
The officers then arose. and one OF
them said angriiy. Then die and go
welch's eyes he did not hnish his SEN
tence. II ever saw the spirit OF a
hero and a martyr shining in any
human face II flashed out from the
shining eyes CT thai poor. weak. ema-
ciated. dying soldier. In two days
after this he was dess.
Among our fellow prisoners on the
island was Captain Littlsberry w
Allen, a man about sixty years old.
not unlike General Robert z. Lee In
his physical make. long hair and
beard. He was Baptist preacher.
and a grand old man in many respects
! mad known him well when ! was
boz. He was frequently guest al
my fathers house. my father being
Also a Baptist preacher. ] formed
quite an intimacy with Captain Allen
] told him the particulars Of Welchs
death. He went with the small cor
tege to the burial and held services ~
the grave. The day was hortioiei
there had been an annual thaw; oiseh
mud and slush everywhere 1t was
rarely / went out 10 q burial, but as
WEIGH was a member Of my brigade
ana ny personal friend ! felt u my
duty to sst'st in the last sacred rites
The shailow grave was full OF water
which we had 20 bale out WIFE pucksts
before wo could lower the rude CONN
; Captain en- held services, The little
Knot of Confederate prisoners STOOD
close together sround the grave. lac
burial OF A dead Confederate always
attracted a number Of off-duty Yam
kee guards. short time before this
a number Of Union veterans tIefrys
Brigade) who had been decimateo IN
battle, splendid fellows. had been add
ca to the regular guard, which was
known as Hoffman's Battalion. &
bomb proof organization, that ha1
never been TO the front. and wen
would like 10 characterize them as
oners OF Johnson's Island will know
how we characterized them. Next 10
the Confederate prisoners stood q cir.
/ Gle OF Terry's old veterans; oeh'no
them were members of HOFFMAN
Battalion. Captain Allen was strons
nan physically and mentally. When
put 20 the test he was the master OF
sapient eloquence. ! have heard N
ms DAY meny eloquent speakers an tns
churches. In the halls OF Congress anu
n
that for sublime eloquence and touch-
ing patnos never heard from human
lips such language as was uttered Ds
that grand old Confederate 0f1icef anu
man of God. who stood nare-heauSo on
that bleak, tnhospitaDle snore. paying
the last tribute Of respect TO the
heroic character of the humble Lieu
tenant John WEIGH Tears were lIon
ang II sely down tho battle SCARED
storfn-swept faces OF the rev cohIea.
produced IN many of Terry's veterans,
while the men Of Eioffman's Battahoh
stood behind them snesring and Jeer-
ing ali the time, using oiienssss
words now and tnen AZ our ats-ens
preacher. One OF Terry's vsterans
lust opposite nie was SO sffected %
one Of Captain ALIENS sublime pefioos
that he suddenly sauatted on ms
launches covered his face WIN potn
hands and sobbed aloud. one OF hotf,
mans Battalion men, standing behind
him, pointed his anger a. MN an. al,
said to his fellow ~eside him; Looh
at that damned baby crying over tnl9
dead rebel; amt ne pretty Ioon Is
cal make him cryg' And repeHt'nS
this several times, ] saw the man ne
called a crying baby drop his HANDS
from his face aud flash MS sSes
around TO mark MS man, an iii
turn TO pay respectful attention t,ii
the ceremony was over He then I'M
r1ediate!v turned to his insulter anu
SAID: You called me damned paos
tust now and insul'ec tnis pre- -
Now. get down on your knees ana oeS
tS,e old gentleran's pardon or / Will
show Won what scrt OF paoy l aln.
me man made some snee:lnS. 'hsute-
ing remark. when the little teHo" w
was q small. but well-kni' NAM W'
open palm gave the Dig tI ~ tace AS
rible slap on the side o. ms race. ~
soon as this NJ an recovered li.tle
rom his staggering blow he mace ior
his antagonist with potn ilsts ~"
rnsdIy Our champion was p!aHiS
nractfcsd boxer. for he quietly ara
auIcKlv' knocked the big fellow dow,
and another who came to TINS man
assistance was treated IN the
nanner. This was the signai LOT .
general right between the IVY -.
90 the guards The sentinel on tne
- made an cutlery. which soon
cs1ied company from the Sua,n-
house. which came down at a nouoiea
mick with hxed bayonets. undsr .ne
impression that the Feees =
making the row. We. the "reoels.
borever. we're stand.sg quietly on one
Side watching the fsht with peculiar
interest. The combatsnts were soon
separated, however, ard We were
marched back 20 our prison nc"s.
That was the last night ] spent 81
Iornson's Island. when got 10 my
room ! found notice fer me and two
others Of my companions IN the hos-
pitsI 20 leave with other prisoners
next morning. where We oio no- khow.
These comrades were Captain In2rlas
a. Christian 81 Virginia and Major
De Bown. Of Louisisna- We turned
u, a Point Lockout about i've osss
after WM . Ch kr ,i.si-,.
I5sutenant-Coione FL Fifty-i IN AIss
Tnssrrrr. Arrn< Of Northern virginia
- IN