The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-15
ANCIENT BATTERY
RETIRED AT LAST
Y. NJ. I. Guns Were Fired for
Last Time at Saturdays
Anniversary.
USED THERE BY JACKSON
General Nichols Orders That the
Cannon Hereafter Crest in
Sacred Idlcncss."
USED THERE BY JACKSON

Lexington. on tho nftieth anniversary
of the death of General Stonewail Jack
son. the historic guns of the Virginia
Military Institute performed their last
duty. They have been ordered to be
dismantled and placed around the
Jackson Monument. to rest but not de-
cay In sacred idleness."
For sixty three years tho battery has
heen at work. The guns were present
ed TO the institute in 1850 by President
Zachary Taylor one year later Thos
Jonathan Jackson became connected
with tho school and used them in in
structing the cadet battery
Colonel Joseph Button, of the Board
or Visitors. suggested In advance that
thcrc should be some ceremonies in the
hftieth anniversary Of tho death OF
jackson. The thrilling scene OF last
Saturday. already described. was the
result, when the guns fred their last
salute at the command OF Colonel VIII
liam L. PoaSue. who commanded them
during the War Between tho States.
Following were the orders read by Col
onei Jennings c. Wise. commandment OF
cadets:
Last Order for Bnttery.
Headquarters Virginia Military In
sttute May o. 1913
General Orders No. Il:
lo-day, tho 10Th or May. marks the
hfticth anniversary OF the death OF
General Thomas J. jackson from Wounds
received on the night OF MAY u. 1863
In tho battle Of Chance!lorsville The
great Jacksons connection with this
INSTITUTION commenced March l. 1851
"hcii no was called from the military
service or the United States to MI our
chair of Natural and Experimental Phil
osophy. ii ended only with his death
and not until through the medium Of
this corps he had trained a host ar
soldiers whose names are almost as
linperlshab bic as his OWN. The na,nee of
Mahonc. Rodes. Colston. WALKER Lane.
Munford, Crutchleld. Baldwin. Carter
Lh'thcr. Chew, Thompson and those or
inany or their companions are httint.
10 be inscribed on the tablet of history
with that of ''Stonewall" Jackson
while on duty ~ the Nirginia Mill
tary institute. Major jackson, bcsidcs
ne.ng professor. was Instructor OF
artillery. and in that capacity. a cali
ing most congenial 10 the retired ar
ti!lery onicer. whose service with tho
guns had already won him fame in
Mexico, he trained the very backbone
or the Army OF Northern Virginia. over
800 OF the officers OF which were his
FORMER pupils in the art OF war
The Cadet Battery.
The artillery OF that army, which. In
The words OF many, was the most dis
uhguished arm OF tho Confederate
service. owed It's efficiency not only 10
Jackson. but to the cndet batter, which
YOU now salute These guns were pre-
sentcd in 1850 10 the institute by no
less parsonage than General Zachary
Taylor. President OF the United states
as testimonial OF his admiration Tor
the corps OF cadets which served az
his personal escort AT the LAYING OF
the corner stone OF the Washlupton
Monument in Richmond Used BIZ Jack
son for purposes OF instruction for a
period OF eleven years. they cornpriscd
the original armament OF the Rock
bridge ARTILLERY in 1861. in which our
present treasurer Colonel William r.
PaoSue, served first as a lieutenant
then as It's captain u was one Of these
pieces that fired the first hostile Con-
federate shot In the Valley OF Virginia
at Haynesville. on June 5. 1861. II was
this battery which crowned the ridge
mt Manassas upon which the compare
lively obscure Jackson won the inn
mortal epithet OF "Stonewall" From
the line two or its pieces are missing
one serves as our evening gun. n post
of duty which II has held for near half
century: tho other lies in the depths
OF tho Potomac. where IL was cast TO
prevent its capture on tho retreat from
Sharpsburg.
On June 10. 1864. almost three years
TO tho day after this battery opened
hostilities in Virginia. II was captured
within our walls by Major General
David H Hunter. and taken TO Wash
ington. where In 1866. 1t was hand
sonely reftted and remounted. and
thence returned to the institute by
Secretary Stanton, a. the instance Of
the then superintendent. Major Gen
eral Francis II. Smith, and General
Thomas T. Munford.
Gums Excused mt Inst
These guns are longer suited to
the progress OF the modern era. Ven
cradle with age and honorable service
they. like their former commander. has
been. should he tenderly placed mt rest
FOR sixty-three years they have never