The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-23

ihaiuot Iuuol udNC uESN tiS younR nCQrl
with pride. but nothing OF the sort
ever showed In his manner. for one of
his most marked characteristics was
his modesty. Ills extremely youthful
appearance and high rank attracted
much attention, especially from the
foreign militarymcn. English. French
and German. who occasionally visited
generals. and who looked with aston
ishment on the slender youth who
commanded an artillery battalion; but
his quiet. unassuming demeanor dis
armed tho criticism and won the re-
spect of all.
Colonel Courtney, who knew him in
timately and long. says further of him:
"Of Major Latimer's moral character,
I can truly say that in moderation and
propriety OF word and action he was
an example. He was not connected
with any church. but was truly religi-
GUS In conduct and conversation, and
often expressed his belief in the teach
ings OF Christ"
The Virginia Military Institute
guards with Jealous caro- the names
of her sons who felr'in the great Civil
War; 1t is a long and brilliant list that
she cherishes. for the West Point of
the South furnished many officers and
men to the armies of the Confederacy.
The brightest Jewels In her crown Of
fame are the eight young immortals
who fell at New Market. Though ev-
cry Confederate veteran knows that
there were hundreds upon hundreds of
other boys in every branch of tho
service, In every brigade and every
regiment-just as brave. just as pa
triotic. boys OF sixteen. and even
younger. who left the home. the school,
the shop or the farm. and without any
military training. gave their service
and their lives to their country-yet
In the sad, confusing. ironic fortunes
OF war these have missed and have
forever lost the individual recogni-
ton grateful people would give.
The institute does we'll to honor the
sons who 30 gloriously exemplifed her
ideals of courage and loyalty, for In
all the annals of all the ages there is
no more shining instance OF youthful
discipline and valor than that OF the
dead boys of New Market. nor of the
gallant boy major whose qualities Of
Judgment and leadership made him the
commander of battalion of artil-
lery, whose span OF life had not COW
cred one score Of years when he fell
amid the thunder of his guns in the
red holocaust OF Gettysburg.
In the vestibuie of the handsome Ii
brary of the institute hangs an oil
portrait of the young artilleryman. the
gift, understand, of citizens of
Prince William County. a boyish,
beardless. but earnest. face. with the
rounded contour and fresh coloring OF
youth: dark brown hair above a
smooth, unlined forehead. clear. candid
yrav ANa nd 1rrf, md oh in n
face attractive. honest and kindly and
indicating possibilities of strength and
endurance. The artist has painted him
in the gray uniforrn with red facings
of the Confederate artillery service
and with the pitiful empty sleeve pin
ned across his chest. And there, among
the soldiers and heroes of Virginia. his
brethren OF renown" is his rightful
place.
His record and his portrait belong
to the institute, his grave is ours. His
cannon at Cross Keys and Port Re-
public helped to win the battles that
have made Rockingham soil historic;
the last weeks of his life were spent
In a Rockingham home and a Harri-
sonburg woman watched his deathbed
his shattered body rests in our ceme-
tery-all that Ia left OF one of the
South's most brilliant and most modest
young soldiers. Do we. as a commu
nifty, fully appreciate the honor of pos
sessing this heroic dust?
The deeds of the New Market cadets
have been told in song and story, they
have been lined on glowing canvas
and acclaimed in impassioned oratory;
their names are inscribed on enduring
bronze, their bodies rest within the
sheltering grounds of their alma ma
ter. In the same town with the great
leaders. Lee and Jackson, and their
fame is secure for all times to come.
few years ago, when the young
North Carolina midshipman. Worth
Bagley. met death so gallantly as the
frat victim OF the Spanish-American
War. the whole country was thrilled
with pity and pride, and North and
mon patriotism. His native State made
haste to honor her young hero. His life
size portrait hangs on the walls Of the
State Library and his marble statue
in his ensign's uniform stands in beau
tiful immortal youth in the grounds
of the Capitol at Raleigh, to proclaim
to all the world North Cardinals pride
In her sailor lad.
Joseph Latimer was scarcely older
than the boys of New Market and was
younger than Worth Bagley, who, be-
sides, had had two more years of train
ing at the government Naval Acad-
envy. To the Confederate veterans who
served from Bull Run to Appomattox
our conflict with Spain. seems a mere
skirmish. and certainly the decadent
Spanish navy furnished no such foe
man as those who for three long days
hurled their overwhelming numbers
against Latimer's batteries in the
death struggle at Gettysburg.
Yet his grave is marked by only a
very small, weather stained head
stone. placed there Immediately after
the war. and probably all that the
family could obtain or afford at that
time; ono that any passerby would
easily overlook. All of Major Latimer's
Immediate family have passed away.
and there are none to care for his
grave. Would 1t not be a gracious
and worthy undertaking for the
Daughters of the Confederacy, the