The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-07
Voice Of the People
"Honor the Faithful


To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir,-Permt an Old Confederate TO
indorse the sentiments expressed in
mending the loyalty and fidelity of our
negro slaves TO their masters during
our unhappy sectional conflict 1t was
my fortune TO inherit goodly num-
Der, who We're left on my plantation
mere, taking one with. me- as body
servant and groom FOR my horse. into
the army. AS the Southern Railway
as well as the main public highway.
runs through my estate, il was visited
repeatedly by raidng parties. as we'll
as the main Federal army. at tho close
OF the war, yet but one. a boy sixteen
years old. whom l had bought and
hold him, could be induced to leave
one was taken with me into the army
as servant. and followed mo
through all the campaigns. nrst under
General Eeauregard In North Caro-
INA, south Carolina and Georgia, but
when Richmond was besieged by Nc
Clellan ! LEFT the South and came to
Richmond with General 4. 4. Lawton
VINO gave me position on his STAFF!
With the assistance OF the troops
drawn from Reauregard: General Lee
during the Seven Days battles, begin
NiihSS MIR MlyAT Gaingf ,; M and enGng
down to Harrisons Landing. from
which point he shipped around to
Washington. and. with Pope, made
second invasion from that point
Richmond being relieved, General
Lawton's Brigade was attached to the
army of General Stonewali Jackson
who was sent TO meet an advance by
General Pope from Washington in tho
direction OF Gordonsvllc. General
jackson met Pope at Cedar Mountain.
IN Cu!pepcr. and drove him back to
Manassas, and thence back to Wash
inGton. General Jackson being joined
by General Lee, they crossed the Po-
tomac into Maryland. and thence into
nsylvania. where Pope was Joined
by General Mcclellan. General Lee
then turned back and recrosscd the
n VI,
many prisoners, with large supplies and
munitions of war. Thence he came
with 1900 prisoners and all their sup
To accomplish this he placed twelve
out after a hard fight, lasting from
datyhreak to o'clock P ~. when a
this was going on, my servant, Jack
Watkins. built n fire within seventy
five to 100 yards from these guns and
roasted turkey, which he had cap
tured in Maryland. which. when done.
was eaten by General Lawton, Major
Gibbons and the writer. and while we
were at dinner shell exploded over
our heads. q fragment from which
knocked dirt all over our dinner. which
was duly removed by Jack and the
battle went on TO n finish. as related
above
What I wish to emphasize is the fact
that my servant, Jack. never hesitatcd
or "avered at any time but followed
and stood By me. ready at all times TO
minister to my necessities. in the thick
est and heaviest OF the battles Nor
ala the slaves left on my farm desert
their post but at all times stood firm
and administered to the wants OF my
household. Hence I am opposed now
10 deprivinR the negroes OF any civil
or political rights, and ] have sold
them land and done what I could to
make them good, loyal citizens, and
nave opposed all DETERMINATIONS, ex-
ccpt as to social and martial relations.
which should AT all times be held sep
arate and sacred.
With great respect. your very ODE
dent servant,
RICHARD " GAINES.
Save '<'>'