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


But at Gettysburg. at Gettysburg
those three long days of mortal hell"
in that leaden rain of death and de-
struction his career was checked by n
mortal wound. His battalion was sta
toned on Cemetery Ridge and stub
bornly held It's position, though sub
jected to n continuous and devastating
cannonading until the morning of the
third day. when it was forced back by
overpowering numbers. But on the
I'd OF July, while directing the work
of his command with the greatest
GOODNESS and precision, he was struck
by an exploding shell which complete
Is shattered his right arm and killed
his horse. the animal failing upon and
badly crushing the gallant young
rider. Desperately wounded and bleed
give directions for manoeuvering the
ield pieces while his cannot reared
above his PROSTATE form In that chaos
carefully extricated him from under
the dying horse and bore him from the
field he waving his uninjured hand in
encouragement to the gunners.
His arm had to be amputated at once.
but he bore the loss uncomplainingly,
and his youth and strength led his
friends to hope for his recovery. but
then came the long and wearisome re-
treat, the glow procession of ambu-
lances. filled with fevered or palIid or
dying wounded. toltng over tho rough
roads back to the Valley othe crowd
ed hospitals or to private houses in
Winchester. Their sufferings from the
heat, from fatigue and the hasty and
Inadequate attention which was all
that could be given were indescrib-
able and distressing to recall even
now. but are part of the terrible
scourgc of warfare.
The people of Winchester WED with
each other in kind ministrations to
the disabled. the suffering and dying
soldiers, but the grim fortunes of war
gave but brief time for rest and heal
ings. The enemy was advancing from
Maryland. and in order to prevent tho
wounded from falling into their hands,
those who could be moved were sent
southwark TO the Valley towns, to hos
pitfalls. TO private homes, or wherever
they could And refuge Major Lati-
mer. among others, was brought to Har-
risonburg and was taken to the home
of Mrs. Harriet Warren. on South Main
Street To those OF us who rememb Der
that noble woman. 1t Is needless to
say that the young soldier received
every attention and kindness which
she and her family could bestow; but
in spite of all their care, he grew
worse. The knowledge that on the
third of those fateful days at Gettys-
burg his battalion had been hurled
back by the continued and overwhelm-
Ing charges of the enemy with fearful
loss of men. horses and guns, and was
almost annihilated. preycd upon his
mind and grieved his heart. The
anxiety and suspense which overshad-
owed the country after the retreat
from Gettysburg and the fall of Vicks-
burg. and also. 10 doubt, the separa-
ton from his Borrowing mother. who
was unable to come to him. added to
the sadness OF those weary days, though
his naturally bright and courageous
spirit upheld him until the weakness
of approaching death mercifuliy stole
all sense OF sorrow.
His brother, DR.. Latimer, surgeon
In one of the Richmond hospitals. was
with him toward the last and his pride
| in the gallant boy and his affectionate
| care of him were most touching. Mrs.
Warren described Major Latimer as
gentle and modest as girl" and
spoke felingly of his fortitude and pa
tience and his grateful appreciation OF
the kindness shown him by her fam
lily and the people Of the town. The
Rev Thomas D. Bell, of the Presby-
terrain Church, came frequently to see
him. and, like all others who knew him
in those weeks of illness. was i'm
pressed by his gentleness and courage.
day or two before his death, DIR.
Latimer, holding the wasted hand in
his, said. Joseph. do you know how
Ill you are?" 1t was the faint and ex-
hausted boy to whom he spoke. 1t
was the soldier and the man who re-
piled. Yes. / am very i'll, but 7 am
not afraid to die" and to Mr.. Bell he
added. I trust in the mercy of God"
His brother and members OF the War
rem family were with him when in
the early morning Of August Ia
| month after his fea<3Ll wound-he
turned his dying eyes toward the sum-
mer sunshine, and then quietly closed
them to all on earth.
This young officer, though not TWEEN
ty years old at the time of his death,
had filled posts OF great responsibility
| and honor, and had won the confidence
| of his superiors and the devotion of
his men. He received many tributes
from men of high rank and great rep
utation, General Ewell called him smy
| little Napoleon" Colonel A. r. Court
ney. of Richmond, under whom Lati-
| mer saw his first service. says OF him
| In the spring Of 1862, when he was
under fire for the first time, in an
artillery duel on the Rappahannocl<
River: 'Latimer stood between his guns
4 dilu WoTheu WIN almost the
| same GOODNESS and precision as when
on drill" Captain Dement,, of the same
battery. wrote Of him after his death:
| 81 was with Major Latimer on tho field
of Gettysburg and assisted In taking
him from under his horse and in car
rying him from the field. His bear
| ing during the day was most gallant,
| showing the greatest GOODNESS and
bravery under the most trying circum-
stances. While still under his horse
he continued to give orders regardless
of his wound and seemd to think only
of his command" And the greatest
of the great warriors OF the Lost
Cause, General Stonewall Jackson, In
his report of the battles OF the Valley,
said: Lieutenant Latimer. in command
OF the Courtney Artillery. was exposed
during the whole affair to q heavy
oannonade This young officer was
| conspicuous for the coolness Judgment
and skill with which he managed his
battery. fully supporting the opinion
had formed OF his high inertia"
Surely such praise from such COM