The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-25
CAREY F. GRIMES
ny IAIDI,r n. sNIrH

by IAIDEE II. SMITH.
Forty-eight years ago this month the
tattered battle flags Of "A nation whose
Nalor had made her victor on thou
sand fields went down before irwin
chile numters-not conquered but an
minated. For four long years that
Army Of Northern Virginia had fought
as no other army in the world has
ever Fought without prevailing in the
end but the remnant that laid down
their arms al Appomattox was not the
proud array that had so signally tri-
umphed at Manassas, Frederick sburg
and Chancellorsvile 1t was but the
shadow OF tina; army whose strength
the years had spent. but whose glory
can never die. Rich is the heritage
that those men handed down to their
Children and 10 their children's chill
dren. and may their valor and fidelity
be remembered az long az there is
memory IN the land
Just within the limits of the city of
Portsmouth. in Oak Grove Cemetery,
stands monument 10 soldier of this
army-not one. however who was
allowed TO follow the fortunes Of the
Confederacy to the end, but one who
was cut down during the high tide of
the South's success. and before the
crest of the wave was reached ON
this monument is the simple inscrip-
February Is 1929. Killed at sharps-
burg September u. 1852 How eio-
quent In It's simplicity, KILLED at
Sharpsburg." No tongue is needed to
describe those deeds Of heroism: no
pen Is required to enroll him among
the chosen ones of fame hut al clear
~ as If portrayed by a masters brush.
We see a soldier OF the South figure
that has come to typify devotion to
duty. TO country. to home; a figure that
stands out as one historian puts IT,
Not as man. but as courage in
nate,"-invincibie even in defeat.
!mmutablc amid change. magnificent
amid ruin"
Captain carey f Crimes was born
In Norfolk County on the l5th Of Feb
ruary. 1921. His people soon moved
To Portsmouth, and there he grew un
10 young manhood winning the re-
spect and confidence OF all who knew
him. He was married to Miss Mary
kellun IN 1850, and his home life
was typical OF that OF the South
shortly before the War Between the
States broke out he was elected cap
tain OF the Portsmouth Artillery Com
PAM. the oldest artillery organization
In tho State II was battery with
the record Of having covered itself with
glory in the War Of 1912. and thus this
soldier faced at the outset the dihfcult
task Of keeping UP its traditions OF
the past. But so we'll did that hither-
to quiet citizen fulfll his trust that
the new career tho battery entered
unon was more glorious than the old
and in an incredibly short time this
man OF peace had shown such a genius
for war that the battery was given
the name OF It's intrepid leader, and is
known to-day "Grimes's Battery"
The first duty of Captain Grimes
xiii
I-etcher ordered the battery into SER
vice as soon as Virginia Joined her
sister States of the South That same
night the company went on duty and
parked al the corner of Court and
High Streets After few weeks SER
Vice at the Naval Hospital Grounds IL
was ordered to Hoff1ers Creek to guard
the shores OF Hampton Roads from
Craney Island to Pig Point Here 1t
became known as Grimes's Battery, and
their camp as Camp Grimes. In April
1862 Captain Grimes was ordered TO
reinforce the Third Virginia Regiment
in repelling the invasion by large
body OF Federals, who were advanc-
ing from Elizabeth City. On the I'd
OF May the battery had brush
with two United States gunboats. and
finally forced them TO retire. Que being
so disabled that it sank shortly after
the engagement. When Portsmouth
was evacuated ii followed General
liuger TO Petersburg and thence to
Richmond, where it became part of
the Army OF Northern Virginia. and
soon became known as "Grimes's
Fighting Battery"
To give the history of Carey r.
Grimes from that time till his death
Is to give the glorious history of the
Army Of Northern Virginia. In that
band OF heroes immortalized in song
and story this man became marked
hgure: among leaders whose names
have become synonyms Of course this
soldier had niche OF his own.
In the Seven Days Battles around
Richmond the battery was constantly
engaged. doing splendid work at long
range and against overwhelming odds
With two OF it's guns it opened the
battle OF Mechanicsville, and then fol-
lowed Gainess Mill. Cold Harbor, Saw
ages Station. Frazier's Farm, White
OAK swamp and Malvern Hill At
this last named battle General Arm
istead wanted to send a battery to
occupy an exceedingly dangerous posi-
ton and asked Captain Grimes if he
could take II. The answer was charac-
teristic of the bold cannoneer: IF
any Eattery In the world can go there.
sir. mine can" with the spirit OF
It's leader it went. and there single
and alone, as If it could hold the
heights forever. for two hours 1t con
tended with nearly a hundred guns.
almost the entire artillery OF McClel-
lans army. and only retired when III
was ordered away. General Armistead
In his report said: mo man could
have behaved better than Captain
Grimes. He worked his guns after his
men were cut down, and only retired
when entirely disabled"
Next we find 1t running--but after
proclamation" Pope, who. having
given himself up to running. ran we'll
AT Warrcnton Springs 1t took part in
an artillery battle and at Second Ma