The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22

! Church. The first Indication OF an
enemy we saw was the bringing In of
fanlree by one Of our scouts Soon
thereafter Captain Latane rode to the
rear and ordered four OF his own com
pany to. advance TO the front and form
the first get OF tours. This had scarce
ly been accomplished before Colonel
Lee ordered Captain Iatane TO throw
out four fankers, two OF either side,
and four members of his company
! were 1t once ordered TO proceed. two
to the right and the others to the
left, and march q little In advance Of
the regiment. Your writer was one
Of those on the left. Moving forward.
not seeing an enemy or surprising one
10 nc near. ] suddenly heard the com
mand 10 charge. and then the clash Of
arms. with rapid pistol shots Riding
rapIly towards the firing. / found our
squadron occupying the road and two
companies OF the Fifth United stat,
Regulars attempting TO form la q fei
near at hand, snd Lieutenant Oliver
urging his mer TO charge them. This
was promptly done. ana The enemy
driven TO tho woods. Just before
reaching the timber, I overlook Lieu
tenant McLane. OF the F'ederals, and
he, seeing the utter futlity OF resist
ing. surrendered. AS was taking him
TO the rear. met Colonel Lee and was
told by him OF the death OF Captain
Latane.
lie ordered me to turn my prisoner
over to the guard. and then go "a
look after my captain L soon found
his body. surrounded by some half a
dozen OF his men. one or whom WAS his
brother. JotB--who was afterwards
elected lieutenant in the company,
and the following year he, too sealed
his devotion TO his country with his
life. Another OF those present was ;.
". Mitchell. a, sergeant in the com
pany. and. wish 10 ada. as gallant
A spiri- rs ever did battle for - COW
Mitchell. being The stoutest man pres
emit, was selected TO bear the body from
the field. He having mounted his horse,
we tenderly raised the body and placed
IL In front Of him. John Latanc then
mounted his horse. and he and Mitchell
passed To the rear, while the rest of
US hurried on to join our command on
its pcriious journey. wish L could
write my feelings As / looked upon the
form OF him who but few moments
before was Jhe embodiment OF life and
duty. | wish could describe to YOU
the beautiful half Arabian horse that
| he rode. The colonel" and how SPLEEN
didly he sat him. but fully realize
that ] am not equal 10 the task. John
X. IN OIlpSCil. Ill MS De1utltul poem,
k"rhe Burial OF Iatane," and William
ED. Washington In his painting OF the
same name have. by pen and brush, SO
eushrined the name OF I.atane I'm the
hearts of the people OF our Southland
tina; II viii endure as long IS men are
admired FOR the devotion TO duty and
for risking their lives upon the peril
Gus edge OF battle IN defense OF home
and country.
can only add that tho glorious
Stuart continued 10 ride grandly on his
way. the Ninth Virginia still holding
tho post OF honor at the front. Pass
ing tho Old Church, We FASTENED on
toward the York River Railroad. Soon
il was crossed and night came on. but
not hating. on we marched into tho
county OF New Kent All that long
night was spent in the saddle. pushing
our way toward the lower Chickahom-
my. which we reached in the early
Ming, only to find that the bridge
been burned. But General Stuart was
equal TO the emergency. He soon had
his rear guarded and the men swim
ming their horses over; while others
were tearing down an old barn, out of
which temporary bridge was con-
structed,
On this the artillery and tho few
horses that remained were taken over
The bridge was again burned, in order
to prevent pursuit. Again there was
an all-night march, rs we hurried up
through the County OF James City anu
on to Richmond. which city we reach
ed about midday on sunday. June Is,
and went back TO our camp that af-
tcrnoon.
We brought back many trophies of
our raid. consisting OF several hun
dred prisoners and az many horses
But these went little way towards COM
pensatins the Essex Light Dragons
far the loss they had sustained in the
death of their gallant captain.
AS the years have crept on and
have called back TO memory one in
cidcnt after another OF the deeds of
daring and scenes OF danger through
which the cavalry of the Army of
Northern Virginia passed In the four
years of conflict, ! recall mono more
splendidly conceived. more dashingly
executed. and showing more favor.
results than Stuart's raid around Nc
Clellan at Richmond