The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10
Continued From Last Sundayl

''-VlAt'4A.tu U !pUi ibdSt 1UIbtS. -
OF the circumstances OF his death
and recovery OF his body. am per-
united to record the recollections of
my friend and comrade, Hon. Thco-
dore s. Garnctt. at present commander
~ Department OF Army of Northern
Virginia Confederate Veterans, who
AT the time of these events. was an
at the item OF these events. was serv-
on the staff of General w. II. +. Lee.
and who was an observer of what he
describes. He says In reply TO my in
Quiry
"On the second Sunday In August.
1864. ! think. The division OF General
W. II. T.. Lee. on whose staff was then
serving, marched from n point below
James River. camping that night over
on the Charles city Road. ono regi
mcnt OF Chambliss's Brigade was on
picket that night at the White Oak
swamp, and carly next morning was
attacked by Grcge's Division OF Cav
airy and driven back. The rest of the
brigade was hurried to it's support to-
gcthcr with q part OF Barringcr's
North Caroline Brigade, and the fight
was Joined In few minutes after
reaching our line was informed that
General Chambliss had been shot from
his saddle, ana MS morse "dS III t!!tl
moment being led to the rear. / WAS
told by some one on the spot that Gen
crai Chamhliss had been directing the
fight as his men fell back from the
swamp. riding back and forth across
the main road. the enemy pushing for
ward first on one side and then on the
other The general, after visiting his
line on one side OF the road. which
there ran through n thick body OF
woods and underEroWth. was return
ing TO the other side expecting 10 ind
his line in the same position 1t had
occupied only few minutes before,
but was surprised to find himself In
tho immediate presence OF n line OF
the enemy. some OF whom demanded
his surrndr. ] hav heard that Cham
bliss had frequently said that he
never would. under any circumstances,
be taken prisoner Acting on this de-
termination. he was In the act OF
wheeling his horse to ride away when
the enemy shot him down. From the
examination which I made of his body
two DAYS later, when 1t was delivered
to me on flag OF truce. I am sure that
quito a volley must have been fred
at him. as there were several wounds
through the breast.
The enemy gained no further ground.
but were driven back across White
Oak swamp. taking with them Gen
cral Chambliss's body.
\ fcw minutes after the general was
killed. / was ordered by General w. III.
f Zee to take two men and go on
scout over 10 White Oak Road and as
certain whether the enemy We're at
tempting 10 flank us ] selected tho
two ,ncn from my old company (Ninth
Virginia Cavalry, ono of them being
my old schoomatc; r. Monroe Jones.
and made the trip, fortunately asccr-
tanning and reporting that no enemy
was making such movement.
Two days after this fight was sent
across tie White Oak Swamp, on the
Charles Cit" Road. to recover General
Chamblisss body by flag of truce. The
flag was carried by one McCIanahan.
from the Lancaster troop. think. one
OF General Lees efficient couricrs. Just
across the swamp lay Gregg's Di
vision. and rode up until they warned
me I'd stop. They proved to be the
Tenth New York Cavalry. one OF whose
horses I was then and there riding,
having captured him In the previous
Eight. And ! am pleased to say that
they recognized him.
One OF General Grcgg's staff m82
me and received General Lees note.
and brought back an answer from Gen
crnl Gregg. stating that the body of
General Chambliss had been buried, but
would DO promptly cXhumcd and be de-
llNcTCU DIT al point OH the infantry lines
near FuZZcrs Mill, on the Darbytown
Road, where flag OF truce was at that
moment pending. Taking with me
Walter f.. Chambliss. tho brother and
MD de camp of the general. We rode
over three miles and struck the in
fantry line OF battle exactly at the
point where the flag was then pend
ing. and we had hardly dismountcd at
the brestworks before | noticed Il squad
of our men bringing rough plank
box towards the line of our works
asked II they knew whose body they