The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-28

fortunate In writing OF subjects sc
near the time of their occurrence as
some persons with unfortunately good
memories viii sometimes catch her
tripping. This romance takes Il wide
range, and includes Vicksburg and
SpotsHlvania Courthouse. AS J was ac-
nuainted with both fields. propose
to sa: a few words on the subject.
would congratulate the author that
Ceasc Firing Is much less profane
than the Long Roll" Had | not been
there and seen with my own eyes, to
the contrary, should have imagined.
from the description given in this
book. that North Mississippi WAS =
duakins morass. 1t was rather low
and soft In some places around Corinth.
and did shake like bowl Of jelly
on The north side of Black River. at
Hankins' ferry. OF course. you must
not venture foolshly into cypress
swamp; but taken as whole the roads
were as good throughout the State
as those OF Virginia at the same period.
| belonged TO the cavalry for ten
months. and Frank Armstrong did not
LEI grass grow under our feet. AS an
infantry soldier, ! marched from Jack
son to Grand Gulf. and on this marct.
this incident occurred.
Tn. question arose as to how fast
we were marching. There were mile
posts along this road The captain
timed us between Two, and IL took us
JuSt Twelve minutes 10 Ill3rcn Il fnlle
This wag no squirt but the long, swing
Ing route step. Our command. tho
sixth Missouri, OF First Missouri Bri-
Thde, commanded at that time by Gen
eral John 5. Eowen, was stationed at
Grand Gulf when the Yankee gun
boats ran the blockade. April 30. 1862.
VIC were under fire. but suffered no
loss. Major William Wade. who com
inanded the artillery was killed. E:.rly
On the morning OF May ]. we were
hurried 70 Bruins Blum. and here oc-
Cured tho battle. called in history
Port Gibson. But the village is some
miles distant. though oil the same side
of Bayou Pierse. stream about as
large as Goose Creek. near Middle burg.
and spanned by fine suspension
bridge.
The Yankees had crossed the Mis-
slHaippi In large force when we ar
rived on the held. Why they were al
lowed TO cross without opposition. I
do not know. Our position was near
the river. with Trac!'s Alabama
Brigade on our right. Here saw no
cannon and heard no discharge Of ar
tillery. though Miss Mary describes.
In dramatic language. 4 herce artillery
duel. saw but one ridge. though
Miss Mary speaks Of three. We did
pass, about a mile from the held. a
siN-gun battery. taking IL easy In a
grove OF magnolias. \ ii;:lc nearer
the field We passed a lone rebel. and
Lieutenant Crenshaw said 10 him.
My man. are you given OUT No"
said the fellow. I'm whipped out"
Il admire your candor. replied Cren-
shaw, but have very little respect
for your courage" We were not put
into the night immediately after ar
irving in the vicinity OF the enemy.
but when ordered forward. asccnded a
very steep hill, being frequently
nh M 70 ri lS,
b. the bushes By which the hill was
lined. On arriving nearly at the sum
NIT. we were welcomed by the shots
OF the enemy, who were just beyond
the crest. This instance more nearly
iulnlled the eNpgessicn OF one was
afraid and the other was dassent'
than any fight In whieh ever par
,icipa,ed soldier would creep to-
wards the top OF the cres. and fire
over al the enemy and fall back to
= load. The compliment was returned
by the other side. Aboo, an hour be-
fore shutdown, Tracy's Brigade was
withdrawn and the right OF our regi-
ment went With il, leaving the five
LEFT companies 10 contend with over
WIDENING odds
We got away, however, without loss
and formed al the foot OF the bluff
but the Yankees showed in such force
that Colonel Irwin said. we must not
stay here to be taken Fall back in
line. boys" Our line Of retreat las
across an abandoned cotton field. the
old ridges being much In evidence. up
An Inclined plain. The Yankees
huzzard ~ grca. rate, and poured
merciless rain OF minnies among US
] saw men fall and guns east away
dressed OH the flag. We had one or
two slightly wounded whilst we
fought. but several severely wounded
in the retreat ! received a compli.
men', and came off with my own self
respect. When out OF danger. one OF
my companies grew quite fac.tious.
saying, II envied you. You possessed
both speed and bottom" After all
had crossed Bayou Picrse the bridge
was destroyed. We spent May .
skirmishing with the Yankees across
the river. although Miss Mary states
we tell back towards Big Black
On the Sd we retreated to Hankins's
Ferry where we met General Loring
L neglected TO state that the other
regiments OF our brigade had sharply
contested battle with the enemy on
the LIST under General Bowen's own
eye. We crossed Black on pontoon
although Miss Mary gives very
graphic description Of the whole army.
on one occasion. being ferried across
In boat which forcibly reminded me
OF Aeneas's voyage across the Styx
in old Chavon's boat The enemy
pressed on and drove the guard from
the pontoon about shutdown. The Sixth
Missouri with I.andis's Battery. was
sent back to oppose their crossing.
1t was amusing to hear the mutual
compliments between the regiment and
battery. But 1t is very comforting in
going into a fight to know that you
have good men to stand by you. Under
the command of General Stephen D.
Lee we fell back very leisurely i'm the
morning without molestation from the
enemy. About this time we heard of
the assassination OF General Van Dorm.
He has no place in the VicksburG cam
paign, but rs Miss Mary devotee con-
siderable space to him ] might saw a
few words also She says he was little.
but he was pretty Fatal gift of
beauty!
Before the Civil War. as major OF
cavalry, when stationed in Texas. he
acquired considerable reputatio in
dealing with the Comanches. He ar
rived in Northwest Arkansas Just be-
fore the ba title of Elkhorn. and COM
manded in chief in that encacement