Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-20
War News Fifty Years Ago
(From the Richmond Dispatch. March 20, 1869

Among the horses captured General Chest
nuts plantation in South Carolina was the
superb stallion presented to President Davis by
the Viceroy of Egypt. 1t is said that the
Yankee who mado the capture and learned the
history or the horse, after riding him n half
day. remarked, as If talking to tho animal
You arc too good a rider to yourself out
Old ABB. Abe S'''o Oh SOIL VIII just send you to
Majors ]. w. Pegram and Thomas p. Turner
VINO have charge Of the onlisting and training
OF colored Confederate troops In this city, united
IN letter to the Dispatch in which they say
, .he two negro convicts who were to have been
on condition that they at once enlist in the
n ,, army. have not been received by
'hein' nave not been, and under no conditions
VIII they be- enrolled In the Confe derate service
sheridan has completed his raid from Staun-
ION to the White House, passing through tho
wanna, Goochland. Louisa, Hanover and New
Kept and leaving desoation In his track His
nfsands robbed people ut every point burned
homes of unresisting noncombat ants wantonly
DESTROYED property that they could not use. and.
IN every way possible, made themselves n terror
to the country through which they passed
from The White House It is conjecturcd that his
forces Will proceed to Grant either across the
country by water
Edward A. Pollards book Eight Months in
Prison and on Parole has been issued from tho
volume that has been anxiously looked for bv
the many friends and admirers OF the gifted
writer and by the public generally.
Advices from City Point represent a-yest dea1
clads and ships of war. The village has been
Hiaue iilo quite town or Its kind, with
machine shops. sawmills and business house..
going at apd rate The wharves have been
greatly extended and the place in all respects
is SO changed as to render 1t unrecognzable by
those who were formerly most familiar with
the locality.
There was considerable bombardmcnt on the
Jerusalem Plank Road about da ybreak day be fore
Yesterday morning, and because of IL ali OF the
petersburg lines were thrown into n temporary
state OF excitement. The firing was commenced
by the confcderates. and lasted for several
hours. inc Federais replying vigorously. Tho
public by the War Department.
Federal raiding parties going out from
charleston are said to be devastating many OF
the large and rich plantations on the Santee
hiver and wantonly destroying private property
AZ the aolc-bodicd negroes they find are
ranks OF the Union army.
General Lee officially reports that day before
yesterday about o'clock In the afternoon
General Joseph Z. Johnston attacked Shermau's
forces near Bentonville. y. c.. and routed then,
capturing three guns and large quantity of
rallied upon being Joined by fresh troops. but
were forced back slowly. Receiving stIl more
re-ehforcements. The enemy made stand and
lntrenched. The battle is likely to be resumed
ms morning. Bentonville Is sixteen miles from
Smithfeld. in johnson County and twcntvnvn
miles southeast OF Raleigh
II Is reported that General Kirby Smith who
took hand I'm organizing negro Confederatc
troops before Congress passed the bill now has
2oopo well organized under white officers and
well equipped and ready. for service In -
Trans Mississippi District
All quiet on this side OF tho J,ms.
River yesterday.
Gold coin has experienced another big tumble
In New York, and according to latest renorts
is selling at lss. -