Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-03-24


AS past Commander of Browne
Harman Camp, he was always inter
ested in its progress and welfare, nc
old veteran was ever turned from his
door in want. IN 1910 at the State re.
union held ut Norfolk, Virginia, he
was elected General of the Second
Brigade of the Virginia Division oil
Confederate Veterans, in recognition
of faithful service to his country in
the hour of need and dangers title
not sought by him, but which might
have been conferred by the Presi-
dent Of the Confederate States, with
all propriety and safety so far as his
ability to command and lead troops
into action, and but for his youth
he would have been promoted to n
position of higher rank. Although
his civic life is worthy of emulation,
and, perhaps as citizen and lawyer
he will be the more greatly missed
lit is his life aG :. veteran j love to
review.
In relating his participation in the
battle of Gettysburg, serving on the
staff of General r. II. Henderson, he
was sent by the General with orders
to the division which at that time was
under a severe fire from the enemy's
| OttItSl icS. oClOiC ICUliLcu tilc DO-
sition in which he was placed, he
encountered a sweeping and whitening
fire of shrapnel and ball, so furious
and constant, that nothing could re-
main in it with life. After his horse
was shot from under him, he threw
himself flat on the earth behind a
small tree, with his head close to the
trunk, the shells having cut the tree
almost in two. Fearing it would fall
upon and crush him, he arose and
fled to Il different section of the di-
vision, delivered the orders and re-
turned to the General without receiv-
ing wound-a perilous escape.
The duties of an Aid-de-Camp on
the staff Of a fighting General was not
one of inaction, or sought after by
the mind. In the latter part of 1864
General G. Il. Warren, the Federal
Commander had forced back the right
wing of General r. E. Lees army and
taken possession of the Weldon rail
road leading from Petersburg, but
unfortunately for Warren had not
connected his right with the left of
the Federal lines, thereby leaving u
gap through which Malone moved his
division and attacked Warren's flank
and rear. The fighting was severe
and Mahone's division was about to be
cut off and annihiliatcd. Malone had
sent Major Henry to General A. p.
Hill for reinforcements-req
that General Harry Heth's division
connect with his lines. But Hill was
so hard pressed he could not comply.
Major Henry, in executing this order,
after passing through dense thick
ct of pines, discovered in large
clearing some distance in his front
what seemed to be two batteries OF
artillery supported by infantry with
train OF ambulances. Seeing that
he would be captured II he attempted
to cross or flank their line, he turned
back to report the situation. He had
not gone far when at sharp turn
in the path short distance from
where he left General Malone, he
suddenly came upon a Federal officer
and another man-they were Devil
dered, evidently lost. Henry. draw
ing his Remington rvolver, demanded
their surrender, which they did with
out resisting. The pistol was relic
oil the "CraUer" and was not in shoot
ing order He returned to General
Malone with his captives, and re-
ported the reason for his failure to
md General Hill. Malone directed
HIM to take the prisoners to division
headquarters, which he did, and re-
turned, riding Colonel William Ross
Hartshorne's horse, one of the prs-
oners captured. In assisting to ex-
tricate Alahone's Division from this
perilous position, with no hope OF
reinforcements, Major Henry was Sc
verely wounded at Burgess Mill on
the 18th of October, 1864, and was
unable afterwards to return TO duty
General Malone in his report highly
complimented Major Henry for his
gallant action. Major Henry had
morse shot under him at Gettysburg,
another at the wilderness, one at
Spottsylvania,- and three around Pc
tersburg, Virginia, including the one
captured from Colonel Hartshorne,
two of them wounded twice
1t was cold, bleak day in Octo-
Der that few of his old comrades
and large concourse OF friends at
tended the funeral service. And as
L looked down into the casket con-
tanning that once manly and symmet-
real form, now emaciated by disease,
enshrined i'll his Confederate uniform,
l thought to make the picture COM
plete, in bringing back the memories
OF the past and connecting them with
the sadness of the home-that the
Confederate flag which he had SO
courageously defended, should have
been turled and placed by his side, as
tribute of respect, to as brave and
as gallant knight as ever drew sword
in defense of cause that was dear
to his soul.
AS we followed his remains to the
cemetery, a short distance from his
beautiful and artistic home, bearing a
profusion of beautiful flowers, and
lowered his body into the cold vault,
covered in scars and hnnnrs won in