Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-05
FOREST LODGE, AT
GLEN ALLEN, MUTE
RELIC OF CUSSONS
Gallant Old Englishman
Fought for Virginia in
Peace as in War.
CLOSE LIFETIME FRIEND
OF CHIEF SITTING BULL
Gave Employment to Needy
Boys and Girls at Close Of
Civil Conflict.
~, 4. 4. ,,is,,H VI H.

Within ten miles of Richmond on
the old Mountain Road, al lis inter-
section with the Richmond. Fred
er!cksburg anh Potomac Railroad.
may be- seen beautiful grounds and
parks spacious buildings and broken
.cmbannruents. This is Forest Lodge.
Glen Allen. mute and pathetic re-
hinder Of it's founder and owner.
the late Captain John Cussons.
"hos" adventurous life for years
among tie Indians Of the North
west his career as a soldier OF for
tune for four years with the South
crn cause, and his after life devoted
10 the upbuildirg % E!rgiula's OPP
portunitics WIKI his abundant means,
and The protection OF her good name
win his virilc and classic pen. reads
IKE romance"
Captain Cussons Was an r:ngi!sh-
man. having been horn n lsaS at
iinrncastic, aud though spending his
"utre adu!; III" ia this country and
hghtinE for four years with the ar
mics Of TIL. south. he never forgot
hat he WAS AN Englishman. and in
his wil mentions himself as ma
tiv" OF Great trita!n. and :. natu-
rallied son o: Virgin His com
handing and picturesque appear
ance attracted attention at once in
any gathering.
Cavalier md scout.
TAIL. straigh, As AN arrow. broad
Of shoulder, dig OF body and com
pacily Knit, with raven black hair
Ealing upon his shoulders topped
with the broad hat Of the Western
scout nud the big g4unticts OF trio
ranger n" looked wha; he Was
"vcrs inch tn. cavalier and daring
scout. 10 was a magnificent horse
,nau and :, dead shot with rirc or
revolver ms lie for years on the
Western frontier hunting buffalo
nlth thc indians had ltt.d him cA-
cepiionally wei! for ;hc arduouA Lu-
iics o. the army scout. ranger and
!.harpshoot"r when he entered the
s"rvice OF the Confedcracy.
Captain CuSsons' war record is so
Well known that shall only touch
upon few incidents that stand out
prominently and show me charsc-
tor that made MIN a leader %; men
where Judgment. courage and fotti-
s Jude were necessary for the accom-
pilShm"ni OF great deeds. The com
incnccnient of hostiil,ies between
the states found him conducting the
selma 'Ala) Morning Reporter, OF
which he waa hali owner H." was
member OF the Governors guard.
which later became a part Of the
Fourth .tlabana Infantry, and with
the rank OF lieutenant he accom-
panied this command to lIarpcrs
Ferry in April. 1861.
This regiment was placed In
brigade commanded by General Ber-
nard T.. Bee, and Lieutenant Cussons
served with him as a scou; until the
death OF this lamented officer at Ma
'nassas or Luiy q. 1861 General
Whiting, who succeeded General
Bee, retained him as scout until.
al the battle of Seven Pines. he was
promoted TO captain and appointed
10 the staff OF General l.. NJ. Law
who succeeded TO the command OF
the brigade. Thereafter, he as chief
of scouts, saw continuous service
with practically every commander in
the Army of Northern Virginia. and
in his will mentions himself IA "a
scout leader under General Hood in
,he armies OF the Confcderacy.
Captures Fort Stribiing.
one example OF his daring and
utter fearlcssncss is seen in his sur
Prise and capture OF Fort Stribl.ng.
During Longstrcet's Suffolk cam
paign, Captain Cussons. with hand
ful Of picked men, surprised and cap
turcd Fort Striking by night at
tack which succeeded solely through
The audacity OF the movement itself,
as the old soldier lauehingly told
the writer-''thcy simply could not
imagine that any attack would be
made upon them except by "a very
large force, and they surrendered at
once"
Another example OF the captains
daredevil spirit that saved Stonewall
Jackson's army. was his opening up
OF Thoroughfare Gap. allowing
I.onsstrcet to get through the noun
tain pass and join Jackson. In the
campaign against General Pope at
The crisis. when Longstreet must
Join Jackson. to effect n defeat OF
tile enemy. the gap being held by the
Fcderals under General Ricketts,.
Cussons, with 100 riHemcn. climbed
over the mountain and attacked
Ricketts, outposts.
In the words OF the old captain
this impctuous charge at nightfall
in that broken country had instant
results The outposts and skir-
mishcrs were driven in on the flank,
which. i'm turn. was stampcded COM
municating disorder to the main
body, and General Ricketts, started
forthwith on his wild night march,
away from that mountain fastness
and far from bcleaguered Stonewan
through l1aymarket and Gainesville.
and out toward the entertainments OF
Manassas, fifteen miles from Thor
oughfaro Gap" And thus Jackson's
army was saved by Cussons, the in
:. trcpid scout.
Witnessed Pickct's Charge.
Captain Cussons was captured on
the morning Of the third day Of the