Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-26
DID PENANCE
FOR STEALING FINE COLT
(Contlnncd From Thlrd pnecN

kivc. Our troops were far ahead and
he car-guard column was passing.
1--we were on q line parallel with the
Fear-guard and about forty yards
@stant when very distinguished
cooking officer left his command and
lppronchinE w on horseback. de-
nanded: Where did you get that
:olt7"
My friend. being a l!ttle cmbar-
PASSED. answered: From that barn.
SIR" pointing back to the building.
Did you Impress IL or Just take
IT, the officer asked.
vi we impressed IL, sir" said l.
y And on whose authority" demand
our inQuisitor.
When replied. our own. sir" the
officer turned abruptly In his stir
: rups and called: Captain -, send
me sergeant and four men"
To tho sergeant no said: Have
two men take tho colt back 10 that
barn: the other two Will put these
men under guard"
4 This looking officer.
with his erect Agurc. smooth grey
uniform. gilt buttons. gold braid.
brilliant stars and yellow bucksk!n
Eauntlets made n deep Impression on
mo and / knew that would never
forgot, and perhaps. never forgive
3 Trim.
For tho remainder OF the day and
much of the night we marched under
guard. and when we lay down "A,
night under the cold Northern stars.
we were cr!minaIE In charge OF tho
provost guard. ~ be tried by court
martial and may be shot for steallng
colt from AN enemy.
Order From General Hnttle.
NO rntlons had been issued to us,
and our breakfast was some cold
bread found In tho hnversack OF my
frugal friend. we were making a
! forced march. anxious 10 cross tho
POTOMAC before our enemy. who had
been rc-enforced. should ovcrtakc US.
About o'clock In the afternoon Of
that warm July day, we recognized
PLieutenant Harris--n MESSENGER from
Captain kirkpatrick. in command OF
our battery. Harris brought an order
from General Battle. whom we now
knew to be our distinguished cantor
This order required the captain OF the
guard to release his prisoners to this
messenger: Identifying US as the cap
| ltlves who had been caught stealing
"a colt.
Lieutenant Harris explained to US
that we had been guilty Of very
grave crime and that General Battle
had delivered US to Captain Kirkpat-
rick with tho understanding that lie
would either punish us according 10
the demands OF tho law or commit
us Tor trial by court-mnrtial.
When still under guard. we were
, brought before our Judge: he being n
lhwyer OF renown, explained the ma.
ture or our crlmo in relation to the
order of forbidding Interference with
tho property of private citizens IN
,;the enemy's country. Our captain
now Informed us that General Battle
In releasing us had stipulated tina:
I'VE might either accept such punish
.1ncnt as hc-thc cnptain--might die
ltate or submit TO trial By court
smartial. We were little stubborn
5about II, but to save our families and
Friends the modification OF n public
trial and disgrace we accepted tho
captnin's terms.
Our sentence was. to stand two
thours each day, one hour In the morn
jlng and one in the afternoon, on a
metal TOP caisson In ths delightful
VJuly sunshine, and fully exposed TO
Athe view OF our camp. And our
crime was TO be published as The
stealing of Colt"
Spent Time Fixing Shoes.
Early's army reached Virginia safe
~ and went into camp near Martins
burg. With the exception OF two
'n'iioF engagements, one at Snick cr' :;
Gap, tho other at kernstown win,
detached troops. we were undis "
turbed for several weeks. whilst
Sheridan reorganized his army south
Iof the Potomac.
This rest was much appreciated, MS
Dve had boon on the march ALMOST
continuously since we left Richmond
on the twelfth day Of June. II was
now the end OF July. Our days in
camp were occupied with patching
the old shoes, doing some laundry
work and DISCRIMINATING coolies,
Sheridan, who had succeeded Hun.
ter on, 9TH of August, did not begin
active operations against his adver-
sary until about the middle of Sen
TENDER. On September 10, with "a. :
600 troops, he fought Early at VIM
chester, with $4,000. Hero Early lost
1000 troops, or 80 per cent OF his
army, whilst the enemy had lost
5000 or only 10 per cent of his
force
Three days later Sheridan renewed
the battle at Fishers Hill. Here
l1arlys army realized it's weakness.
now only 10000 strong. His battle
line reached from the river to the
mountain. the turnpike running
through the center. the only road
across the ridge known MS Fishers
Hill.
Pulled Stake From Fence.
During the day there had hoo,
heavy skirmishing at dlrserent
points along the line, but there had
been no action on the left until n bout
O'Clock, when the Federal comman-
der threw out q heavy skIrmisb lin
in our front. '' i''ie
For half an hour or moro tbcro
was constant fire along n roxine
that separated the two lines or bnt.
ne. but no general engagement. Our
fpto action. ~
The sun had nearly reached Tho
mountain top whom Yankee yc,I
rolled down the mountainside tint
n ,iaue .he Forest tremblc. Our cav
AIRY rushed down like the swine with
an overdose OF devils. To tbc,r
credit, be 1t said. they reformed their
iinV5in rear Of our artillery.
\ out battery was faced to the loft