The publication of the picture and story of Barney McDermott, the stalwart veteran in the employ of the charity hospital, had an interesting sequel. Daniel O'C. Murphy is another Mississippi veteran, who has been living in New Orleans for many years. During the war he and McDermott were camp cronies, but they had not seen each other for thirty years and did not know that they were so near each other until Mr. Murphy read the interview in the Picayune. He lost no time in calling at the hospital and renewing old friendships. Mr. Murphy's memory agreed with Mr. McDermott's with reference to the killing of General Lytle, but, knowing memory to be sometimes unreliable, he decided to write to Judge S. S. Calhoon, of Jackson, Miss., in whom Mr. Murphy has the greatest confidence. Yesterday he received a reply, and, although it is a private letter, Mr. Murphy is willing to have it published: JACKSON, MISS., November 29, 1895. Mr. DAN. O'C. MURPHY, 1353 Magazine Street, New Orleans, La. : MY DEAR DAN: I have yours of the 27th instant, and cannot express to you the pleasure I felt on hearing directly from an old friend and army comrade. We are thinning out almost daily, and I feel of kin to the survivors of our old brigade. When I saw the statement of Barney McDermott, I could not at first recall him, but I now remember him very well as a tall, soldierlylooking Irish sergeant, brave in action and attentive to all his duties in camp and on the march. I have the greatest horror of entering into controversies in refference to what transpired in the battles of the war in which I was engaged. There can be no doubt about the fact, however, that Major West is, unintentionally of course, incorrect in saying that General Lytle was killed by a regiment of Deas' Brigade. I think there is abundant proof that he fell in front of Patton Anderson's Brigade, and I think in front of the Tenth Mississippi Regiment. I was "too busy" when he was killed to take note of the particular regiments or their location in reference to the body of General Lytle. You will recall that we supported General Deas' Brigade. You will recall, also, that upon the exhaustion of the brigade, we passed through it, and took the lead in front. Just about the time we reached the ground-telegraph wire of the Federal army in the woods and passed over it, the horse of Colonel Tucker, of the Forty-first Mississippi Regiment, was killed, and he cut the harness. which attached a mule to a Federal battery, which had been abandoned, and mounted the mule. The Forty-first Mississippi Regiment was then a part of General Patton Anderson's Brigade. Colonel Tucker was soon after promoted to be brigadier-general. am sure it was a few minutes after Colonel Tucker mounted this mule when General Lytle was killed, and while we were charging the enemy. My attention was called by some one to his body, and I remember feeling a pang of regret at the fall of so gallant an officer, although an enemy. A great length of time has elapsed, but I think there can be no doubt of the correctness of the foregoing; but of course I lay no claim to an infallible memory of events, particularly when they transpired during the progress of a great battle, and while on a tiresome charge, with all the attendant excitement. I think Major West must have fallen into the error by reason of the fact that Deas' Brigade commenced the charge, supported by us, overlooking the fact that when General Lytle was killed we had taken the lead as charging brigade, and General Deas' Brigade had become our support. I observe another unintentional oversight in Major West's statement. In the battle of Chickamauga, Brigadier-General Patton Anderson commanded his own brigade, in Hindman's Division, and did not command General Deas' Brigade. Very truly yours, S. S. CALHOON. [From the Farmville (Va.) Journal November 29, 1895.]. RANDOLPH GUARD. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPANY. Muster-Roll of the Company as it left Farmville, June 11, 1861. The following is a list of the officers and men of the Randolph Guard, commanded by Captain N. Cobb, Forty-fourth Virginia Regiment. The company was mustered into service at Richmond, Va., June 12, 1861, and numbered seventy-three men rank and file. Norvell Cobb, first captain of company from June 11, 1861, to May 1, 1862. At the reorganization promoted major Forty-fourth Virginia Regiment, and then afterwards, in 1863, made colonel of said Forty-fourth Virginia Regiment. Wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, and died since the war. He was truly a good man and an excellent soldier. W. P. Walker, second captain. Killed in the battle of Chancellorsville. The Confederacy never had a better soldier. H. G. Richardson, third and last captain. Wounded at Gaines' Mill, 1862, and served to the end of the war. W. T. Lee, first lieutenant. A good soldier, and at the reorganization failed to be re-elected; died since the war. Robert L. Brightwell, second lieutenant. Accidently killed on the retreat from Rich Mountain by a wagon turning over on him. T. L. Gibson, third lieutenant. Failed to be re-elected at the reorganization in May, 1862, and left the company. C. L. Carr, second lieutenant. Elected at the reorganization, and afterwards cashiered for violating fifty-second article of war. W. H. Wilkerson, first lieutenant. Lost his right leg in battle, at Spotsylvania Courthouse, May 12, 1864, and never missed a battle till wounded; was truly a good soldier. L. Amos, second lieutenant. Fought gallantly in every battle in which he was engaged; was all the Confederacy could ask of an officer; retired February 28, 1865, for six months, on account of bad health. B. F. Farrar, first sergeant. Killed in battle at McDowell, May, 1862. R. V. Jenkins, second sergeant. Served to end of war. H. W. K. Davis, third sergeant (one of the Confederacy's bravest boys). Killed in battle at Port Republic. John J. Cobb, fourth sergeant. A good soldier, and was severely wounded at battle of Chancellorsville, and died since the war. S. Branch Hunt, first corporal. No truer or better man belonged to Jackson's Corps. His health failed him and he was retired; died since the war. R. H. Amos, second corporal. Discharged May, 1862, on account of defective vision. A. W. Cade, third corporal. A good man-an excellent soldier. Robert Harvey, fourth corporal. No truer or better soldier belonged to this old company. PRIVATES. Adams. A. B. A most excellent soldier; was wounded at the battle of Port Republic, and served to end of war. Armistead, Robert H. Wounded at McDowell, Chancellorsville, and at Richmond. Allen, Willie. Died in hospital, 1862. Allen, Wesley. Put in a substitute in 1862, and afterwards served through the war in the Fourth Virginia Cavalry. Armistead, W. A. Good soldier; wounded in the leg at battle of Gettysburg. Atkins, A. S. A substitute. Bell, T. P. Detailed on government work. Baker, A. V. A good soldier; never wounded, and served through the war. Detailed in government shop. Bennett, A. B. Taken prisoner, and died in prison, 1864. Cobb, E. H. A most excellent soldier and a gallant fighter; was under sixteen years old when he joined the army. Cousins, M. C. A better soldier never carried a musket; was killed at Gettysburg. Cobb, Henry. Killed October, 1862. Cox, Henry C. Deshazor, A. W. No better soldier than our brave Abner. Killed climbing the Federal breastworks at Gettysburg. Sent home sick, Evans, James. Transferred from a Texas regiment; was regimental flag-bearer, and was a brave soldier; accidently shot and killed himself. Ellett, W. P. First sergeant for a short while. and never returned to the company. Griggs, E. R. A good soldier; detailed as regimental medical surgeon, and served through the war. Grigg, Norman. Discharged in June, 1861. Hayes, John. Died in hospital at Greenbrier river, August, 1861. the war. Hubbard, Robert H. One of the best soldiers in the army; served to the end of the war. Hubbard, Thomas. Died in the hospital at Staunton early in the Wounded at Gettysburg; a good soldier, and Huddleston, L. B. served through the war. Huddleston, S. H. Lost his left leg in battle at Petersburg in war. 1865. Hurt, F. O. Holman, W. A. No better man belonged to the army; never wounded. Kidd, J. S. Served through the war. Murdock, J. T. Served through the war, and died since. Moore, Thomas A. A good soldier, and served through the war. Morton, John A. Discharged; over age. North, C. C. A good soldier; killed at battle Port Republic. North, Thomas. Wounded at battle Port Republic, and died in prison at Fort Delaware, 1864. Perkins, Henry. Killed in battle at the Wilderness. Phaup, W. R. Discharged; over age. Pollard, P. B. A gallant soldier; wounded at McDowell and killed at Chancellorsville. Pollard, John. Discharged June, 1861. Pollard, William. Perkinson, N. C. Perkinson, J. R. Patton, Henry. Promoted sergeant-major Forty-fourth Virginia Regiment; killed at Gettysburg. Robertson, W. S. Discharged; over age; died since the war. Served through the war. Randlett, A. J. Ransom, John J. A good and faithful soldier; served through the war. Discharged; over age. Discharged early in the war. Tuggle, Sam T. Discharged 1862. Taylor, F. W. Died in hospital at Greenbrier river, with typhoid fever, 1862. Simpson, G. Discharged 1862. Thackston, Peter. Left company October, 1862. |