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by the United States Government in the Bureau of Hydrography at Washington, D. C. Captain Samuel A. Ashe was the assistant to Captain Bolles in the laboratory and was a most valuable officer in that department.) Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. DeLagnel, LieutenantColonel F. L. Childs, Captain Samuel A. Ashe, Captain John L. Holmes, Captain J. E. P. Dangerfield, Dr. Benjamin Robinson, as surgeon of post; T. J. Robinson, as superintendent of laboratory, from his long experience in that branch of business in Washington, D. C., Captain J. E. P. Dangerfield was made military storekeeper and paymaster by Major Booth from long experience at the arsenal and armory at Harper's Ferry.

Thomas C. DeRosset acted as Secretary in Colonel Child's office, Mr. Robert Johnson was chief clerk, and E. P. Powers assistant to Johnson. In the military storekeeper's office was William J. Woodward, who was placed in the ordnance department by Major Booth and General J. Gorgas, Chief of the Ordnance Bureau at Richmond, and he was one of the most efficient officers at the post. On the approach of General Sherman's army all work, of course, was suspended, and the entire command, after removing all the machinery possible, together with the large amount of supplies, were ordered in camp, and remained there until the surrender of Greensboro.

MATTHEW P. TAYLOR,

Major 6th Battalion, Armory Guard.

[From the Richmond Dispatch, March 22, 1896.]

A BRILLIANT RECORD.

The Nottoway Grays (Co. G), Eighteenth Virginia Regiment,
Pickett's Division.

This company nearly twenty years ago took steps to complete a roll of its officers and men. At general meetings, annually held, the roll was made, the main difficulty having been to get the full names and records of the men who, as conscripts, were assigned to it in the latter year of the war, and who, as a general thing, came from counties not represented in the original company.

The company was organized January 12, 1861, with a roll, rank and file of fifty. Of this number there remained with the command thirty-three-the others having resigned or were discharged as unfit for service during the four years

Of these (33) there were killed in battle,

Died in service,

Wounded,

Three escaped casualty.

9

6

15

30

The company was mustered into service April 21, 1861, assigned to the 18th Regiment, Colonel R. E. Withers, and left Camp Lee for Manassas May 26th. At this time, or just prior to it, it was enlarged by twenty-eight others joining it

Of these there were discharged or transferred,
Died in service,

Killed in battle,
Wounded,

4

+580

ΙΟ

27

The one who suffered no casualty was a member of the band. The first battle it was in was the First Manassas, July 21st, and afterwards it was in all the battles of Pickett's Brigade and Division to Sailor's creek, where its organization was broken up, nearly every man having been killed or taken prisoner. At the reorganization of the company at Yorktown in April, 1862, there were added by recruits twenty-six

Of these there were killed in battle,

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6

6

7

19

A recapitulation of the roll shows: Captains, four-one resigned the first year on account of disease; one resigned at the end of the first year on account of age; one resigned June, 1863, on account of wounds; one was killed at Sailor's Creek.

Lieutenants, seven-two resigned early in the war on account of physical disability; four were wounded, and one killed.

Non-commissioned officers, 19-wounded, 11; killed 7.

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Of the enlisted men of 1861-'62, who went through the war, only five escaped unhurt, and two of these were detailed men.

At the battle of Gaines' Mill and Frazier's Farm the company had thirty-nine out of forty-five killed and wounded.

At the battle of Gettysburg, out of thirty-six, rank and file, eleven were killed and nineteen wounded.

At Sailor's Creek Captain Archer Campbell--the fourth and last commander of the company-was killed in the act of surrendering. At Appomattox one lieutenant and several of the men who escaped at Sailor's Creek were included in the surrender.

Colonel R. E. Withers, the first conmander of the 18th Regiment, said of this company: "A company which never failed in the hour of trial, and was always 'to be depended on.

Colonel H. A. Carrington, successor to Colonel Withers, said of it: "One of truest and most gallant companies which fought through the late war."

Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. Cabell said: "A noble band of Virginia braves, whose gallant deeds reflected undimmed honor on their county, their State, their country, and her cause."

Adjutant Ferguson said: "At the battle of Gettysburg, Company G was deployed as skirmishers, and at the proper time 'assembled' and took its place in the line, I remember well, it was manœuvred handsomely.

"As adjutant, I was in a situation to know, and can testify to the admirable conduct of the entire regiment; how they closed up when large gaps were made in the rank; how orderly they moved forward, driving the enemy, and how the few scattered ones that remained

unhurt held their ground, hoping, but in vain, for support, until they were killed or captured by the fresh troops of the Federals that were pushed forward to restore the broken lines. No charge could have been more gallant. Looking at it now, after a lapse of years, with calm reflection, I think I may say, no commendation given by writers concerning this celebrated charge of Pickett's Division has ever exceeded the truth."

Thirty years after the surrender, as far as could be ascertained, there were surviving of the 145 men of Company G, scattered from Virginia to Texas, thirty-six. Of these, Captain Richard Irby and Lieutenant Richard Ferguson, are the only surviving commissioned officers.

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The above items were gathered from a Historical Sketch" of the company, published in 1878 by the surviving captain, with the aid of Lieutenant Ferguson.

[From the Richmond Times, July 12, 1896.]

PETITION FOR MR. DAVIS' RELEASE.

To the Editor of the Times:

SIR,-Every incident connected with President Davis is of great interest. I accidentally found this item a few days ago:

"The ladies of Petersburg petition for the pardon of Jefferson Davis.

"The following petition, signed by over six hundred ladies of Petersburg, has been forwarded to his Excellency, President Johnson, praying for the pardon of Jefferson Davis. This method of reaching the President, has been adopted in other States and cities, and the appeal for clemency in behalf of the great state prisoner, bids fair to become universal throughout the land over which he lately ruled. Will the President disregard the earnest prayers of so large a portion of the nation?"

"PRESIDENT JOHNSON:

"PETERSBURG, October, 1865.

"Honored Sir,-We, the ladies of the Cockade City of Virginia, approach your Excellency requesting executive clemency for our beloved captive head, late President Jefferson Davis, who is

bound to each one of our section of the land by the indissoluble ties of friendship, love, and veneration. Called by the unanimous voice of the people of the South to lead them (as Joshua of old), he accepted the honor of being enshrined in the history of the nation as its chief, forced there by the free suffrage of a united people. From the moment of his coercion up to the hour of his capture, he commanded the respect, not only of the people of the late Confederate States, but of the world at large, and especially of the United States Government. His opinions were received everywhere as the will of the people, whose mouthpiece he was. He has our love for every virtue which adorned the Christian, the gentleman, and the patriot, shown forth in every act with the brilliancy of the morning sun, reflecting honor upon his country, dignity upon his government, and purity upon the social circle. Our veneration-for called by eight millions of freemen to rule, every creed and political party gave in immediate and unrestrained obedience, followed where he pointed the way, obeyed without a murmur the law promulgated by his council, and cheerfully gave up every comfort for the public good at his suggestion. Now we lie powerless at the feet of a victorious government. Our brave brothers sleep in their honored graves, or walk beside bearing on their persons marks of the fierce conflict which has tried their courage and manliness, with every comfort buried in the general wreck of war. With naught but their energies and honor remaining, having given in their adhesion to the laws of the land, and taken the oaths of fidelity to the government, they have become quiet citizens of the same, only asking to be permitted to remove the numerous vestiges of the conflict, which you, sir, seem, not only willing, but determined to accord to us. With your hand upon the helm (Constitutional Right), you are giving a sublime picture to the world of heroic fortitude. The tempest, though subsiding, still causes the ship of state to plunge and reel; yet, upheld by justice and patriots of the land, she may be anchored in the safe haven of the "Constitutional Rights" as laid down by our noble sires.

"The ark was borne upon the waters of wrath, yet lifted to the summit of a mountain, it there remained a monument of God's mercy, and from it a dove was sent, which returned with an olive branch. Will you not send out the dove (hope), to him whose only fault was, "He did not reject the dangerous honor with more stability? Will you not permit the Government to the ark, now borne above the waters of strife, and its chief banner the olive

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