[From the Richmond, Va., Dispatch, September 18, 1897.]

THE CUMBERLAND GRAYS, COMPANY D,

Twenty-First Virginia Infantry.

Its Roster, with Brief Record of its Service.

CUMBERLAND C. H., VA., September 11, 1897.

There was a reunion of the Cumberland Grays' Association at Cumberland Courthouse recently. This company was commanded first by Captain F. D. Irving, who was in command of it from the 1st of July, 1861, to the 21st of April, 1862, when he refused reelection and retired from service.

Captain A. C. Page was elected its second captain, and was wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg. His leg was amputated, and he was retired from the service. At the earnest solicitation of Charles H. Anderson, the first lieutenant of the company, second lieutenant John A. Booker, who was on detached duty as A. A. A. General to General J. R. Jones, was appointed captain, and remained as such until the end of the war.

In the second fight at Manassas the ammunition of the regiment gave out, but our second lieutenant was a brick-layer, and seeing the railroad was levelled with brickbats and stones, he threw the first stone and ordered the men to beat back the first line of Yankees, which they did so effectually that the entire brigade in an instant took up the same weapons. With what effect, history has told.

At the roll-call of the company at the reunion it was seen that of the 103 officers and men who were enlisted only forty-eight were living.

The following is a list of those who were killed or died since and during the war:

Captain F. D. Irving, died since the war.

Captain A. C. Page, died since the war.

Lieutenant C. H. Anderson, killed at Fisher's Hill.
Lieutenant E. E. England, killed at Petersburg.
Sergeant-Major William Denny, died since the war.

Sergeant M. J. Dunkum, died since the war; lost a leg at Brandy

Station.

Sergeant W. S. Anderson, died at Valley Mountain.

Sergeant Bolden Brown, died in 1862.

Sergeant D. M. Coleman, killed at Fisher's Hill.

Corporal W. M. Cooke, wounded; died since the war.

Austin, M. G., wounded at Gettysburg, and died.

Booker, Charles W., died since the war.

Baughan, W. L., died since the war.

Baughan, William, died in 1862.

Baughan, David, killed at Gettysburg.

Baughan, Robert, mortally wounded at Petersburg.

Cooke, S. W., wounded at Mine Run and died since the war.

Coleman, W. D., killed at Monocacy, Md.

Coleman, W. A., died at Staunton in 1862.

Creasy, Edward, killed at the Wilderness in 1864.

Cunningham, W. H., died in prison.

Dowdy, John M., died in 1861.

Dowdy, E. E., died in 1862.

Dowdy, John D., died in prison.

Dowdy, James, killed at Cedar Mountain.

Dowdy, Wilson M., while in the hospital at Winchester, in 1862, hearing that his company was in a heavy engagement, seized a musket, and running at a double-quick, fainted, fell, and in two days a little mound was raised to mark the spot where this gallant soldier sleeps.

Dunford, John F., killed at Gettysburg.
Edwards, Thomas, died in hospital.

Flippen, Charles, killed at Kernstown.

Flippen, J. T., wounded at Chancellorsville, and died since the

war.

Flippen, Allen, died in 1862.

Flippen, William, died in 1861.

Godsey, Daniel L., died since the war.

Garnett, Robert K., killed at Gettysburg.

Garnett, James S., lost a leg; since died.
Hendrick, Merritt S., died in 1861.
Hatcher, Joseph, died in 1862.

Harris, Joseph N., died since the war.

Jones, Levi, died since the war.

King, George H., was the last man killed at Gettysburg in his company, a few yards from the enemy's line.

Merryman, James, died soon after the war.
Mahr, J. C. L., killed at Kernstown.

Meador, Robert J., wounded at Gettysburg and died since.

Meador, Mike, died since the war.

Meador, John L., died in 1861.
Parker, Thomas, died in 1861.
Parker, Jerry, died since the war.
Parker, I. A., died since the war.

Price, John B., killed at Cedar Mountain.

Snoddy, John S., died since the war.

Shores, Thomas, died since the war.

Wootton, John and A. W., died since the war.

There were twenty-eight wounded and five who lost limbs during the war, and one had his leg, which was wounded, amputated since the war.

[From the Richmond, Va., Dispatch, July 4, 1897.]

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

THE EVACUATION OF THE CITY AND THE DAYS PRECEDING IT.

How the News was Received in Danville-Some of the Closing Scenes of the Confederacy Vividly Recalled.

(Colonel J. H. AVERILL in Nashville Banner.)

The coming of the remnants of that army in gray, whose deeds so astonished the world a third of a century ago, and the presence among us here of the last survivor of the cabinet of President Davis, brings vividly back some of the closing scenes of the Southern Confederacy, in which the writer participated, and which were several years since written out, and are here retold at the request of the Banner.

The scene I will describe pertains to the evacuation of Richmond and the fifteen days immediately following.

The writer was at the time trainmaster of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, and stationed at Danville, Va., the road then running only from Richmond to Danville, there connecting with the Piedmont road to Greensboro, N. C. How this railroad line, then the mainstay of the Southern Confederacy, the only line of communication between its capital and the Southern States, has grown and extended its lines; how the old Richmond and Danville went down, as the Confederation of States it supported, and how, from that wreck, has arisen the now well-known Southern Railway, permeating every Southern State! Can the growth of that system in any way be attributed to the rapid growth and improvement of the South, and can we paint the picture of the two eras as having any connection? But to our story: It is well remembered by all who lived in the closing days of the Confederacy that the first official news of the intended evacuation of Richmond on that Sunday in April was communicated to its citizens in church, and through the hurried calling of the President from church.

Our first intimation of it was not in being called from church, but at noon on that quiet Sabbath day in Danville, for it was quiet there, 140 miles away from the city, which was so soon to witness the sad

dest scene in its history. On being awakened from a sound sleep, the first I had enjoyed for twenty-four hours (for in those days a railroad-man slept when he could, and that was not often), by the telegraph operator with the information that "Richmond says come to the key at once. Reporting there as soon as possible, I soon received the following: "Hold all trains in Danville; send nothing

out.

Having heard nothing of impending danger to Lee's army, or of the probability of the evacuation, I asked the reason for the order. None was given, and our construction of it then was that Richmond had news of a raid out from the Federal army, and that it was feared that our lines would be cut between Burkeville and the Staunton river. We took our local wire and interrogated the operators on the line for news of the raiders, but they knew nothing.

It was time for the regular passenger train to leave for Richmond. Many passengers were gathering, and the question was frequently asked, "Where is the train? Why is it not at the platform? What is the matter?" Leaving time had come and passed. Then those of the passengers who lived in Richmond grew anxious and suspicious. I was questioned on all sides, but could tell nothing. Soon, however, another message came as follows: 'Come to Richmond with all engines and empty passenger and box-cars you can pick up. Bring no freight or passengers.'

We got the four engines we had in the yard ready to run with what cars we had, and reported for running orders, and were told to await further instructions. They came. I have them yet. The message was short, and read as follows:

"Too late. Richmond is being evacuated. We will all leave this P. M. Arrange for all track room possible in Danville." Now we must tell the waiting, expecting passengers. It was a scene never to be forgotten. One man shed tears as he came and offered any amount I would name for an engine to take him to Richmond, where his wife and children were. Others seemed to be completely crushed and unable to express themselves. Some walked off looking as though they had lost their all.

Soon Danville knew the story, and the noble people of that Virginia city began their preparation to receive and take care of as many of the refugees as possible. Daylight brought the first trainthe President of the Confederacy, his Cabinet, their families and many members of Congress. Other trains soon followed. There were women and children in box-cars, many without baggage, few