In turning back a page of my life, my memory recalls several members
of the 1st Howitzers, to which I belonged during the great war. One
was Lieutenant John Nimmo, who joined in the year 1861, just before
the company left Richmond for the front. He was living in New York
when the war began, but returned to his native State, and joined us,
being elected to a lieutenancy. His physique was remarkable, being
very tall, and as slim as a fence rail almost, and with a long neck
and mustaches as flowing as those of a "grenadier of the foot guards"
of France. His individuality was marked, possessing a great fund of
wit and humor, enlivened by a slight vein of sarcasm. He had read a
good deal, and had also touched elbows with the great world, which
rendered his conversation always very entertaining. His gallantry on
the field of battle was conspicuous, being one of the coolest men in
action that I ever saw. His memory is cherished highly by every
surviving member of the company. He has long since passed to the
"bourne whence no traveller returns," and rests on the other side of
the river.
A striking member of our company, "the 1st Howitzers," was Carey
Eggleston. He was a long, gawky looking young soldier, and did not
make a very good showing on dress parade, but just as soon as fight
opened, and our guns were turned loose upon the enemy, his whole
nature seemed to change with the excitement, and he seemed exhilarated
with ardor of battle. At the battle of Spotsylvania Court House he was
acting number one at the gun where I was number three, when a fragment
of shell shattered his arm. Gangrene afterwards set in and caused his
death. He was but a mere youth, only eighteen years old, and was the
only one I ever knew that really loved fighting.
Of some interest to many is the 7:32 A.M. accommodation train on the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad from Ashland to
Richmond. It conveys as passengers daily business and professional men
to the city. A prominent characteristic of these travelers is the
haste displayed by each in getting the morning's paper; indeed it
seems that to secure one at all hazards and risks, the most desirable
accomplishment in daily life, and then to quickly board the train and
rush for a seat on the shady side--if it happens to be the summer
season--while the less fortunate make out the best they can on the
sunny side. The choice of seats, of course, is reversed in the winter
time, when the sun is the favorite side. After obtaining his favorite
seat the "newspaper fiend" draws his paper, folds, presses down its
side in the most skillful way, and then holds its pages up to his
eager gaze with the thrilling delight of what he gleans in its
perusal. This folding and preparation of the journal is done with a
peculiar expertness by the veteran news fiend, for instance, when he
wishes to find the continuance of an article from one page to another,
he will turn it over and rearrange it in a most adroit manner, that no
amateur could perform; only the genuine newspaper fiend could
accomplish such a result. He first folds the sheets into a quarto or
folio size with the greatest finesse, and takes fresh hold reading.
When you notice his lips quiver, he has come to something especially
interesting; he becomes quite oblivious to all outside influences,
being entirely absorbed in what he is enjoying in the columns of the
news items. As a matter of fact he is not fond of books; a fine volume
of literature is not varied enough for his tastes. The morning paper,
fresh with news of the whole world, appears to him as a perfect
kaleidoscope of reading matter, which he perfectly appreciates until
the train reaches its destination.
During the battles around Richmond, when the Federal army under
General Geo. B. McClellan invested the city, one of the brightest
pages in the history of the Confederate war was enacted. The noble
women of the South by a concert of action, united in aiding the
surgeons in alleviating the pain and suffering of the wounded. The
whole seemed a veritable hospital. Even the churches were stripped of
their cushions to be used therein for the comfort of those who were
brought in from the front. The kind sympathy and cheering words of
these devoted women caused many a wounded soldier to look and revere
and thank his Creator that such ministering angels had been provided
to sooth him and inspire hope in his weak and stricken body. This
gracious and noble conduct of the women of the Confederacy forms one
of the most valuable pages in the annals of the great war between the
North and South. Many who took part in that memorable struggle and
strenuous time have passed over the river that separates life from
eternity, but their deeds and their memory will be cherished as long
as time endures.
A gleaning of some moment is the tearing down of the old Reuger
building to give place to a new and more modern structure of ten
stories. It will stand upon the site of the original house, on the
corner of Ninth and Bank Streets, where it had stood for more than
half a century as a restaurant and hotel. It is doubtful if any
establishment of its kind ever dispensed better cheer in either liquor
or substantial refreshments, than the "Reugers"--father, son and
grandsons--served up to their many patrons. In the new hostelry there
will be maintained the same high prestige hitherto enjoyed by the
lovers of good fare in Richmond and vicinity.
A prominent person in Richmond during the period "antebellum," was
Captain Sam Freeman, who was the superintendent of Capitol Square and
the public buildings within the same. It was he that introduced the
squirrels on the grounds, and took a good deal of interest in and care
of them, being his especial pets. After the close of the great war,
the former office was merged in that of the Land office and
Superintendent of Public Buildings.
I recall a very high-toned gentleman, a first-class Virginian, who was
waiting upon a very attractive lady, who was riding in a carriage with
the window down. He being at the time on horseback, and drawing
alongside the vehicle, he leaned over and remarked to her: "Miss Judy,
I have a disagreeable duty to perform, namely, to court you." She very
promptly replied: "Well, Colonel, if it is such a disagreeable task to
you, I would advise you hot to perform it." But being so full of his
subject, he continued his courtship, and, of course, was promptly
discarded. She afterwards married another gentleman who was more
tactful in his mode of courting her.