The Richmond "Home Guard" of 1861. 57
were buried on the bank of the river in a long trench. Their wounded they carried off. Some died in the depot and were burned in that building the next morning when they left in a hurry, as Gen- eral W. H. F. Lee was only six hours behind them. Not one shot was tired by infantry at these troops on the western or upper side of Staunton-river bridge- Alexander Bruce and the other boys who were with me on that glorious day will bear me out as to the truth of what I have written.
A PRETTY FIGHT.
It was the prettiest fight I ever saw. We did not have one man hurt, though several of us had holes through our clothing. At the bridge, beside Mr. Burke and Dr. Sutphin, Jack Carter, who was a farmer and lived near Mount Carmel, was killed by a shell. I have written my account of this fight as I saw it. All that has been said about that gallant old friend, Colonel T. S. Flournoy, I heartily indorse, as well as the gallantry of Colonel Henry E. Coleman and those with him on the lower side of the bridge.
THE HALIFAX BOYS.
But I do think that the Halifax boys are entitled to the credit of whipping a regiment of General Wilson's best troops with two guns. I may at some future time give my recollections of this battle if it is thought it will help some future historian to give a true account of this splendid fight which saved General Lee's army from immediate retreat, as the burning of this bridge would have cut off his supplies.
Captain J. W. LEWIS, Late Captain Artillery, C. S. A.
[Copy.] THE RICHMOND "HOME GUARD" OF 1861.
APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE, VIRGINIA,
August 75, 1891. Colonel JOSEPH DARE,
War Department, War Records Office,
Washington, D. C. :
COLONEL : Your letter to the postmaster at Richmond, dated the ist instant, with his reply of the I2th, and a note from Mr.
