Trees Whittled Down at Horseshoe. 17
the capture of his chief at the Horseshoe, May 12, 1864, with Lieut. Gen. Ewell, and after the latter' s assignment to command in Rich- mond, he was with Lieut. Gen. Early until August, when General Johnson, being exchanged, he attended that officer to his new as- signment under General Hood.
Captain Old was severely wounded while serving in the West, and returned disabled to his native State. He was held in great esteem, not only for his gallantry, but also for his sound judgement, and was greatly distinguished as a staff officer. Few men have such familiar and accurate knowledge as he of the " overland^ campaign " from the Rapidan to its culmination at Cold Harbor, and he has contributed in the enclosed article a valuable account of some of its movements.
General Gordon's statement in his book that General Edward Johnsou was surprised on May I2th is erroneous, and both General Gordon's and General Johnson's reports of the battle show that there was no surprise. The trouble was occasioned by the withdrawal of the Confederate artillery and by slowness in sending back to position when the enemy's plans of attack had been discovered.
Captain Old's interesting paper explains how " the Horseshoe," sometimes called "the Bloody Angle," happened to be formed and fortified, and furnishes other valuable data which will enlighten the historian.
Very respectfully,
JOHN W. DANIEL. Editor of The Times -Dispatch.
Sir: I have read with interest and pleasure " Four Years Under Marse Robert, ' ' by Major Robert Stiles. * It is one of the best if not the best of the contributions to that class of literature which attempts to give those who were not in the army some insight into the sufferings, vicissitudes and endurance of the Confederate sol- dier, that has been made by any one, and those who know Major Stiles would never accuse him of exaggerating the picture he was drawing, while his comrades in the army can truthfully corroborate all he has said in that respect. The fact is Major Stiles is one of our Confederate heroes, and should be ranked as such, and every Confederate soldier should read his book. There are some slight
- The so lamented "gallant-soldier, able lawyer and Christian gentle-
man," quietly passed to eternal rest at his residence in Bon Air, Va., Oct. 5th, 1905. ED.
