Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/99

 Stuart's Ride and Death of Latane. 87

to his practice — which soon became extensive, in consequence of his doing a large amount of charity practice among the poor around him — but giving successful attention to his large farm ; and in the management of the labor on this farm he was "with- out any thought of it on his part," thus receiving preliminary training for the handling of large bodies of soldiers when the clash of arms should come upon his loved country. This would surely have been realized, had not his young life been snatched so suddenly away.

Early in i86i, when Air. Lincoln made his call for troops to put down what he termed "the rebellion," there was a rush to arms all over A'^irginia, and soon a cavalry company, called the Essex Light Dragoons, was formed, electing as their officers Dr. R. S. Cauthorn, captain ; William L. Waring, first lieu- tenant ; William A. Oliver, second lieutenant, and William Latane, third lieutenant. The company was soon mustered into the Confederate service for one year. In the spring of 1862 it became necessary to re-enlist the men and reorganize the com- pany, and in this reorganization, by common consent, William Latane Avas made captain. It was about this time that your writer made the acquaintance of his captain. I found him a man of small stature and quiet demeanor, but quick to perceive the wrong and very assertive in his opposition to it. He com- manded the confidence of his men by his evenhanded justice to all, and at the same time he brooked no disorder. Soon after the reorganization he was ordered to report with his company at Hick's Hill, near Fredericksburg, to become one of the con- stituent companies of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, of which W. H. F. Lee, a son of General R. E. Lee, was colonel ; R. L. T. Beale, lieutenant-colonel, and Thomas Waller, major. The Essex Light Dragoons became Company F of that famous regi- ment, and in the years that followed few of the recruits knew the company by its original name. The month of service around Fredericksburg amounted to little except picket and drill duty, but McClellan's landing on the Peninsula and his march on Richmond made it necessary for us to retire to the lines around