Southern Historical Society Papers.
VOL. XXXVIII. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1910.
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LAST MONTHS IN THE
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
By Captain FREDERICK M. COLSTON.
In September, 1864, after passing the examination of the Ordnance Board, I was commissioned "Captain of Artillery on Ordnance Duty," having born previously ordnance officer of Alexander's Battalion of Artillery, Longstreet's Corps, and I was assigned as assistant to the Chief of Ordnance of the army, Lieutenant-Colonel Briscoe G. Baldwin.
One of my duties was the charge of the reserve ordnance train of the army, which was then encamped near Chester Station (now Centralia) on the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, and I took up my quarters and mess there with three fine young sergeants whom I found there, and all of whom had been disabled or wounded and assigned to that duty.
This was the custom of the army, where a man able to do full duty was needed for the front, and this illustrates our habitual shortage of numbers.
They were Joseph Packard, Bob. Burwell and Everard Meade. Packard passed the ordnance examination and was commissioned lieutenant and placed in direct charge of the train, relieving me of that part of my duty. He is now very prominent and appreciated in Baltimore and elsewhere. Bob. Burwell was of the well-known Virginia family and died a few years ago. Meade, a grandson of Bishop Meade, is now rector of the historic Pohick Church, in Fairfax County, Va., the church of George Washington and George Mason.
