Bennett's Stories about the force at Roanoke Island
Bennett's account of the force at Roanoke Island is full of errors. He has manifestly taken up some old list published last summer, not even then correct, since which there have been numerous changes in officers and companies. The following four cavalry companies which now belong to Col. B. H. Robertson's 4th Virginia cavalry, and are at Manassas with his command, are set down in the column of ‘"Rebel garrison at Roanoke,"’ viz: Chesterfield Guard, Governor's Guard, Han-over Dragoons, and Goochland Light Dragoons, Bennett names as the officers of these companies, in the order in which they are printed above: Capts. Wm. B. Ball, J. G. Cabell, Williams C. Wickham, and Julien C. Harrison. They have all been promoted, as follows:Lieutenant Colonel Wm. B. Ball, on duty in the Peninsula; Julien Harrison, Lieutenant Colonel, and J. G. Cabell, Major Sixth Virginia Cavalry. Williams C. Wickham, Lieutenant Colonel Fourth Virginia Cavalry.
The four companies are now officered as follows:
Chesterfield Guard, W. B. Wooldridge, Captain Hanover Dragoons, W. B. Newton, Captain, Governor's Guard, Francis Chamberlain, Captain; Goochland Light Dragoons A. M. Hobson, Captain. Not one of these companies were ever in the Wise Legion nor was ever Major Thomas E Goode in that organization. Indeed, we might almost say that Bennett makes a legion of errors on the subject. We call attention only to a few.
