Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-07-12
THE WAR MOVEMENTS.

|
! Correspondence of the Baltimore Exchange. ]
The Late Skirmish in Berkeley Co.,
! Va, &C.--DaPing Exploit of Capt
Robert swan Brilliant Feat of
| SambO.
HAGERsTowN, July A.
observe you have had the Government
version of the late skirmish at Hainesville,
Va, where Gen. Robert Patterson is said to
have "routed ten thousand rebels and put
them to flight" This report is like all the
one-sided news conveyed through the same
channel.
| There was no determined stand taken by
the Confederates, nor was it so intended -
/ Three regiments of infantry and a company
of cavalry were between Martinsburg and the
Potomac. The cavalry company were sta
toned on the road to Hedgesville, and two of
the infantry regiments were stationed Mt
Hainesville while third was further adj
vanced on the road to Martnsburg.
When the Federal troops advanced to Hams
Vile, where portion Of the two Confederate
regiments lay in ambush the slaughter would
have been fearful, but for the timely notice of
Mr.. Porterfeld, who ran and informed the
enemy where the Confederates were concealed.
The skirmish was a briskly contested one, and
resulted in the killing of five Federal troops,
and wounding fifteen, three MORALLY. The
| Confederate loss was two killed and eight
wounded, two seriously Five thousand
troops were engaged on the Federal side, and
about FIVE hundred in all of the two regiments
of the Confederates Col Aliens regiment,
the one in reserve, did not fire gun. The
Confederates had no available artillery. So
much for the Boosting that ''the enemy was
routed and put 10 fight, 10, 900 strong"
The most brilliant daring and dashing ex-
plot of the day was the capturing of between
forty and fifty Federal prisoners by body of
horsemen. After the army had crossed the
river at Williamsport General Negey's br-
gade diverged from the main road on the road
leading to Hedgesville. Company A. of the
18th Pennsylvania regiment, were sent mad
vance Of the main body as scouts. II consis-
ted of sxty-three men, At the residence of
| William McGarry, Esq, farmer, they called
halt and mailing one OF the daughters, in
quired for her father, whom they said they
had an account to settle with, as he had been
feeding and harboring rebel troops.
The young lady said she did not know
where her father was, when twelve of the party
started out to hunt him up. Several Of the
remaining troops now grossly insulted the
young lady, and said to her if she did not re-
veal where her father was that they would
put her to death, and pointed their bayonets
at her heart. At this stage of the proceedings
a body of twenty-five horsemen galloped up,
point of being fired upon, when Capt. Swan
shouted "my God, men, don't fire on your
friends Down with your muskets." Upon
which they, thinking it was some of their
own troop obeyed the order. As quick as
thought, SWANS men were off their horses,
and with drawn swords and pistols demanded
their surrender which they did without hes
| itation
They then disarmed them, and taking the
straps off their canteens, tied their hands be-
hind their backs, and in tins manner marched
them off through Martinsburg to Winchester.
The men were ordered to march at "double-
quick" which they complained they could
not do, rs they were much wearied but Capt.
Swans orders were imperative, and forward
they were pushed with all possible dispatch,
The captain Of the company captured was in
town this evening, appearing much depressed
about the matter; the remaining twelve men
refusing to march under him, blaming him for
their misfortunes. Swans party each took
two muskets in front of them on their horses,
and made these men throw away their haver-
sacks, &c. This was daring feat and was
performed by Marylander, and q citizen Of
Washington county.
Another feat, and one more humorous, was
+ that of slave Of Mr.. McGarry's, who cap
, tured Lieutenant of the same company, dis
armed him, and diyesting him of his ''reg
mentas," sword and pistol, donned then
himself and marched him ''prisoner of war
off to Winchester "Ngger as good as
white man" that time.
We have 'all sorts of Munchausen stories
at present about what Gen. Patterson is doing
in "Dixie," but nothing that fcan vouch for
That we are on the eve of grand battle, is
a forgone conclusion. Yours, Y.