Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-11-18
Major J. Marshall McCue's Adventure will
the Yankees--His Capture and Escape.

head nearly touched that of kelly,s-at first
miStaking them for some of Imboden'S scouts, l
said to them sswell boys is the rumor true heard
little while ago, that the ID YANKEES were
las night at Imboden's old camp" He, Kelly,
for supposed it was he, made an evasiye reply
and endeavored to keep up the impression his
party was of our men-but by this time | had
obse rived more closely their dress and could see
also the large force coming up behind, when
saw I was in for 1T, but the next question was,
sswhere Imboden was ~ did not of course re-
ply, when Kelly turning towards his command,
said ssWe had as we'll tell him we are Yankees"
+ assure you that was work of supererogation
purely. I had made the discovery to my hearts
content, but assumed bold and defiant air, and
was at once ordered to the rear as prisoner, be-
ing first asked if i was armed, to which replied
no and, on being required, held apart the skirts
Of my oyer-coat to let Kelly see, he remarked,
sshe has arms-take him to the rear;'' The
cowardly officer took out of his holster tremen-
dous pistol at which felt so indignant, had to
clcnch my teeth to prevent my calling him
id coward in the face of Kelly, but reined
up my horse and started on down the road IN
the same direction had been going, and passed
in touching distance of the Internal wretches as
finely mounted, clothed and armed as you have
ever seen, and, to give you an idea OF their num-
bers, will say rode the distance from the Court
House to the junction of the Mt. Scion and Val
ley pike, by cavalry and artillery jim close order
My determination VAS formed at the moment OF
my arrest, and that was, to escape at any risk,
cared not what. passed my lot Of hogs to 500,
my wagon and four horses, and my two negro
boys oman aud boy) the latter with big Yankee
standing guard over both, tell you l boiled
over, but my time had most come. had passed
the cavalry and artillery a pieces) and feared |
might encounter the infantry, that would dlmln-
ish my chances. was scarcely out of sight OF
my negroes, when I saw at glance the point
was just before me, ravine or narrow level run
ming up towards the mountain to my right, and
Just few yards in front the mountain putting
down bold and almost perpendicular close to the
road The Yankee guarding me had been all
the way on my right, and in my way OF eHectlng
my design. I managed in passing mud hole to
put him on the other side and next to the coll
umn. then had his pistol close to my left hand.
and had taken my glove off my left hand With
view of Wrenching it from him, but second
thought convinced me OF the improperly OF sucn
a step, he was larger man than myself, l mtght
fail, and two cavalry men were coming up lmme-
diately in my front, they would have fred upon
me or in moment surrounded me. at ono
decided on a dash into the ravine and made 1t
and quick as electricity, crack, crack, crack to
the number of seven went the pistols, and the
cry, shoot him, shoot the ID rebel, and after
me dozen or more of them dashed. l kept a
path short distance, snow two to three inches
deep, showing my tracks distinctly, but In the
first fifty yards lett it and dashed at the thick
underground and brush. In few yards a thick
ct that seemed impenetrable, resolved to en-
counter, rather than lose distance in circling
it, and dashed at it, utaway went my hat and
scratch, and was dragged from my horse, but
retail ed the bride. No time to hunt for hat &c.
but mounted instantly, and away down into a
deep rayine, and then up the sides of a steep
ridge, that had only few stunted pines, that did
not conceal me, and here l made sure l would
be seen by the whole party, in immediate pur-
sniff xoit hin0h NV hIIt a
kind interposition of Providence it was not So
gained the apex and in a second was dashing
down the almost perpendicular steep of the op-
posite side, and by the time reached the bottom
and commenced the ascent of the gulch, my horse
was bowed and could not get the poor fellow
another inch. sat down by him, to await his
getting his wind, and in my efforts to work him
up to the top by lacking must have consumed
20 to 80 minutes, for had to lead him encum-
bered with heavy overcoat AID wrappers, snow
three to four inches deep and soles of my boots
became frozen and walking almost impossible
Here concluded if they trailed me up, second
capture was inevitable as both my horse and self
were completely exhausted. But in reaching
the top in momentI discovered the good for
tune had in not reaching the top sooner, for
they would have caught me on top OF the ridge,
so by following the path abandoned in the out
set it carried them to the top and they had made
a large beaten path passing to and fro. watching
me ascending either one of the ridges or ravines.
NY good genius was here at my side again, for
in trice crossed the ridge and Immediately
dropped down in deep ravine on the other side
and on reaching the foot, dismounted and then
led my horse and toiled around gorge almost
equal to that at Clifton Forge in Allegheny,
when reaching the bottom of second ravine
or piece of level land, again discovered fresh
horse tracks and concluded the Blue Devils were
still intent on my capture. Tagged as both Of S
were, we had again to commence the stee p asce t
Of hari i'm ntain nd haro hoi
sun, lost my reckoning somewhat, and after
climbing Mont Blanc as | thought it to be, and
had been listening for near an hour past to the
mutterings of what seemed to be distant thunder.
reached the top, and to my great disappoint-
me Mt found myself instead of near to Lost River
= as hoped, overlooking the South Fork for a
distance up and down oftwelye miles and in full
view of the Yankee army engaged in Smelling
Imboden's camp, near which were the shoulder
ing remnants of some large straw ricks they (the
Yankees) had fired. I could readily perceive
must be a good piece removed, for 1 could see
the smoke issue from the guns and a minute or
two would elapse ere the report reached my ear.
Then / bfeathed freer for moment, in the
| hope | had eluded the vigilance Of my pursuers,
when a large dog came trott.ng by me that caused
me for some time much apprehension lest the
wretches despairing of their ability to capture
me had bribed some one of the numerous Union
scoundrels in the mountains to hunt me DOWN
To avoid this danger, / at once had to descend
| SOME distance under the comb of the ridge was
on, that was so rocky and steep, feared if my
poor horse should lose his balance, he would fall
| down and down until he would only serve as
food for the ravens that were soaring high above
the topping cliffs. On this side of the mountain,
| encountered so fierce North wind that it
seemed to pierce nae, with it's icy breath, and
bareheaded, as | was, with feet now wet with
melted snow that had become ice on the soes of
my boots, and my body wet with perspiration, a
| chilling seized me, that betokened the stupor
| that precedes death. ! again struggled to the
/ top of the ridge, and seeing in the distance a
cleared field on the mountains determined to
reach 1t, at the same time uncertain whether
might notjuat as likely encounter the residence
there of one of those Union men, as much or
more to be dreaded than Yankee. After la
/ borlous ride on the crest of ridge, I reached
house and number Of women hockcd to the
door, felt could trust them, and asked if
was among friends They responded slmulta-
neously, yes. get down, and come in. I found
| on reaching glass, that my beauty had been
most seriously married. My head on top was
covered with clothed blood and my face and
hands badly scratched ana bruised from nv vic.
lent encounter with the brush. 1 felt quite re-
signed and thankful they had not been caused by
the enemy's shots. l found that two gentlemen
connected with the army had Just left having
| made their escape from the house. that had shell
tered US all the past night, and reported to the
inmates OF this mansion that had been captured