The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-19
An Exciting Adventure-A Rebel Trick.

A personal adventure of Gen Birney at
Senterville last Thursday has never, i believe
neen described In print. Our forces were
ioiio.lng the Rebel Jackson from Manassas,
whlch ne had evacuated at his own time and
IN his own way. whittier had he gone ?"
was the question. WAS he at Centerville ?''
was the second question. Cavalry should in
quire. Il have no cavalry" or Il can't Law
my hand on any cavalry" said Gen Pope
when Gen kearnay suggested this to him. 1t
was suggested that there was one company in
Gen Birney's brigade. "Let it feel the enc
my if he be at Centerville," said Gen Kear-
ney. $50 with it, Gen Birney, yourself" hs
added. Il don't ike TO risk general officer,
but his report is worth very much more than
that of a subordinate"
Oen Birney galloped away In the direction
OF Centervllle at the head of his company.
ne soon came upon the broad track of the
neoei army stretching through the desolated
nelds on each side of the road, and enlivened
win broken down wagons, old boots and
knapsaeks. Occasionally stragglers were
overtaken, disarmed and sent to the rear.four
or five at time, in charge of two horsemen,
until eighty had been thus disposed of and
the capturing company reduced to forty men.
With this small command at his back, Gen.
Birney proceeded to feel the enemy felt his
way into Centerville street, into the Center
vile tavern, where he stopped to make inoui-
ries.
He was leeturing the landlord on his Re-
bel proclivities, when one of the videttes
whom he had posted on the hills to the right
and LET: of the town, reported cavalry regi-
ment approaching with the Stars and Stripes.
What regiment ?" Cant tell il must be
one of the new regiments; It's ranks are so
full" Zen Birney sent another man to make
sure tha; it was one of our regiments. The
report again came that the Stars and Stripes
flew at IFS head. Gen Birney stepped cut to
look for himself.
The front line was forty rods distant. The
stars and stripes were there, sure enough
but Large infantry flag, almost new. Every
saber was drawn, thing not done by our
cavalry, when entering town. The caps
were different from ours the uniform differ
rent 1t was the enemy the flag, a capture
from one of orr regiments. 1t was time to
evacuate the town just retaken. Gen Birney
ordered the bugle to sound, and at the head
of his command of forty men moved rather
rapidly toward Bull Run.
In response TO his bugle, the enemy soul d
ed charge; and race began. A regiment
had been posted at the Run three miles dis
tant, and toward that our General hastened,
after paying his farewell respects from tho
muzzles Of his carhines. The enemy return =
ed the compliment, with little or no effect.
" Forward" was the word, along a road, not
over good. Occasionally horse stumbled
over his body and that of his rider the COM
pany galloped. The best horses of the regi-
ment in pursuit were gaining. but tie Run
and the regiment on guard we're in sight.
"Spurs 10 your horses, my men, shouted
the General. More stumbled and fell, but
the rest kept On. Still the enemy gained
upon them; and now one bold Rebel reaches
Gen B,rney's shoulder with his saber. The
General draws his pistol, and ne falls dead
Another moment and he is in the rear of the
regiment at the Run, and orders them to fire
at the Rebel pursuers, who were unable TO
draw rein in season TO escape.
The Rebels have used our telegraph wire
IN Virginia recently with even more signal
success than they lad in Kentucky, and with
quite as much impudelce The moment Fitz
Hugh Lee captured Manassas, he telegraphed
in the name of Gen Pope's Chief of Staff to
the proper officer in Washington. requesting
him to send 10 the Junction large supply Of
shelter tents and harnesses for artillery horses.
The order was promptly filled, and the Re
beis ere soon siaddened by the appearance
OF train loaded with what they wanted.