Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-20
The Cavalry Explicit In Nicholas County
Euteressiu. Particulars.

Il
Interesting Particulars.
We copy from the Lexington Gaeette the fol
lowing account Of the late expedition into Mich
Olas county, Virginia:
On Wednesday;the 23d Of July, the battalion
under the command of Major x a. Bailey, oi
the 22d Virginia regiment, composed OF the "a
Rockbridge Dragons, Capt. Gibsen, the Char
lotte Cavalry, Capt. CouIdin, the Churchvlile
(Augusta) Cavalry, Capt. Cochran, ana the
Valley Rangers, Capt. Lackcy, received march
ing orders. The command was encamped about
five miles east of Union, Monroe, and about
twenty-five miles from Meadow Bluff, the place
where the fores under Gen. Cook was encamped.
Major Bailey crossed the Greenbrier rver on
the first day, and selected place to encamp for
the night as cautiously as be could, TO keep the
enemy from discovering his movements, the
country being full of Union men
The next morning (24thl the battalion pro-
ceeded westward through Greenbrier county,
crossing the Sewell mountains, and late in the
evening, when we were about to encanp, MAJOR
Bsilev received intelligence that force Of about
one hundred and fifty Federal troops were sta
toned at SummersyillS, the shire of Nicholas
county. Before this know not where he was
reing, but this information altered his purpose,
and he determined to attack SumneTsVile early
the next morning, which was about nine miles
distant
When we started from camp the Charlotte
company was put in front, The second day it
came the turn Of the ROekbridge company to
march in front bat on the morning of the 25th,
Major Bailey called upon Captain Gibson to
draw up his company il front, to lead the charge
on SumneTsville.
at about midnight the command moved, and
reacted SummersTille at little before daylight.
The advance guard, composed Of an equal num-
Der of men rom each command, kept few
hundred Yards in front When the guard
approached within thirty yards of the Federal
pickets, it was halted, and commanded to ad'
vance one at a time. One Of the guard replied
that 1t was the Federal cavalry coming in. The
sentinel insisted for one TO advance ct a time.
The advance guard still approaching, saying 1t
was tne Federal cavalry. The sentinel said
"By God, / say, halt or I'll shoot" just then
our guard put spurs to their horses and were
f'ed on several times By the picket Several
balls also passed over the head OF the column,
when it passed by the picket post and through
the village.
Before we reached Summersville, Major Bailey
requested the command to raise shout on en-
teriuq the town, and never was 2 request better
responded TO. Inever heard such noise from the
same number of men Half mile of the road on
this side of the town was maeadamized, and the
noise Of the feet of the horses IN the charge, the
shouting of the soldiers and firing OF guns, was
enough to wake up the dead.
The column advanced quite through the place
to house where the officers were quartered.
The house was entered ct once by some Of
the ROckbridge cavalry, and all the officers
captured. The privates were taken, generally,
by the other companies
After the officers were taken, several soldiers
were examining the room, when one feeling
under a couch, caught the leg Of man, and
looking under, he said, come out, you scOun
drel" This fellow was DR.. Rucker. late of AL
leghany, then provost marshal for Nicholas,
and getting into this easy, peace post, faneied
hs was secure, but we came on him as thief IN
the night.
Wien be was dragged out from under the
couch by Mr.. James Wethers, he surrendered,
and Immediately set about trying to induce the
belief that he was on the Confederate side. But
al efforts to deceive us failed. He was soon
aonfied TO the care and keeping of Mr.. West
Paxton, of Rockhridge, by Capt Gibson.
When the noise of the cavalry was first heard
1t headquarters, the colonel arose and went out
INTO porch in his night dress to see what was
he matter. He and captain, two lieutenants
nd Dr. RuckeT were together. When ne came |
Il from the porch the following conversation |
,nsued between him and the doctor:
CoIonel-Doctor, the enemy's cavalry are |
lere.
DoetOr-What How many of EN-
Colonel-A hall mint Of them.
DOctoT-Jesus Christ
The colonel and doctor had little time for re-
lection. They soon found themselves in limbo |
Some twelve or fifteen shots were fred at us, /
loing no injuTy-tWO men shot shrough their /
lothing, but not a man hurt"
From our side there were perhaps twenty |
hots. Three men were killed that / know Of, |
me mortally wounded, and another seriously |
,ut not MORALLY wounded. Some of the pris- |
'ners that we took said that there were ten or |
welVe killed. Six or eight men in the hospital |
we're paroled, and the rest, amounting in all to /
eventy-three, were brought to the Salt Sulphur |
springs.
The route which we had to travel was circuit |
JUS, and made most fatiguing march. We |
penetrated into the enemy's country at least one |
hundred miles in rear of his lines doubt very |
nuch-whether more daring and dashing feat |
las been carried through since the war com
nencsd. The enemy had every opportunity 10 |
ut us Of. We had most difficult road to pass |
,ver.
Returning to camp, we were loaded with cap |
ured articles. Over a hundred Enfeld rifles |
we're taken. and as many destroyed by Ere.
close watch was kept on DR.. Ruoker, who |
iloted the Federal army into Allegheny several |
months ago The doctor observing that the |
anne man (West Paxton) had charge of him
very day, said "Whst does your captain and |
major mean by keeping you with me 2" Paxton |
ePlied They think you would like to run, and |
y Cd they know that will shoot you if you |
~ it."
The prisoners generally were pleasant and I
greeable. We. treated them kindly, and they /
eemed to be grateful for it.
Among the prisoners there was a lieutenant /
olonel, one captain, two ieutenants, and sew
nty pTivates.
The stores destroyed amounted to ten or IF |
een thousand dollars, and property captured to
robably as much
Upon the whole, regard the exploit as one
f the mcst dashing and daring feats of cavalry
hat has besn during the war.
JAMES MCNUTF.