Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-08-12
THE CAVALRY EXPLOIT IN NICIlLAs CoUN
TY-INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

TIN lEhES III LaNhS
We copy from the Lexington Gazette the following
account Of the late expedition into Nicholas County,
Virginia;
On Wednesday the 23l July the battalion under the
command of Major K. A. Bailey of the 22t Virginia
Regiment, composed of the 2d kOckbrldge Dragons
Capt Gibson, the Charlotte Cavalry, Capt Bouldrn
the ChurchVle tAugusta) Cavalry, Capt Cochran, and
the Valley Rangers Capt Lackey, received marching
orders The command was encamped about five miles
east of Union, Monroe, and about twenty-five miles
from Meadow Bluff, the place where the force under
Gen. Cook encamped.
Major Bailey crossed the GreonbrieE river on the
FIRST day. and selected place 10 encaa Nor the night
as cautiously he could 10 keep the enemy IRON DIS
covering his movements, the country being full Of Union
The next morning (2ithO the battalion proceeded
westward through Greeubrer county crossing the Sew"
ell mountains, and late IN the evening, when we were
about TO encamp, MAJOR Bailey received intelligence
that force Of about hundred and fifty Federal
troops were stationed at SummersVle, the shire OF
Nicholas county Before this know not where he
was going, but this information altered hN purpose
and he determined 10 attack SummerSNule 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 came the turn ul
the Kockordge company to march IN 'front.' but on the
morning Of the 2j,h, MAJOR Bailey called upon Captain
Gibson tIN up his company IN front, 10 lead tue
| charge on SummersyIie.
At about midnight the command moved and reached
SummersVIlic at little before daylight. The advance
r,rj composed of an equal number of men from each
command kept few hundred yards in front. When
the guard approached within thirty yards Of the Re
ucra plcketS halted, aud commanded TO advance
/ one al a time One of the guard replied that It was
The Federal cavalry coming The sentinel insisted
| for one TO advance at a time The advance guard still
1pproaching saving il was the Federal cavalry The
sentinel SAID "by God, say, halt or | will shoot
Jus, then our guard put spurs 10 their horses and were
fired on several times by the picket Several balls also
Hha ii nj he TOlu
| the picket post and through the village.
Before We reached SummersVile, Major Barley re
quested the command 10 raise shout Oh entering the
town aud never was a request better responded L..
never heard such noise from the same number OF men,
Halt mile Of the road this side of town was mae
adamzed ami the noise Of the feet OF the horses IN the
charge the shouting of the soldiers and hiring OF guns
| was enough To wake up the dead.
The column advanced quite through the place, To
house where the officers we're quartered. The house
was entered by Of the Rockbrdge cavalry,
and all the officers captured. The prlyaes were taken,
| generally, by the other companies.
After the officers were taken, several soldiers were
| examining the room, when one feeling under couch,
caught the Leg Of 4 man, and looking under, he Sald
/ e. come out, you scouudrel." This fellow was Or.
Rucker, late of Allegheny then Provost MARSHAL Tor
Nicholas. This fellow, getting into thi~ easy, peace
post, fauuiod hs ss"S"- hHt Ne came on him as
j thief u the night
/ Mr. James Wethers he surrendered, and Immediately
set about irving TO induce the belief that he was ON The
Confederate side But all efforts to deceive Us failed.
| lie was soon cOuhded 10 the aud keeping oil Nr.
| West Paxton, OF Rockbrdge, by Capt Gibson.
| When the noise Of the cavalry was hrst heard at
headquarters, the Colonel and went out into a
porch IN his night dress TO what was the matter
| lie and a CIpiaiE two Lieutenants and DIR. Rucker
we're together. When he came IN from the porch the
| following conversation ensued between HIM and the
/ Doctor:
| Colonel-Doctor, the enemy cavalry are here.
| Doctor.-What' How many of EN-
| Coonel.-A hell mint Of them.
DoctOr.--Jesus Christ
The Colonel and Doctor had little time for reflection.
/ They soon found themselves in limbo.
some twelve or fifteen shots were fired at u.s. doing
no njurytwo men shot through their clothing but not
| a man hurt"
Prom our side there were perhaps twenty shots
Three men were killed that | know OF, one MORALLY
wounded and another seriously but not mortay wound
ed Some Of the prisoners that we took SAID That mere
| we're ten or twelve killed Six or eight men IN the
hospital were paroed and the rest amounting IN all to
seventy three brought to the Salt Sulphur Springs
| The route which had to travel was clrcutous,
and made most iatiguing march. We penetrated into
the enemy country At least one hundred niles III rear
of his lines | doubt very much whether more dar-
ug and oashng feat has been carried through since the
war commenced The enemy had every opportunity
10 OF. We had most difficult road to pass over
Returning TO camp, were loaded with captured
articles. Over a hundred Enfield rifles were taken
and as many destroyed by tire.
a close watch kept on DIR. Rucker, who poled
the Federal army into Allegheny several months ago
The Doctor observing that the same man West Pax
tom had charge of him every day, said, What does
your Captain and Major mean by keeping you with
ne" Paxton replied, they think you would like Il
run, and by Cd they know that l will shoot you II
you try it,"
The prisoners generally, were pleasant and agreed
bic. We treated them kindly, aud they seemed to b'
grateful for it.
Among the prisoners there was Lieutenant Colonel
one Captain and two Lieutenants and seventy prvateS
he WE'D n fan
sand dollars, and property captured to probably a
much
| Upon the whole, regard the exploit as one oil I'M
most dashing and daring feats of cavalry that has beef
during the war. JAMES MoNUTr.
40 Kzss EzslIsH 81 oARs loDA, for .alssy