Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-10-03
A STIRRING ADVENTURE.

A personal adventure of Gen. Birney
at Centreville, on the 2Sth ult., has
never, l believe, been described in print
Our forces were following the rebel
jackson from Manassas, which he had
evacuated at his own time and in his
own way. "Whither had he gomez
was the question. "Was he at Centre
ville?" was the second question. Cav
airy should inquire Il have ho cav,
airy" said Gen. Pope when Cen Kear.
I.ney suggested this to him. 1t was sug-
gested that there was one company in
Gen. Birney's brigade. "Let it feel the
enemy if he lie at Centreyille," said
! Gen. Kearney. go with it, Gen. Bir-
Iney, yourself" he added; 81 don't like
to risk, a general officer, but his report
is worth very much more than that Of q
subordinate"
Gen. Birney galloped away in the
direction of Centreville at the head OF
| his company. He soon came upon the
broad track of the rebel army, stretch
ing through the desolatcI fields on
each side of the road, and enliyeued
with broken-down wagons, old boots
and knapsacks. Occasionally strag
glers were overtaken, disarmed and Sent
to the rear, four or fve at time, in
charge of two horsemen, until 80 had
| been thus disposed of, and the captur-
ing company reduced TO 40 men. With
this small command at his back, Gen
Birney proceeded to feel the enemy; fell
his way into Centreville street, into the
Cenvreville tavern, where he stopped tc
make inquiries.
6 He was lecturing the landlord on his
rebel proeliyities, when one of the vi
dettes, whom he had posted ON the hill:
to the right and left of town, reported
cavalry regiment approaching, with
the Stars and Stripes flying. He wa:
sure that it was the Stars and Stripes
"What regiment Cant tell; but i
must be one of the new regiments, it
ranks are SO full Gen. Birney sen
another man to make sure it was one O.
our regiments. The report again cam,
that the Stars and Stripes few at it
head. Gen. Birney stepped out t,
look for himself.
The front line was 40 rods distant
The Stars and Stripes were there, sur,
enough; buta large infantry flag, almos
! new. Every sabre was drawn, thing
not done by our cavalry when entering
a town. The caps were different from
ours, the uniform differed. 1t was th'
enemy, the flag a capture from one o
our regiments. 1t was time to evacuatt
the town just retaken. Gen. Brine,
ordered the bugle to sound, and at The
head of his command Of 40 men meyet
rather rapidly toward Bull Run.
In response to his bugle the enemy
sounded charge, and race began
A regiment had been posted at the Rur
three miles distant, and toward that oul
General FASTENED, after paying his fare
well respects from the muzzles of hi:
cartines. The euemy returned the com
pliment, with little or no effect. "For
ward was the word, along a road no
over good. Occasionally horse stun
bled;oFer his body and that of his rider
the company gallopcd. The best horse:
of the regiment on guard were in sight
'.Spurs to your horses, my menn
shouted the General More stumbled
and fell, but the rest kept On. Still
the enemy gained upon them; and nov
one bold rebel just reaches Gen. Bir
ney's shoulder with his sabre. Tht
General draws his pistol, and he fall
dead Another moment and he is il
the rear of the regiment at the Run
and orders them to fire at the rebe
pursuers, who were unable to draw reir
in season to escape.