Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-02-17
HEADQUARTERS 18TH VA. CAVALRY,
AMP WASHINGTON January 3Ist 1883

Brsqodier- General J. d. kna5oden-SIR:
We, the undersigned in behalf Of the officers and
men of your command, are commissioned to present
you with horse, token of regard for you as our
commanding officer Your energy skill and galIantry
have won for you the affection and confidence Of us all
Receive it, General as evidence OF the high posi-
ton you hold in our judgments, and regard it a
pledge of willingness to follow wherever you may
direct With best wishes for your future success,
We remain, Yours, &c,
d. Ed BEALL, Lieut.. Colonel
10th Va. Cavalry;
G. CURRENcE, Captain
infantry, (62);
THOMAS SHUMATE, Major;
J. ID. McCLANAHAN, Captain
Battery;
G. JULIAN PRATT, Lieutenant
10Th Va. Cavalry.
HEADouARrERs n. w. BRIGADE !
January 3lst, 1868.
lieutenant Colonel D. Ed. BeaA Capt. c. Cu,~ence,
Cunt Thos SAunldte, Capt. u. II. NcCLan0ta7,
Lieut.. q. Julian Pratt, tCoaamittee):
GENTLEMEN -
have received your note of this date presenting to
me- on behalf of the officers and men of this command
superb saddle horse. He is noble animal-liter-
ally stwar horse in appearance and quaities-that
any man might Justly feel proud to own. But the cir
cumstances under which nave become his fortunate
possessor attach to him value far beyond his ntrin
sic worth lie is the gift, am informed, not of few
partial friends but OF ''the officers and men of my
command Who are these officers and men They will
have place in history mot hroug any agency mne
but because they have won IL themselves In Au-
gust last crossed the Shenandoah mountain with less
than one hundred men. and entered region that had
been lost by armies and overrun and pillaged
the enemy With this little band could have &C
cOmplished nothing but the brave men of the noun
tains whose loyalty and devotion to their country has
been tried in the ordeal OF fire and sword when they
heard that there nucleus around which they
ght rally defence of their homes, focked to
camp-soon we had battaion-then regiment
now brigade. The little partizan band has steadily
increased the face of difficulties with which you
all familiar. 1t has marched over 900 miles in five
months climbing mountains Wadlng rivers. travers
ing for consecutive days and nights in the heat OF
summer and the SHOWS of winter, the howhng wilder
often without breadail the time without shell
ter except the trees of the forests cliffs of the
mountains the men poorly clad some barefooted,
and Jet accomplishing even when lying upon the
frozen earth without as much lin some c'mpanes) as
one blanket warm coat to five men; sometimes pur-
sued-at others surrounded by overwhelming num-
bers of the enemy when escape could only be effected
by toilsome night Marches you have killed and cap
tured several hundred of he enemy, with their arms
horses, &C.; you have compelled him to withdraw his adj
vanced posts in large section of country and to keep
from five to ten times your own number always under
arms and the alert to protect the Baltimore 81 Ohio
Railroads. vital to his existence
To have been the commanding officer of men who
have undergone these hardshp and encountered these
dangers is high honor and whatever of success has
attended u.s. Justly due to the patriotic devotion and
heroic spirit of the command, and would have been
accomplished well-perhaps better-under the lead
ership of any else who had faitb tile noutaaeers
have had this faith from the beginning, and to re-.
cleve the solid, substantial assurance you have
given that possess The confidence and affection of my
bra9e officers and men. affords me far more sincere
pleasure than | could feel at receiving any mark OF
favor from any other quarter, Ii future CAM
paign for winch we are preparing, l shall have
the nesmabe good fortune to retain this affection
ate regard of the command know it must be by
faithful discharge of duty to them and the country
In this hope to succeed. Please make known to
those you represent the feelings of profound graft
tude with which I accept their gilt, and receive
my thanks for the very fatterIng in which
you have rendered it.
Sincerely your friend obedient servant.
j. ID. IMBODEN.