Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-27
Correspondence Of the Burlington Times.
THE LAST RAID ON THE VERMONT
CAVALRY.
lIEADQUmrERs Fmsr W. CAVALRY,

HEADQUARTERS Fmsr WI. CAVALRY,
March 18th, 1868
We had picket detachment Of twenty -four men
and three non-comnissioned officers commanded
by a Lieutenant at Harrington Station, small
village on the railroad from Alexandria to Lees
burg, supplied from the main post at Drainsyillc,
four miles distant. The picket on duty consisted
of details from companies A, l. and Nj, command
ed by Lieut.. Watson of company l..
Various plunderings and deprcdations having
been reported to have been committed at that
place, Mai. Wells, accompaniedby Capt. Scoheld
and Lieut.. Cheney, went out to investigate the
matter. All were at dinner, officers and men, cx-
cept few actually on the lookout. The officers
were at house near by the picket quarters. A.
gain Mosby succeeded in surprising the place and
capturing our men, he had on a previous occa-
sion, his party being dressed in our uniform
IL was the hour when those on picket expected
to be relieved, and the yidettcs saw with pleasure
the relief as they supposed, in sight, coming in
the direction from whence they expected their
friends. No alarm was given save by one who
was posted between the station and Evansville,
and he fled to Drainsvillee. Mosby had thus
succeeded in getting in their rear, aud dsappont-
ing them by commanding, surrender, you id
Yankee SONS of b--s.n but few shots were fired
by our boys, for while they were dining Mosby
captured them. Five men from company A, two
from company M, only escaped to tell the story.
Those taken prisoners are Major Wells, Capt.
Scohed company + Lieut. Cheney, company Z !
Lieut.. Watson, company l.; Corporal Quinlan,
company a Homer L. Bliss, do. IL. T. Sweet,
do. Lester Green, do. Sergeant Harrington,
company l. Otis Brainard, do Albert Drury,
do VIM. Watson, do John Harvey, do; -
Gerdeon, do ---- Irish, do; Curtis Woodward,
do Charles Erwin, do Geo. Bellows, company
NJ La Bounte, l., Sartell, do BENZ. Gordon, do
j. Armstrong, do Frank Doyle, do.
Serg. Blinn Atkinson, Co. A. was wounded in
81 I'LL
ed aud left unparoled so hurried was Mosby &C
escape with his prisoners. Atohison was brought
into hospital to-day Lieut.. Iliglcy, Of Co. X
with the relief picket, came up soon after and fol
lowed in pursuit number of miles. came clos,
upon them but did not deem il prudent TO attach
Mosby Maj Wells was a troublesome prisoner
aud came very near being shot after his capture.
Yours truly, SERGEANT.
HEADQuARrERs FIRST VI. CAVALRY,
March 2l.
The prisoners taken at Harrington Station on
/ Tuesday last have been paroled, and returned .,
camp tonight. Their reports do not material,
alter the statements made in my letter Of the lSh
inst. Mosby's party capturing them numbered
about seventy men, twenty of them enlisted an'
belonging to Whites Cavalry, Mosby himself be
| ing detailed from Stuart's the balance were citi
zcns and few disabled and discharged rebel sol
dcrs. These citizen bushiohackers reside mostl
in Loudon County, some in Drainsvile and Vi
entity, where they have often been seen by GU
boys at the hotels, &c. but never suspected. The.
have frequently visited our picket camps, an
know every officer Of rank, and the companie
and regiments on duty, and made inquiries 70
those who were not--among them for Capt. Flint
Co. /, who had been absent few days in Yer
mont
This is the same party that captured Captain
lIuntoon and Woodward at Aide, and had wit
them at the time Capt. Huntoon's horse. nobl
animal. They confirm the statements made in m
letter of the 4th inst, OF the conduct of Capt. w
This is also the same party that took Gen. Slough
ton from his bed, and they relate many laughabl
incidents connected with that affair.
Our paroled boys say that Lieut.. Cheney sue
ceeded in mounting his horse, and had neaH
made his escape from them at Harrington Station
but was hoty pursued by the enemy. firing upoi
him, which was returned, and he was only taksi
prisoner when his horse stumbled and fell. Ha'
he only been successful in reaching the relief pick
et then overdue, the whole affair, in their opin
ion would have resulted differently. Mosby'
men have very fleet horscs-in speed more than
match for ours.
Our boys were paroled the morning after a
| Paris, village near Ashby's Gap, aud sent owe
the lines at Harper's Ferry not being permite'
10 return by way of Evansville, they nigh
/ bring contraband intelligence TO the post Som
| of them will, however visit DransvIlle to-day
and give Major Taggart, who is in command tn
! beneht OF their experience. The booty was dis
tributed by Mosby among his men and the citi
zens who received it a grand treat, tn
poorest horse captured by them worth no
less than two hundred dollars. Major Wells am
the officers parted with our boys at Paris for Rich
mond, sad and sorrowing.
This Capt. Mosby is reported to be about TWEEN
ty-four years of age slim, sandy complexion ant
resides in London County. About one year az
he commenced operations in the bushohackiR
business, with five or six others Since thea h
has risen 10 his present command. lie and hi
party, like Captain Semmes of the Pirate Ala
bona, are always present to capture an inferio
force unawares, but is no,ohere when pursued b.
an eqal force. No6rs,
SERGEANT