Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-30
Editors IateLLiqeneer: u - !. -

Il
| Editors IRfeEtigeneeT: lrs '-.5- oaaH -s..
On Thursday last, July 2sd, it was sat-
isfactorily learned that squad Of horse
thieves were prowling about in the neigh
borhood of BoothsvilIe, in the upper end
of Marion county. Capt. n. Alltop, the
vigilant aud ever watchfnl commander of
the BoothsVille Home Guards, became in
possession of these facts, and Immediately
set himself about the work of meeting these
scamps, and checking their thieVing oPer-
ations. It was dark before the Captain
could,get sufficient number of his men
together; but about IL O'clock P NJ. be
collected II of his men. He placed three
of his II men at the bridge which spans
Booths creek, about miles below Booths
vile, and Just above the residence of Geo
II. Ryan, and posted the remainingf4 men
on either side of the road about $50 yards
below the bridge and ouly about so ysrds
from RyAn's house. The company assem-
bled at Capt. Alltopis house, miles above
BoothsviIle, and marched under double
quick orders to the points above named, a
distance of four miles. They remained at
their posts about two hours before any
signs of the appearance of the horse thieves
was discovered.
As soon as it was ascertained that the
msrauders were coming the Captain COM
mauded bis men TO cock their guns and
obey orders; and, Il being very dark, be
took his position in the middle of the road,
George Freeman, private, following him
and taking position immediately on his
left side. Capt. Alltop was armed with a
carbine in his right hand and revolver in |
his left. The thieves advanced within |
or 10 steps of the Captain without inter- |
ruption. Capt. Alltop had previously Civ
L. AZ,
orders, one WAS not to fire until he fred |
and not to command "haIt" until he COM
AS the thieves got very Gear the
Captain, who, with young Freeman, WAS
in the road, gave the word "halt" in a
voice so loud and distinct that every one
Of his faithful squad heard and instantly
shalt" The mAraudersis still ad-
vanced With arms In hand. At this point
Capt. Alltop fred a caFbine aud the fore
most of the gang, I. B. Stevens fell, badly
in the right thigh. Stevens gang
then returned the fire. At this moment
Captain Alltop commanded his men to
I'fire," and q general skirmish then eu-
sued. The thieves were soon discomft-
ed, and all of them except three who
were on horseback, jumped over the
fence and took "Leg bail" The three on
horses-most likely stolen ones-took the
since. AS far as can be ascertsined there
were seventeen or eighteen of the mRrau-
teFs- ..a- f. Its ----.-4 z.-et4s-
Stevens was taken prisoner. He is now
yiug at George II. Ryan's, and will be sent
10 Wheeling or Grafton as soon as he can
He had in his possession four
hundred and ten dollars in Confederate
money and twenty cents in silver. He was
heavily armed, as were also his men. He
had seven letters from persons living 10
and about Farmineton, Marion comfy, to
heir friends in Dixie. 1t Is fully aseer-
!ained that Granville ShRfer, son of Jacob
Shafer, of Marion, was in the gang. ThOs.
Bender, boy about l6 years old, son of
Henry 7. Bender, OF Marion county, w.
v, was also captured with Stevens. Ben
Ter said he was forced by Shafer, his un-
lie, to join the squad. He was afterwards
Iecreted by some rebel sympathiEers, des-
,ite the vigilance of his guard, and has
lot since been found. The boy said they
lad u number of extra brides. Bent Ste.
'ens, the prisoner, refuses to tell who the
balance we're, only they were all from Dix
e. Est- @ Yours, &C.,
".'a -a4's7 BoOTHsvILLE.