Washington telegraph., 1863-12-02
TFor the Telegi aph.


DARING ADVENTURE OF CAPT. MoWHlRrER.
There are some Individuals that have received
great praise for small adventures, while others,
after performing the most gallant deeds, pass
into obscurity unhonored and unsung. Many,
Tor trivial deeds, are made heroes by the press
and public voice. and their names are hallowed
in undying fame; while others, that have ac
complished deeds truly noble and great, are
unknown to the public. Captain John Nc
Whirter is one of those. Capt. McWhirter is
from Dunkiin county, Missouri and commands
a company in Col. S. G. Kitchens Regiment
of cavalry. After long service in the army OF
the Confederate States, many of his men be-
came dismounted. Their homes have been In
possession of the enemy for two years, who
have waged on their families the most cruel
and vindlctlve war known to history. The
horses they had left with their families have
long since been taken by the enemy. They
have never received dollar from the Govern
ment for their services. Hence they were un-
able to mount themselves again. In this
emergency the only mode to get horses was to
capture them from the enemy. This Captain
McWhirter determined to do. The Yankees
had strong post at Bloomfield, and kept up a
constant line from there to Cape Girardeau,
furnishing them with supplies and munitions
of war. Capt. McWhirter determined to go III
rear of the post at Bloomfield and capture
small squads that would be going to and fro.
Taking eight men and plunging into the al
most impossible swamps and morasses of that
section of the country, after two days hard
riding he struck the road between Bloomfield
and Cape Girardeau, twenty-five miles from
the former and tweaty from the latter. He
soon informed of train of sixty-scven
wagons, loaded with supplies, bound for Bloom
field, camped at Round Pond. He fastened
to that spot with mis- noble and brave little
band. Approaching near the place, he left
his men in the woods and went alone into the
onemys camp. He found he sentinels sound
asleep on their posts and the whole camp IN
the sweet and strong embraces of Morpheus
The whole number, teamsters and guards, were
about enc hundred and twenty lie coiniHu-
incated his observations TO his little band, and
they agreed to attack them. One OF his men
owned the very land on which they were
camped, and remembered that year before,
while preparing to build new house at that
place, he bad placed pile of handspikes ut
certain place. To avoid alarming the camp,
til y proposed to get these handspiKes and kill
the sentinels with them Tue handspkes were
searched for and found. Armed with these
ard navy revolvers, they at once attacked The
enemy. The sentinels were Immediately dis
patched with the handspikes and without the
least alarm. They then went to he two tents,
they q ickly fell t tue other, and two fres
from the pistol of Capt McWharter sealed The
tate of the quiet sleepsrs forever. Charging
like demons IN the midst of the eepers, shoot
ing down on every side, the camp was soon
cleaned. Wild flight an horror seized the
enemy, and all that could made their escape
After the camp was cleared, Capt. Nc hlrter
ordered the mules to be l1osened aud wagons
to be fired. He made the prisoners, after pa
rolling them, pile up the dead and take care oil
the wounded, in order that none might oe
burned He found, after ping up the dead,
that sixteen had been killed, fourteen woundei,
and seven taken prisoners. He captured oI
wagons loaded, which he burned, four hund ed
mules and forty head OF horses. Most Oh 'he
mules were left behind. The greater part oil
the horses with their rigging he brought away.
lie also brought away large amount oil o'her
plunder. He arrived in camp, not man hurt,
leaving the enemy another sad lesson oil now
hard it is to conquer u brave and spirited peo-
pie This heroic adventure took place the
3lst of last August. since then Capt MIC
Whirtcr has been engaged in another adventure
equally as daring and dangerous. Ii.