The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-05-17


camp, elated with our spoils. I then re
Joined the army, and resumed my favor
ite employment as a scout, and travelling
day and night for some time, I discovered
that the rebels were advancing in two
columns to surprise and attack Gen. Kel.
ley.
One division had crossed over the North
Mountain and were advancing down Back
Creek, while three divisions we're advan-
cling by,Iway of Hedgesville. Ireported the
facts to General Kelly, who adopted meas
ures to frustrate the enemy's designs,
which be did without the loss of man.
7 feel confident that had I aud others
been less vigilant the entire command of
Gen. Kelley might have been captured.
TIE next more critical situation in which
I participated was in the capture of the
notorious Captain Blackford in which
led the charge made by the Pennsylvania
cavalry in the ueigbbcrhood Of Tomakawk
Springs. On the next day 1 visited the
house of Archibald Meyers Esq, near the
same place, aud while in conversation
with Mr.. Meyers, Mr.. Fills and Mr.. De-
haven, we received information of tire ap-
PrOach of four rebel soldiers. We i'm
mediately stepped to the door, and then in
to the yard, each being pretty well armed,
and with ''shoot'' flashing from our eyes
had the pleasure of seeing four desperate
looking rebelcharacters advancing directly
toward US, with determined, fiendish looks
(and revolTers in hand) whom we halted,
presented our pistols, and prepared to fire
(they having made the same preparation)
PercmotOrly demanded them to surrender.
What an awful second, or two of suspense.
Each of the combattants with their finger
to the trigger waiting the word fire. each
cycling the other as if saying. ''do you
mean what you say" In the midst of this
terrible suspense the stalwartrebe hand
ed over their weapons and surrendered
themselves as prisoners to Mr.. Meyers MIR.
Fills and myself. Mr.. Dchaven having
mounted his horse and rode off during the
parley, thus three of US captured four as
desperate determined rebels as are to be
met with in their army, viz, captain,
adjutaut, lieutenant and corporal all of
whom we handed over to the authorities
at Martinsburg.
Ny next narrow escape was in 1864,
at time when my father and myself were
both at home. All seemed to be perfect
quiet, when about o'clock at night We
we're made sensible that we were surroun-
ded by rebels. To escape by going out of
the house was out of the question, as the
rebels had completely surrounded it. We
therefore took a position at the head of
the stairway, and we're not long in posi-
lion armed with REVIEWERS and determined
to defend our lives to the death, when the
rebels approached the door, and soon forced
their way into the house, and demanded to
laOw where my father and myself were;
n answer to which the female portion Of
he family gave them to understand that
ny father and myself we're up stairs, and
we're prepared for them, which brought
bout sharp alteration between their
cader and his men. Their leader ordered
lis men to ascend the stairway; they
,eremtorily refused aud requested their
ealer to set the example; during which
ime my father and myself were at our
,osts, at the head of the stairs, with our
eyolvcrs cooked, determining to kill the
rst man that dared to enter the stairway.
7he moment was one of intense interest. :
IL fathers house hitherto the abode Of
eaee and quiet unstained by the blood of q
ny human being, was now upon the brink
f being a ptrfeot slaughter house; but $
lst at this particular crisis one of my sis
.rs asceuded a second story porch and t
blowing horn, which so teri I
ed the Guerrillas that they beat hasty re- d
eat; and we we're relieved from our per- D
GUS situation. e
I have given you brief narrative my n
ills and suffering8, besides which, I have t,
cen robbed of my clothing, my money, o
Id our horses, fur no other reason than il
eeause we were lovers of the good old c,
| g. l eau find no place of rest or sale Il
in my na'ive county, and state, and j
I've resolved to bid the home of my child Of
,od and boyish days adieu, and try my a
rtuue in the truly loyal state Of Ohio, 50
here rest to weary head can be enjoyed p;
thout fear of being disturbed by the th
small clinking Of rebel sabres or the TO
rill clicking Of cooking revolvers. ",
I hope you may live to see the good re- va
It of all you labor, and ufriog and wi
eindly escorted TO your home and friends co
the Shenandoah valley. pi
Yours most respectfully, til
Joseph G. Kitchen. co