Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-08-12
r4 - For the Delaware Gazette
IN a HOLE AFTER a GUERRTL-
BY Q. :. YoUNGE

| You all know how Anxiously the country
waited after the battle of Gettysburg to see
Meade attack Lee at Williamsport and Falling
Waters. Well, at that time anxiously watch
/ ed, with my command, from a fort near Har-
per's Ferry, the Rebs on the Virginia side,
ard whom l could see daily till Meade found
| Lee gone, and then at the time Lee left Meade
the ':Johnnies" left me, and the Army of the
Potomac marched down to Berlin and again
invaded the sacred SOIL" now made doubly
sacred from the thousands of our brave BOYS
who are buried in it. 80 -. ---- sr--
Well, Gen. Hunt, our good Artillery Chief,
had me detached from the Army OF the Poto-
mac, and so l formed part of the defense of
Harper's Ferry. And of many wild scraps
that | saw there, I'll tell you of one that hap
pened when the artillery went on a "raid."
About the middle of September, party of
Ruerrillas, under Harry Gilmore, then Mai.
Gilmore, were keeping Us well stirred up ard
awake. One day, the Cavalry all being sent
to Martinsburg, Gen. Lockwood, commanding
Division, ordered me to mount twenty-five of
my men and go to certain house near Hall
town, and arrest Maj. Gilmore and Capt.
Harris Cheney, who were said to be coceal-
ed in it.
thought of fun ahead, aud taking my
First Sergeant, and therest picked men--every
one of them daredevil Philadelphia ire-men,
and all Peninsula veterans-started in fine
spirits for lark.
l had guide with me, a loyal man, who
had had his house burned and bis wife and Two
children murdered by the mauraders, for Civ
ing our forces information, and he told me
that there was cellar under the house, but
one part of it had secret entrance from above,
and that this part was separated from the rest
LOT the cellar.
When we arrived at the house, posted If
teen men outside, and took ten in with me,
leaving the guide in cOmmand outside, and
taking Sergeant Galley inside with me.
Tine house was a low oue-story house, 80
common in Virginia, and had three rooms be-
side q small bedroom, built on after the house
was finished. In this bedroom lay yonug
woman, Cheeney's wife, who was expecting
to soon become q mother.
posted my men, and informing the inmates
for what purpose l came, commenced the
search. There was certainly no one up stairs
that wanted, and descended into the cellar.
This was large single room, just the size OF
the house, and could find nothing of my men.
l started up stairs with an idea of having been
vietimized, when observed that the old lady,
Mrs. Cheeney's mother, seemed very anxious,
and that made me suspicious, and so looked
around again rather sharply, when happened
to think of what Henderson, the guide, had
told me of a concealed place in the cellar
Down went again, and had all the barrels
md h, - Cd
door, but could find nothing, when one of
my men found sabre and belt that looked as
if it had been used, and that lately. This set
my wits to work, and stamped around, search
ing for hollow place under the earth floor OF
the cellar, when one Of my men motioned nae
TO come TO him, and told me be heard a noise
that seemed to come from the wall. And of
all places, when if there was cavity, must be
just under the suffering young wife. Up stairs
l went, and as kindly as my barbarian Yankee
heart would permit, told the lady that my men
would move the matrass into the other room,
as wished to search the room more thorough
i y. This Was done hy my order, and 10! right
where the matrass had been was a trap door
about three and half feet square.
pulled up the trap cautiously, and calling
5 might be there to come up. and seek the pro-
lection Of our good Uncle Samuel listened
but din't hear any one speak, and so made up
my mind to go down and look around at the
mysteries OF the cavern. Procuring a light
in my dark lantern, 1 had brought with me, !
cooked my revolver and started down followed
by Sergt. Galley and huge fellow, by the name
of McElrath. bad got to the bottom of the
ladder, and was trying TO look about me with
= my light, when heard an awful crash, follow.
ed by the discharge of couple of pistols, anG
found myself on the floor, the light mashed
and Galley aud McElrath on top Of me.
Picking ourselves up rather rapidly. ant
finding no one hurt, we commenced operation.
against the cOmmandants OF the masked bat
terry that bad opened upon us so uncereLoon
iously. Pretty soon I heard a rush made, snC
some one passed across the light afforded by
the open trap, started up the ladder. and as ht
d reached the light above, saw it was gray
back, and fred at him; which shot was imme
diateIy followed by one at me, fred by tht
fash of my revolver.
This was not the most pleasant place coulC
be in. l thought. and worse. did not know
where the two men had brought down were
Listening attentively heard low breathing I,
'F my left, where knew my men could not be
's and waiting second, fred, and seeing my maj
by the fash, fred again, just as he made
rush at me- and he fell near the foot of lh
the ladder McElrath made dash at hin
II just as he commenced getting up and terri
ID BILE scufie ensued. In moment / heard
heavy thud, and a curse from McEIrath
= with the ejaculation, "he has stabbed me-
Immediately after, Galley and jumped OF
and fastened him down, and had the hand
s cuffs on him in no time at ALL McElrath go
: lup, and, exclaiming, "he has killed me- d.
ed him." staggered forward and leaned agains
Ahn InHdnr I Inauinnr khn flnn,nin H. L.