The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-04-08
Brig. GEN. VIVA. e. Jones.


and $40 for announcing candidates.
Brig. GEN. VIVA. Il. JOaas 90.
.Messrs. Editors:
Permit me, through the columns Of your
valuable paper, to bring to the notice OF our
authorities and the public, eclaims OF one
of Virginia's noblest and best officers. That
officer is Brig. Gen. WIN. E. Jones of Wash
ington, Co.. Va.
He entered the Confederate Service at the
beginning of this war Capt. of the Washing
ton Mounted Rifles His company was at
taehed to the lst Va, Cavalry and was con-
sldered, by all who knew it, the best in the
regiment. On the 2Sth day Of September,
1851. he was promoted to the Calonelcy Of the
LIST Va, Cavalry. This regiment he COM
rmanded until the reorganization of the army
In April, 1862. Under his leadership this re-
;giment was more effective than it ever was be-
sforeAer since At the reorganization he was
defested for the Culonelcv by Fitz Lee now
Mai. Gen. Of cavalry. In July following Gen.
Jones was appointed Col. of the 18th Va, Ca
valry, Ashby's old regiment. Upon the an
nouncement of his being appointed to that
command, the officers Of the regiment with a
single exception rendered their resgnaticns,
but they soon found that he was q fine officer,
and all became very much pleased with him.
He led this regiment gallantly in a desperate
fight at Orange G. f., having but 100 men in
his attack IN 1900 Yankee cavalry, and sue
.ceeded in driving the enemy ont of the viii
.lage. On the l9thaf September following he
was promoted to Brig. Gen'l and was assign
ed to the command Of Robertson's Brigade.
In October Gen. jackson left the Valley Of
Va, to reinforce Gen. Lee at fredericksburg.
Gen. Jones was then left in command of the
Valley District. LIE withdrew his Brigade to
New Market about the 25d Of December.
Bad weather Of winter soon set in and his
command being Wild and undisciplined, he
determined to act only on the defensive until
he could re-orgarize and Discipline his Bri-
gade and thereby have them in readiness for
the early Spring Champaign. Daring the win
ter,G en-. Jones kept Courts Martial at work
furnishing those who deserted, &c.
When spring opeaed he had moulded this
confused mass of fine material into a most
magnificent Brigade, well disciplined, well
armed and equipped. During the latter part
of winter all the members of the Legislature,
from the Valley, became very much dissatis6-
ed with his management of affairs there, and
petitioned the Sec of War to have him re-
moved. Scouts returning on the 18th Of Feb,
ruary, 1868, reported to the Capt. cond'
picket near Strasburg, how a Yankee picket
at Kernstown might be captured. The young
Captain glowing with enthusiasm, and eager
for the fray, started with his party that night
to capture them. The next morning {26th)
dawned ON party Of brave Marylanders,
leading up the valley, eleven Yankee captives..
Soon they were pursued by 480 Yankee caval-
ry, {l3th Penn. and LIST New York; who
drove in Gen. Jones' pickets above Strasburg
and followed them nearly to Woodstock
News having been conveyed by the pickets to
Gen. Jones that the enemy were advancing,
he at once ordered out the 9Th and 18th Reg'ts
Va. Cav, and started with his staff to meet
the enemy. At Mowrytown he came in sight
of them and halted till his reg'ts could come
up. Soon the 18th came we'll closed up. The
Gen. at once moved down to attack the ene-
my, knowing that vigorous attack would
make up his great disparity in numbers; for
he only had 100 men to attack $50, neverthe
less he ordered change and led off. The
enemy did net discover that they were about
to be attacked until the Gen. at the head Of
the 18th was within 100 yards Of them.-
Their rear guard was disnounted, and ere
they could mount the Gen. had dashed past
them and was pushing on after the rest Of
the YanKeeS VINO were HYlng IN WIG cOnIu-
sion, holly pursued by the llth. They were
holly pressed until they had gotten two miles
below Strasburg. The 18th having taken a
bout as many prisoners as it had in the be-
ginning Of the fight, abandoned the pursuit,
and tho enemy thinking they were safe, stop
ped to rest, and dismounted at Cedar Creek.
Soon the 7th came down at rapid trot. The
Gen. at once ordered Col. Dulany to charge
them as soon as he came in sight. Coming
in sight of them and seeing that he had a
narrow bridge across which to charge, the
Col. detached enc company and sent it to the
right to cross the stream below the bridge and
strike the enemy in flank. This struck the
enemy with terror and he again broke in wild
confusion, holly pursued by the 7th which
overlook the Yankees at Middletown with
drawn sabres. Here they killed, wounded
and captured large number Of Yankees and
pursued them nearly to Newtown. The Gen.
with his two regiments then started back to-
camp. carrying up with him 100 prisoners. -
The killed aud wounded in this engagement