The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-28


Fifty-sixth Indiana regiment.
The New Orleans Times says the
French at Matamoras compliment the
rebel flag and pass the American colors
in contempt.
THE CAPTURE OF GENERALS CROOK AND
A correspondent of the Baltimore
american gives an interesting account of
the capture, by Mcneil, of Generals
Crook and Kelly. He says:
At half:past 2 o'clock body of picked
cavalry, seventy in number, pounted
upon horses selected for the purpose,
crossed the river at Brady's ferry, nine
miles from Cumberland, they having
travelled, during the afternoon and night,
from beyond Moorefield, in Harry county,
distance of thirty-f or forty miles,
and moved in the direction of Cumber-
land. on the road called the New Greek
pike. Approaching the picket post, they
were halted, and upon their answer to
the challenge that they were friends, one
was ordered to advance and give the
countersign. While he was advancing,
the pickets, who had mounted their
horses, and had given notice Of a party
advancing, saw the main body quietly
separating, and moving forward for the
purpose of surrounding them. They at
once commenced firing, but a sudden
dash of the enemy overpowered and dis
armed them. The inner post, consisting
of infantry only, was captured in SINH
lar manner, and was at once disarmed.
The party rode, without hating, into the
town, and quietly waited while two men
each went forward, dislDounted, to cap
ture the guards in front of the head
quarters Of the two Generals.
These men succeeded in getting to the
guards and disarming them, though both
were watchful, and promptly challenged
the advancing party, but in the dark
ness, the reply being "relief" they
were deceived, and were quickly quiets |
by threats. The mounted party coming
up at this moment with led horses, hur
ried up to the rooms Of the two Gene
rails, and very quickly compelled them to
dress, when, without further noise, they
mounted their horses and left the town,
striking a rapid pace Immediately after
getting out Of the streets. No other cap
lures were attempted except Captain
Melvin, the adjutant- general of General
Kelly, who was sleeping in the room ad-
Joining General Kelly, and whom they
were compelled to pass to get to the
Generals room.
No other persons were disturbed by
them except the telegraph officer.
A few moments after, the officers of
General Crooks staff, thinking they had
heard footsteps, and fearing fire, got up,
and finding the room open and the Gene
raj gone, became suspicious, and upon
inquiry, found General Kelly also miss
ing :; they went to the telegraph office
and learned from the operator that the
rebels had but that moment left.
Steps were Immediately taken to re-
pair the wires and put the lines in work
ing order. This required about an hour.
In the meantime, body of forty horse
men, belonging to the escort of General
Crook, were ordered out, and in one hour
and twenty minutes started in pursuit
AS soon as the wires were repaired, all
the cavalry at New creek was ordered to
meet and move for Romney and Moore
field, and, if possible, head the rebels off
at one of these points; and were further
ordered not to spare their horses, but
to push forward with all possible haste.
General Sheridan, being notified, sent
a body of cavalry at once from Winches-
ter in pursuit. Thus everything was
done within an hour and thirty minutes
that could be done. The rebels rode RAJ
pidly; they had replenished their horses
by fresh ones taken from stables during
their short stay in town, and were ready
for another long ride.
Our mtn were after them but with an
hours start, and comparatively fresh
horses, they succeeded in getting away.
This is the plain story of the capture of
Generals Crook and Kelly.
1t was bold and daring attempt, sue
cessfully carried out by men selected for
the purpose, who came to capture the
Generals, and, having captured them,
rode quietly away. They called at the
Adams House and inquired for General
Hayes, but, finding that he was not
there, left the house, though some other
officers were there.