Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-10-09

DTAneSOttte, O UeJyHt W 4ntShec AO@se-
An Apra Fool
About sunrise, one of the command informed
Major Mosby that the enemy on the Maryland
side of the river were making signals. He arose
and went out to make observations when he
heard Dick Morgan shout, as he rode towards
the house-'M Mount mount The Yankees are
coming" In moment the camp was alive
with excitement, and the men hurried to re-
sumo their arms and saddle their horses. Mos
by passed out Of the house by the front door
which looks towards the barn, and as he did so,
beheld Capt. FIint's first squadron, marching
through the gate into the field which separates
the barn-yard from the wood He at once
called to his men to rally and told them they
had to fight! Mosby's horse was unsaddled,
and as he gained the barn-yard, the first squad
ron was pressing forward and extending itself
in a semi-circe so as to prevent, as they hoped,
any of the guerrias from efecting their escape
AS the Federals came within pistol shot of
the fence which encloses the barn-yard ON the
side towards the wood, they opened rapid fire
upon Mosby's men who were there engaged in
saddling and bridling their horses. The fire
was warmly returned by the partisans, and
when Captain Flint called out to his men to
'shoot the id towards" he fell from his
horse pierced by eight balls.
point. As the left wing of the Federal squad
ron was pressing down on the barn yard gate,
which is near the house, making the air resound
with their cries and Shots Mosby still on foot,
but with twenty men mounted and ready for
service, with rare intrepidity and presence OF
mind, threw open the gate and advanced pistol
in hand, at the same time ordering charge
The twenty dashed through the gate, and en-
gagged the enemy in hand to hand combat. =
Harry Hatcher, Of Fauquier, private in the
Seventh Virginia cavalry, seeing his commander
on foot, with noble generosity which ever dis
tinguished his character, sprung from his horse
ment Mosby was in the saddle, and with wild
pleasure in his heart plunged into the thickest
of the fight, whilst Hatcher, mounting Yam
kee horse whose rider had been shot, soon fol-
lowed him. The impetuous charge OF Mosby,
who was each moment reinforced, broke through
the semi-circle and the assailants at once gave
way. The left wing of the first squadron was
routed. and driven back on the second squad
ron. These, instead Of advancing to restore the
fight, wheeled their horses and united In the
headlong retreat, whilst the right wing passed
around the barn towards the river, and were
ultimately all captured.
When the Hying enemy had reached the
wood, they were brought to halt by an obsta-
Gle of unusual nature, and Of their own contri-
vance. Captain Flint had ordered detail from
the second squadron, after it had passed through
the gate on its route to Miskers house, to OBJ
struct it with rails so as to enable him the more
effectually to destroy the doomed party. The
obstacle was certainly Of formidable nature,
for on each side of the gate the fence was both
high and strong. Here the slaughter of the
Federals was the greatest, Mosby' men riding
among them as they herded to this corner,
shooting right and left. Before so great pres
sure the gate at last gave way, and the dis
ordered and frightened men scattered through
the woods and along the road leading to the
turnpike.
Dick Moran overlook in the wood Federal
trooper, and demanded his surrender. But the
man was made of better stuff, and being an ac-
complished swordsman, he closed with Moran,
who would certainly have gone down in the con-
fict, had not Harry Hatcher come to his relief,
and by blow from his pistol terminated the
combat.
A portion of Captain Flint's party succeeded
in reaching the Dranesville turnpike but the
partisans hung fercely upon their rear The
Rev. SAM Chapman on this occasion illustrated
his faith by his works With flashing sabre he
was among the foremost of the pursuers, and
having already killed two Yankees, he dashed
in between two others, demanding their sur
render. But he met with the fate of Dick Mo
ran; for the soldiers, instead of laying down
their arms, vigorously attacked him. one of
them giving him severe sabre cut on the head.
The revered gentleman was now in an embar-
RAISING situation, when Hunter, afterwards
Lieutenant came up, when both of the Yam