The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-13
WAR INCIDENTS.
From the Southern Opinion.

From the Southern Opinion.
The counties of Virginia bordering upon the
Potomac furnished some of the most gallant, as
we'll as most desperate men of the war. Splen-
did horsemen, quick with the pistol they natu
rally attached themselves to Colonel Mosby,
and supported the cause of his "Confederacy"
throughout the war. After the surrender of
the army of Northern Virginia, followed by that
of Mosby's command, there still remained in
arms three men who had sworn never to sur
render. These men were Nicholas Carter, or
"Nick Carter" as he was better known, -
Lake and Charles Mcdonald. After the sur
render 1865, they were outlawed by the Eede-
raj military authorities, and price set upon
their heads. They took to the mountains, and
led a wandering life, mounted and armed, ap-
| pearing at different points in Loudoun and
Prince William. Nick was an outlaw by all the
laws of civilized life. He was charged with the
murder of a negro man and woman in cold blood;
also United States Quartermaster, whom he
met upon the public highway. Mcdonald had
personal wrongs to avenge. His sister was car
ried off from her home at Charlestown, and i'm
prisoned in the old Capitol at Washington,
where she died. From that time, which was
during the war, Mcdonald swore never to take
another prisoner nor spare an enemy no matter
under what circumstances he met him. For
every one killed by his own hand, he notched
his pistol and when our informant encountered
the avenger, his weapon was covered with death
tokens.
One day the trio stopped at the residence of
Captain Charles Berkeley, near Aldie, in Lou
doun. Lake was at the spring near the house,
washing, when company of Federal cavalry
rode ur, surrounding him, and inquired for Nick
Carter. Lake caught. Answering evasive-
ly, he was notified to consider himself prisoner;
and in this condition, without coat, he was
marched forward towards the house where he
knew Nick was enjoying siesta after the nights
ride. How to get into the house and alarm
him before it was too late, was question that
involved life and death, with the chances ten to
one in favor of death. He made an apology for
his coat, and was allowed to go on ahead and get
the garment. Reaching the porch he rushed
in, shut and held the door, exclaiming to Car
ter, who was lying upon the sofa, boots off and
Yankees!" Carter was seldom caught mapping,
but this time he was fairly caught Springing
up he shouted, "Fight them!' aud handed a
revolver to Lake, who held the door, while lie
fourshed the other. The Yankees now crowd
ed into the hall, confident Of their game, and
threw the weight of their bodies against the
door that yielded inch by inch. "Must | let
them in?" gasped Lake, whose strength was
giving way. "No!" said Carter; swat second"
and he fired through the door, "Now give
wayv; And the door was thrown wide open.
Both Carter and Lake, who had fallen back a
few feet, met the throng with terrific volley
Of revolver shots, that killed and placed hors
du combat half dozen Yankees, then sprapg
over them and escaped, Carter in his stocking
feet.
One day Mcdonald, who had grown desperate
and reckless, rode his horse into Middleburg
alone, and got on the porch of the public house.
The citizens urged him to flight, as company
of cavalry vas then in town looking for Carter,
Lake and himself. Mcdonald never budged,
but taking out his revolver and counting the
capped nipples of the chambers, said, 81 have
five loads here for the Yankees and one for my
self Let them come!" He sat there until his
pursuers came around the corner, when he
sprang up like demon possessed with the fury
of legion Of devils, and mounting bis horse,
charged at speed upon full company, firing as
he advanced, killing and dismounting several.
Reserving one barrel for an emergency, Nc
Donald then wheeled his horse and spurred him
towards the mountains. But fate was in his
path. A hog ran from hedge between the
forelegs of his horse, and horse and reckless
rider rolled to the earth together. His pur
suers closed upon him, firing, but anxious rather
to take him alive than dead. Mcdonald raised
himself, uttered shout Of defiance, placed the
muzzle of the pistol to his head and blew out
his brains with the loaded barrel reserved for
the emergency he had foreseen.
Carter subsequently left the country; so did
Lake, and the last "Rebels'' of the war were
extirpated.