Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-06-23
Correspondence.
sixth Letter.

Caytufl Of Major Generals Kelly and Crook. L. 5.
A.. al Cumberland, Nd, February 22d, 1856.
CUMBERLAND, Md, June 9Th, 1869.
CUMBERLAND was q key-point during
the war-a fact well know1l and under
stood by the Federal commanders, who
kept large body of troops stationed
here until the breakfast Job was COM
pIeted. This continual occupation by
T7,~tOn forces kept matters all quiet on
/ the po>tOmae'' at Cumberland, with very
foT inter-, ,,,UtioRs. But the Mountain City
was +bo SCENE, Of one deed of valor, most
snIendidIv and ,'SaringIy accomplished
bv the "Bovs in GreS,''-an act Of cOur-
age and strategy, that it'lly proved the
men who did it, AMERICAN SOLDIERS OF
| the royal American stamp.
! God Grant that no American Soldiers
be they "Boys in Blue - or Boys in
I Grey''-may ever meet again in hostile
array! United they will stand invineibie,
before any other nation on the globe;
: IiUided they may fall before the weaker.
ne sketch which follows I have con-
donsod tom the Banner of the South,
ona Of the leading literary journals Of
the southern States,
TOId 1ToN-oi17 " as he was fatqiliarly
,.o1loI a. ct To-, 'nander of the troop
which % Afterwards 9fie @ S1 Pore his name, though
native of Hardy county, HirglnliaI n 1aa' ~
for years previous to the W. u, ,ll,- nSSlAei IL
Missouri, where, upon the e. oao.nl,;,,
ment of hOstilities, in 1861, he ~
ed a company Of mounted rifiemen, ItlJ j
at Carthage and Lexington did gL ""
service in behalf of his adopted State
In his Western career, he was singular |
ly unfortunate, having lost his eldest |
son who was killed on picket duty early |
in the war, and himself having been, |
with another son, Jesse, captured and !
confined in the military prisons of Alton
and st. Louis. They, however, effected /
an early escape, and reached the Con-
federate lines in safety.
Having obtained authority at Rich
mOnd in 1862, he set about raising an in
dependent company of Partisan Ran
gers, and in a very short space of time
WAS in command of as gallant a band as |,
lever drew blade in fight" It was
composed mainly of ViTginians and .
MarylandeTs, but from nearly every
Southern State a representative might |
be found in the ranks.
In the Western Border of Virginia
the counties Of Hardy and Hampshire-
hemmed in by high mountains which
surround it like grand amphitheatre,
liesSthe beautiful and fertile valley of
MOOrefield, Watered by the south branch
of the Potomac and its tributaries. Here
dwell an Independent, hOspitable race,
and among them during the greater
part of the war the Rangers camped;
men and horses being sustained upon
the abundance of their rich estates,
while the wild fastnesses of the noun
tains near by, afforded q secure retreat |
when the OveTpOWering numbers of the
enemy rendered resistance vain.
Beyond this valley, and above the
narrow gap through which the river
flows, lies another valley, smaller in
extent and near its center is the lit
tie village of Petersburg. At the time !
of this "adventUre,' grfm-visaged war
had left its indelible trace The desert
ed fort that sat like a forgotten grave up
on the hill, the remains of destroyed |
fences, the mutilated houses, the black
ened ruins of a temple dedicated to the
worship of the Almighty, all speech
lessly bore testimony of the ruin and
wrong that ever accompanies the march
of war.
It was early in February, 1865, that
out in the bitter wind, by a dwelling on
the hill North of the village, a solitary
picket was walking to and fro, seeming
ly forgetflll of the elemental strife around
him. With the hour for relief came
cOmrade, bringing, also, an order with
a request to report at once to Lieut.. Jesse
McNeill, who, since his fathers death,
twas killed in actiOn) had been in COM
mand of the company. Fay, for such
was the name of the picket, Immediate
ly complied, and found his commander
at the house of friend, where he had |
been confined for some time by a severe
sprain, Occasioned by a fall from his
horse during the holidays.
A few tTusty soldiers were in the room, |
who formed a little council of war. At |
ter a few commonplace remarks, young
O'Neill addressed the picket Jesse B. |
Fay, who was one of his fathers faVOrite !
seouts) upon an idea that had been some !
time thought of in his mind--namely, q |
:. I'd on Cumberland and the capture of
tt+ Hle commanding Gen. Crook and Kel- |
Ia "a re both in Cumberland now, you
icy ea-a-nt you go down there and |
en- en-" t what can be done and let me |
Kli0W iGCt.,, ~ 'uly can :" was the response.
II TTTLTI TIj ;, continued McNeill, "While |
-,,, we Zen, L.. qrIl get the men ready and
J.-s Ou III y, SITi1 IN, 7es shod and TOughed.
naTT me- Yne soiJ HTA NIans were discussed and
oitin5,,sg5 ItilS STlu, Lr eed upon. Fay looked
pSaGitGIi at tI.o go ~ or companion, and at
arOo aOOoU soIoctoJ yIo % Pnn 'se Haller, whom he
designated "the bes It BOY IN tne army
and Haer Responded @ 10 Cde com II dI IIlignC
and the confdencerel svo, oi, " Tos5a osPly " 5e'
'I'll go anywhere witt. 'SITu5 9IWds . and md bav-
After preparing thems, IVES ooJ a.tI 70 ~ fbo
ing full understanding 6%l~ l5 scouts ~ caa gof
undertaking, theI w 9OO"'' '0'