The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-06-24

er valley, smaller in extent and near its cen
ter is the little village of Petersburg. At thu
time of which write, grim-yisaged war
had left its indelible trace, The forgotten
fort that sat like forgotten grave upon The
hill, the remains Of destroyed fences, the mu
tilated houses, the blackened ruins Of tenn
pie dedicated to God, all speechlessly bore
testimony of the ruin and wrong that evel
accompanied the march of the hired hosts o.
despotic power.
It was early in February, 1865, that out il
the bitter wind, by dwelling on the hill
North Of the village, solitary picket was
walking to- ard fro, seemingly forgetful, o.
the elemental strife around him. Silently
pacing his beat, he watched every avenue Of
approach, never turning aside but to cast his
eye upon his faithful steed fastened close by
For miles to the North and West a fine view
was had of the roads leading to the enemy's
lines, until they disappeared in the distant
ridges, while to the South, below the village
across the river, beyond fertile farms and fine
mansions, might be seen the smoke arising
from amongst the hills, where the Rangers of
Mcneil and the heroesof Newmarket, com
pany of veteral Missouriaus under Woodson,
were encamped. !" Mountains upon noun
tains piled" formed grim back ground to
the picture from any point.
In spite of the piercing cold, as he paced
the snowy beat, the. sentinel would relapse
ever and anon into reyery; memory was busy
amid the past, the happy scenes of a careless
childhood linkifg themselves to others came
throngiug up to the strange and tragical
adventures of the soldier man. Again, he
charges with the fearless Ashby through the
Valley, participates in the wondrous marches
of Jackson, and the grand campaigns Of Lee
His face grows bright and his eye flashes as
he fancies the shouts of victory, heard on
so many battle-felds, when, with his compan-
ions Of the past, he welded the sword and
hazarded all for freedom. But anon, a sad
ness spreads over his features, and his eyes
beam with mellowed light, as he thinks
Of the exhausted state Of the army and the
enervated condition of his suffering country;
and floating up before his vision, come the
death scenes of comrades lost, but loved so
we'll. He sees again, the rocky pass and the
old mill in which Leps, the model soldier,
breathed his last, his brave young command
er, Sheetz, fell dead from his plunging charg-
en- and almost feels the fatal bullet that struck
down the gallant Harrison, while riding by his
side; the Chicftain, too, whose fortune he had
lattcrly followed, whose name was household
word, and the fame Of whose daring .resounded
throughout the land, the restless, untiring
MCNEIL, who had fallen, and whose spirit
had crossed the river to rest in the shade of
the trees" Moistened by the blood of his
comrades the very ground upon which he
treads is sacred. There. to the East, is the
Gap where the intrepid Rosser fell, whilst
singly charging the flying foe; but short
distance, and on the same road. the pure
minded, gentle Miles shed his blood and
died as he had lived, a patriot and a
Christian On the ridge below, one Of Ma
ryland's gallant sons, his family's pride, the
courteous, heightened Clary, fell MORALLY
wounded and met his fate with soldiers res
ignation Seymour, another brave and trusty
Ranger, downby the side Of the murmuring
river had died, not as he had wished, "with
his back to the field and his feet to the foc,V
but, wrestling in the embrace of malignant
fever contracted while on duty; and there,
across the river, is the scene of that furious
fray in which fell the pride of the Ranger
Band, the faithful friend and intrepid leader,
the generous, noble hearted DoLAN
Peace be with you, departed heroes! No
drawer spirits Ger marched to battle and
death; no hearts of truer, more knightly
mould e'cr grasped the glittering sword, or
battled for more righteous cause. scr
With the hour for relief came a comrade,
bringing, also, an order with request to re-
who, since his fathers death, had been in
command of the company. Fay, for such was
the name of the picket, Immediately complied,
and found his commander at the house of a
friend, where he had been confined for some
time by severe ,sprain, occasioned by fall
from his horse during the holidays. liza
A few trusty soldiers were in. the room.
who formed little council Of war. After a
few commonplace remarks. young Mcneil
remarked, addressing himself to the picket
J. 3. F., who was one Of his fathers fayorite
scouts g You remember last year, when you
returned from Maryland, and wanted Pa to
make raid on Cumberland and capture Gen.
eral Kelley?"
s Yes" replied B.; and think it can be
done yet, jesse" sg .sa.es
Swell" said the officer that's just what
want to know; believe I'll try it. by gum
I'll have to do something old Early seems
determined to give some one else the com
mand of this company. The Yanks rid us O
Harry Gilmcr, but Early amt satisfied yet
and reckon he'll send another of his pets t
take charge Of us before long IF we coult
only capture the Generals, don't think we
be interfered with any longer. Crook and
Kelley are both in Cumberland now, 20,
know; ca-a-nt you go down there and fine
out what can be done and let me know al
once?'
Certainly / CAM" was the response.
"Well," continued Mcneil, "while you
are gone I'll get the men ready and have thu
horses shod and roughed. How many mel
do you think we will require 2"
"About seventy five, well mounted, viii
be enough" was the reply.
,l"All right. Now we'll have to keep thi
affair very secret, for if it should happen t,
leak out, VIC might all be caught in trap
By the way you'll want some one to accom-
| pany you; here's Gassmau what do 20,
say Jacob ?" will you 90 2 said the Lieuten
ant, addressing wounded soldier, of Ross