The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-08-31
How we Hagged the Bushwhaokers.

Arriving at about half mile from
whore they had biviouacked for the night,
from the top of hill over which the
turnpike ran we could plainly see their
large camp fire glimmering through the
trees, but could distinguish nothing fur
ther. Imagining they must at least have
taken the precaution Of stationing sem
tinel on the road, L instructed one Of the
darkics to creep forward and ascertain
the fact, while with my squad [ cautious
ly advanced about quarter of a mile
further on. Ned soon returned, and re-
ported that there was a man slowly walk
ing up and down the road about hundred
yards from camp each way, though
he seemed to be doing rather drowsy
duty.
Upon this intelligence | formed my
plan of attack. At the suggestion of one
ofmy sergeants | took down sufficient wire
from a disused line of telegraph, and Sc
lecting two favorable trees growing on
either side of the road, L extended the
wire thrice doubled across it, some two
feet from the ground, so as to trip up
their horses, if, as they would probably
do, they should attempt to escape along
the road. This spot was about two hun
dred yards from the camp. Leaving my
best sergeant with six men to guard this
pit-fall, with full instructions how to pro-
ceed in every emergency | could imagine,
then, with the rest of my men, and
guided by Ned made a long circuit around,
SO to strike the road about the same
distance beyond the camp. Here set
up similar wire trap, and left another
six men and sergeant to guard hat,with
the same instructions All this we were
fortunate enough to accomplish without
attracting the attention of the sentinel
who seemed to be more than half asleep
and was paying as little heed to outside
matters as he was unsuspicious of dan.
ger.
| then led the rest Of my men by anoth'
er circuit, still under Ned's guidance, to
the rear of the camp, so as to fall upon
them from the side opposite the road, ant
oblige them to take flight towards one
or other of my two snares.
Thus far all had succeeded admirably
and | began TO feel elate in the prospec
of capturing the whole party without fir
ing shot, when mishap occurred whcl
came near marring our whole plan. One
of my men, kind of nervous, excita
BILE fellow, though brave and reliable il
other matters, seemed to be constantly
anxious lest his piece was not loaded
or primed right, and kept perpetually fus
sing with it to be sure Of its being in pro
per condition. And just in the nick o
time, as such things always do happen
when we were within hundred yards o
the quietly sleeping party, bang, wen
this idiots gun. | could have pummelle(
him soundly then and there, but we haC
no time to lose. The shot, of course
alarmed the Bushwhackers, who unluck
lily seemed to be resting on their arms,ant
all prepared for contingency in every
thing but watchfulness and although
at once gave the order, and we rushec
forward with cheer the instant after tn,
shot fell, every man of them was in tn
saddle before we reached the spot. Blu
they were sufficiently taken by surpris
to have no idea of resistance, and wher
we stopped at about twelve yards an,
poured volley into them, every man bu
one, whose horse was shot under hia
wheeled about and galloped down the roa
towards my second ambush. This wa
all l wanted, and we followed on at
run, shouting with all our might an,
main.
by the time we had got about halfwa
towards my trap We heard the regula
tramp of the horses turn into p kind Of
confused, scrambling noise, mixed wit
oaths and screams, and Immediately fol
lowed by volley and rousing chez
from my six boys who were watching il
The other party, according to directions
now came posting down to join US, an
when l reached the spot, few second
after, | found perfect pile of horses an
men in the road, who had scarcely rccov
cred from their surprise and stunnin
tumble. Wemade rush upon them, ,au
clubbing such as offered resistance, wit
little pains captured the whole party fc
SO completely paralyzed were they b
their tOppls ever the wire that they FIRE