The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-12-02
Jhe gedfora Gazette.
HOW WE BAGGED THE BUSHWHACK-
ERS.


night from the top of a hill over which
the turnpike ran we could plainly see
their large camp fire glimmering thro'
the trees, but could distinguish nothing
further. Imagining that they must at
least have taken the precaution of sta
tioning a sentinel on the road, in-
structed one OF the darkies to creep for
ward and ascertain the fact, while with
my squad / cautiously advanced about
quarter of a mile further on. Ned
soon returned, and reported that there
was a man slowly walking 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 of my sergeants l took down suffi-
cient wire from disused line of teIe-
graph, and selecting two favorable trees
growing on either side of the road,
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 es-
cape along the road. This spot was a.
bout two hundred yards from the camp.
Leaving my best sergeant with six men
to guard this pit-fall, with full instruc-
tions how to proceed in every emergen-
cy ! could imagine, then, with the
rest of my men, and guided by Ned,
made long circuit around, so as to
strike the road about the same distance
beyond the camp. Here set up sim
liar wire trap, and left another six men
and a sergeant to guard that, with the
same instructions. All this we were
fortunate enough to accomplish with
out attracting the attention of the SEN
tinel, who seemed to be more than half
asleep, and was paying as little heed to
outside matters as he was unsuspicious
of danger.
then led the rest of my men by an
other circuit, still under fIed's guild
ance, to the rear of the camp, so as to
fall upon them from the side opposite
the road, and 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 prospect
of capturing the whole party without
firing shot, when a mishap occurred
which came near marTing our whole
plan. One of my men, a kind of
nervous, excitable fellow, though brave
and reliable in other matters, seemed
to be constantly anxious lest his piece
was not loaded or primed right, and
kept perpetually fussing with 1t to be
sure Of its being in proper condition.
And just in the nick of time, as such
things always do happen, when we
were within a hundred yards of the
quietly sleeping party, BANG went this
idiots gun. could have pummelled
him souudly then and there, but we
had no time to lose. The shot, of course,
alarmed the Bushwhackers, who un-
luckily seemed to be resting on their
arms, and all prepared for acontingen-
cyin everything but watchfulness; and
although / at once gave the order, and
we rushed forward with cheer the in
slant after the shot fell, every man Of
them was in the saddle before we reach
ed the spot. But they were sufficiently
taken by surprise to have no idea of re-
sistance, and when we stopped at about
twelve yards and poured volley into
them, they every man but one, whose
horse was shot under him, wheeled a.
bout and galloped down the road tow
ards my second ambush. This was all
| wanted, and we followed on at a run,
shouting with all our might and main.
By the time we had got about half
way towards my trap we heard regu-
lar tramp Of the horses turn into a kind
of confused, scrambling noise, mixed
with oaths and screams, and immedi-
ately followed by volley and rous-
ing cheer from my six boys who were
watching it. The other party, accord
ing to directions, now came posting
down to join us, and when / reached
the spot, few seconds after, / found
perfect pile of horses and men in the
road, who had scarcely recovered from
their surprise and stunning tumble.
We made rush upon them, and club
bing such as offered resistance, with
little pains captured the whole party;
for 50 completely paraIyzed were they
by their topple over the wire that they
fired but six or eight shots before we
had disarmed them all.
Having stripped them of their weap-
ons / sent couple of men after such of
the horses as had made their escape
and they were easily caught, as, hav-
ing recovered from their scare, they
were mostly grazing by the roadside.
We then counted prisoners and casual
ties. The fellow who tumbled at the
camp had been captured by Ned and
his .comrade. Four of their number
were hit, one badly through the body,
the others slightly-one being fellow
! had cut in the arm with my sword,
as he raised his revolver at me when
we ran in upon them at the close. Only
one of our own men was hurt, a SER
geant, who was shot in the leg by one
of the guerillas before he could club
him down with his musket. This was
doing pretty well, considering the hand
to hand fight we had had, and especial
ly as we had captured eight men. The
three others had b9en sent further on
by the officer of the gang, on plum
dering tramp, but not thinking it best
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