The Portland daily press., 1872-06-01
Captured by COnfeds.
AN ENGLISH CAPTAINS STORY.

ng to see something of war service, &C
cepted captains commission offered me in
cavalry regiment belonging to Torbett's
division.
We were lying near Winchester, in the
Shenandoah Valley, just before Sheridan
made his celebrated ride; the Confederate
general Early, covering this town. and occu-
plying the crossing of Opequan Creek.
The company 1 commanded held the ex-
IRENE left of Torbet's division; and in front
of this we were thrown out on picket duty,
along the skirts of tract of woodland.
In advance of the line, upon which / had
placed my sentrie3, ran a narrow but very
deep creek,--a tributary of the Opequan,-
but with fordable crossing close to the spot
had fixed upon for my temporary quarters
had just returned from visiting the picket
sentries, and was warming myself at small
campfire we had kindled. Although in the
month of September, it was a raw, chilly
morning, with a drilling mist fast thicken-
ing into rain.
Suddenly heard the tramp of cavalry,
with the clank of bits and sabres The
sound seemed to come from the rear. With
in hundred yards of the place where our
fire had been kindled ran the stream above
mentioned. At the ford it was crossed by a
narrow wood road, which turned sharply on
the other ide,-thence running parallel with
the creek in the direction of Berryyille. 1t
was down this road the sounds appeared to
come; and, although nothing was more nat
ural than that eur scouting parties should be
out in that direction, l felt alarm upon hear
ing the tread of approaching troopers.
Turning to my sergeant, wiry sx-footer
from Maine,-the only ma near me who
was awake,-I said,-
'Totten, what troops can those be ?''
The sergeant was not only awake, but re-
markedly ''wide-awake," and with head bent
down, and ear close to the ground, was al
ready listening intently to the hoofstrokes
OF the approaching horsemen.
AS spoke, he started to his feet saying in
an excited tone,-
by jimmy, cap! them 'ere don't sound
like our horses; not half % them air shod p'
Before he had finished speaking, the horse
men hove into sight, filing round bend of the
road; and without anv hesitation whatever,
headed toward the creek crossing in front of
our campfire. Every man of them had
blue cavalry cloak, and wore the Union cav
airy hat There were five of us, altogether,
round the fire; Sergeant Totten, with three
horses were hitched close by, saddled, and
ready for any emergency.
The suddenness with which the party of
horsemen-now in full sight-had come upon
us was, no doubt, the principal reason why 1
felt suspicious of their character. | had
done so, even before sighting them
They must have emerged from the woods
and struck the road but a short distance
above the bend; for the tramping first heard
was not that of gradually advancing troop,
but clear, distinct, and suddenly close at
band. Anyhow, there they were, right at
the crossing of the creek,-their approach
unnoticed by any of our pickets. | chal-
lenged them at once, in a loud, sharp voice,
holding my revolver in hand -
Halt! Who goes there ?" -
'Friendsp' was the immediate and ready
reply. as they pulled up in compliance with
the challenge. 'Dismount, one friend! ad-
vance and''-
The last word hadhardly parted from my lips
their leader had actually thrown one of his
legs over his horses Group, as if to advance
as ordered, when, with a muttered word of
command, he turned back into his saddle;
and in a seconds time the whole party had
dashed across the creek, up its bank, and
were amongst us
fired my revolver, bringing down one of
their horses; and, at the same time, called
out to my companions.
Too late lit was of no use; we were only
five, totally unprepared, and taken by sur
prise; they were score at least; al ready,
and aware of their advantage
With the instinct of habit, however, one of
the sleeping men, upon hearing the shouts
and shots, sprang up and rushed towards our
horses. In doing so he was ruthlessly shot:
and seeing that this would be the fate of ali
if we offered resistance-cut off. and over
powered as we undoubtedly were,-I at once
cried out, ''Hold your fire: we surrenderr'
In ten minutes from the time this blue
coated troop of guerillas came in sight, we
were captured; our arms taken from us or
dered to mount our horses; and were gallop-
ing at a Shaping pace along poorly con-
structed clay road, leading towards the Shen-
andoah, with six of MoSby's rough riders on
each side of us.
1t was neat thing, no doubt, for the Con-
feds,--a feat skilfully and daringly carried
out.
The chagrin and shame felt at being thus
overreached made my blood fairly Jingle to
my finger ends. There were four of us cap
tured,-Serg. Totten, two privates, and my
self; their own dsmounted man, whose
horse had been shot, having appropriated the
one belonging to our comrade they had killed.
L had little hope that any effort would be
made to rescue us. The alarm would, no
doubt, be but too late for pursuit to be of
service. Before a sufficient force could be
collected to make it safe, we should be carried
far out of reach of rescue.
AS we rode along, managed to count he
party of Confeds. They were twenty-one in
all,-nineteen men and two officers; he i'm
uduuSOLlc, UIdCk-GVeQ 16llOW
with pleasing cast of countenance and rid
ing one of the most splendid chargers | ever
saw. Indeed, all of them were upon good
stock, and our Northern horses made but a
poor show beside them. The party was evil
IDENTIFY picked one,-selected for some speci-
al duty. Before they came upon us thew
must have ridden hard and long; for although
their horses were still equal to the sharp pace
at which we were going, they labored heavily,
ana showed most unmstakable signs of ia
tigue.
We must have ridden at least ten miles in
silence, not word having been spoken by
any one; when suddenly the officer in COM
mand checked his horse, land, wheeling round,
cried out -
Take it easy now. boysr'
AS we silently went ON, the black-eyed lea
der of the "Rebs" brought his horse along
sac NINE, and said quite good-humoredly,
captain, L was sorry to disturb you so ear
~ thlS morning; but, to tell the truth. we
were as much surprised to see you, as Won at
slgnt OF US. When we came upon Won. we
had no idea that we were anywhere near your
lines" ''"'
was still in savage humor with myself
and answered bitterly and sternly,-
st was pity that you did not strike our
lines trifie higher up: you would then have
had tairer chance for fight"
"OhW answered he, laughing 81 was not
at all ambitious of that, and am quite thank
ful to get away as did,
IL was odd" l remarked, Hooking at him
steadily, for one of Mosby's officers to be
Dlundering SO near the Shenandoah They
nave Ihe reputation of knowing this country
"And they deserve it," he answered.
Most OF them have spent their whole lives
hereabouts, and have hunted and framed
over every foot of the valley. Unfortunately
for you," he added with smile, 81 have hit
lately Joined the command, and blunder now
and then; otherwise, can assure you, we
would never have ventured to awake you as
we qua this morning. My orders were to do
any thlng but that. Once in. however. I
thought the boldest way out would be the
best" 0
sit did not require mnch boldness.n re-
torted, ''to lead twenty men on fiye'-tbree
of them asleep, and two unamed,"
We had now arrived in full view of the
Shenandoah River, and at the end of the ia
Dle-land. Here there was log-cabin, at a
little distance from the road, with some cult
vaied helds around it. AT the door stood an
olu negress; who threw up her arms in
sre"o excitement as we approached, greeting
grautlations. '"i '0'io' oil" 'o"
Lud ma mercy, Nassa Cap'n Garberl So
you Sc Den an gone an done il dis time shoe
an satin. Fo' Yanks-bress do ordNand
dar hosses and guns too-an one n, dom a IL
ent." she added, laughing, and noint;n@ at
poor Totten, who by some mischanca was
mounted on very small horse, which his