South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-05-19
A Story Of The War.
now GENERAL NElos' SON WAS KILLED
IN RocKINouAM COUNTY.

IN kOCkIN0HAM COUNTY.
Douglas" the Washington csrre..
pondent OF the Pittsburgh Leader. mar.
rates the following:
It was notable fact that General
Meigs, as quartermsster General, deci.
sted every claim in i.is department a.
gainst the claimants when they we've
Southern people. for. as he said i'm his
prejudice. II hate the South, and all
from the South, for they killed my son."
The history sofA the death or capt.
Meigs has never been we'll, cleared up.
although it might have been. years ago.
properly investigated. 1t was only an
evening ortwo ago that, speaking with
General Comfy, of the Ohio State Jour.
nal. who was within Ave miles of the
scene OF young Meigs' death. that I
learned he was ignorant of the details
of the affair. and most OF the army, IA
well. Sheridan burned FIVE miles square
Of the country about the place in retalia.
ton. and in doing so did as unjust an
act rs any committed or either side dur.
ing the war.
1t was in the fall of'64. and in the
w NuEhiih, sJlcl ittI WAS aETauO-
ing for his march TO Staunton. and Gen.
eral Wickham, OF the confederate army,
was watching him. The Northern gen-
eral was busily engaged with engineers
taking in and mapping down the topo.
graphy of the country. preparatory to
the march. Scouting parties were the
order Of tile day. skirmish upon Skin.
mish varied the camp routine with fierce
and vivid frequency.
One autumn morning three young
men were sent out from the Con cederate
lines TO learn what they might of the en-.
emy's movements, and report accord.
ingly. They were one Chavers of Wick.
hams cavalry. Campbell, and Josh Mar
rim, of the Rlackhorsc. 1t was drizzly
day, and the three rode out from camp
and passed the -videttes. over.coated
with Iudan-ruhber listers that conceal
ed their Confederate grey, and when in
the northern lines were disguised sufii
| ciently we'll to facilitate their escape in
case n dash was necessary for them to
make their escape. 81 -
Their scout was not success, aul
they were returning to their camp, when
riding along II road between two fields.
| WV 81" "tpib'NHahsS C'ttis. pliCVI.
accompanied hy two orderlies, Trust.
ing to the disguise Of their rubber coats
they made no offer of violence until both
PARTIES were close together. when Mar
tin. who was leader the three. present.
ell his pistol and called upon the Fele
rails to surrender. Chavers and Camp.
bell followed suit.
The two or',erles threw up their arms
and complied. Captain Mclgs. without
n word, and with the motion OF his arms
and hands concealed by the long mill
tary cape he wore, drew revolver and
tired--hand and pistol still concealed
through his cloak upon Martin, who
confronted him. The bullet struck the
latter in the left side. and passed com
pletelv through his body, coming near
the vcrtebra.
Martin quiverea rs If strnck by light
ming, swayed backward. in tn" same
moment recovered himself and Gre6 up
on Meigs just as the latter was dashing
10 ride past him and escape-drivirg
the bullet through his heart He re !
from his horse, and the two Copfedcr.
a,es. with their prisoners and wounded
comradc, struck out for their camp with.
out delay, reaching itwith safety. Mar.
tins wound was pronounced fatal. hut
he recovered, and il no9 q well to do
farmer nu5r WarrehtDn, Va.