Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-04
A "REMINISCENCES OF THE
LATE WAR.
A Wonderful Escape from Death
at the Hands of an Outlaw
and Desperate.

Correspondence OF the Register
Your dispatch from keyser, in this
mornings paper, announcing the arrest
OF one of the most noted outlaws and
desperadOes that ever infested that conn
try, ii. Metcali, brings to my mind viy-
idly his attempt 10 take my lie IN
March, 1865, while standing in my own
yard. with one child in my arms and
the other holding me by the right hand,
standing near the fence. The circum-
stances were as follows: A small squad
OF Union soldiers (S), left New Creek,
(nOw keyserJ, without permission OF
the commanding officer, and robbed
and raided every house and
stable between New Greek and Peters
burg, in Grant county. When they
came To Petersburg, they found few Of
Captain McNeilPs rangers there, under
the command OF Lieutenant BOggs, who
gave them chase, and as they were pass
ing by my house, near Petersburg, not
wishing To see him shot or hurt IN any
way, called to him, in friCn lily way,
w luuh outi thS i'Obo' "'N S''S~ "N
you"
A young soldier who went from
Wheeling with the Shriver Grays,
think they were called, by the name ~
Charles Nicolls, was close behind MeY
calf when | called TO him, and MetcaH
had at least two miles to run before iIe
could get shelter in the woods to escape
capture. Metcali, instead Of apprcCiat-
ing my advice as he should have done
raised up in his saddle, not being, pcs
sibly, more than three steps from me
say ten ieet-snd with his large navy
Colt revolver, took deliberate aim at me,
remarking at the same time, Take that,
YOU d--d son of b--h,' dischargng
his pistol at the same time at me. God
directed that bullet, and | escaped death
at the hands OF this desperate. Met.
calf was pursued, with his comrades, as
lar as Laurelton, and one OF them was
killed and three OF them were captured.
| was sent for 10 see ii Metcalf was
among them, but he was not, Tor II he
had been, Mr.. Smith, whom he alter
wards killed in cold blood, would not
have met his death as he did, Tor Met
calf would surely have been shot 10y the
rebels. NetCali was member, or at
tache, of Capt. JarlOe's company, and
occupied my shop, while they were
at Petersburg, under Col. Muligan IN
1863, aud il was then and there that
first knew young Metcali, and he was
most always in the guard house Tor un-
sOldierly conduct. | knew his father
well before the war. He was a black
smith, living in Ridgeville, in then
Hampshire, but now Mineral county.
The murder OF Mr. Smith, by young
Metcalf, caused much excitement aud
profound sensation all through that
country, and his escape from that justice
which should have been meeted
ont TO him promptly, will
always remain as an unpardonable
crime against God and man, enacted by
the Republican rulers in Mineral coun-
ty, who had everything in their own
hands, who knowingly and intention
ally connived at that diabolIcal murder,
and made no effort to bring the perpe-
traitors to justice.
Mr.. Wright Wellon was, so lar aS |
know, the only Republican who made
any effort ~ have the murderers an
rested, but he was powerless to do any
thing himself, so bitter and strong was
the feeling Of the Union men in that
county against any one who was even
suspected OF sympathy with the Conied-
crate cause.
Mr.. Smith was a su all farmer, Living
on Patterson Greek, near NIlliamsOH,
and was regarded as one Of the most
quiet and respectable citizens in that
county. He remained at his home dur
ing the war. Whether he was mon
man or not know not; only know that
he took no part in the var on either
side, and was murdered by Metcalt be
cause he resisted him when he wanted to
take his property.
1t is to be hoped now, although hi
teen years have passed away, that lac
will get that which he should have had
long agO--lustice. HEroRf'
HhSeliag, March 3, 1880.