Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-26
10 tAs desolate village OF Har-


and understand tue thrilling episode OF
which am to write.
n the winter of 1864 Coles cavalry
was uncanped on the east side Ut LOU
don heights, o little more than two
miles by road from Harper's Perry, but,
"as tho crow flies" not more than half
that distance.
They we're the only troops on this side
OF the river, and their position, as the
sequel will show, was u very dangerous
one.
The single road, leading past the
camp toward the point, where ut the be-
ginning Of my story We found this COM
lnand engaged with Mosby, led mp the
mountain side, and at times was almost
impossible. London county was the
home of Mosby's most daring officers and
men. Every path, ravine and decl'vity
in the neighborhood of this isolated
comp was, therefore, as familiar to Mos
by and his men az the high road. The
camp was not established here without
reluctance, for both officers and men
recognized the perils which would sur
round it all through the weary winter.
For o time the men were cautious and
never undressed ut night. Their arms
were always within reach aud ready fol-
use, but the sense of danger, which all
felt at first, wore off as the week went
! by and there was no attack, nor even an
alarm. Both officers and men relapsed
into feeling of security, which made
them more mindful of their own cOmfor,
than of the dangers with which they
| were surrounded. About the 1st of Jan
uary there was q heavy snowfall, apt
the weather became intensely cold, in
clining the men to stow themselve'
snugly away at night as though going
to bed at home. l fear, also, that they
were not so careful about their arm
and ammunition.
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
The 9th of January was very cold ant
the night which followed intensely dark
The snow carpet which covered TIN
camp was the only relief to the grea
black veil which seemed to be draw
over the face of all nature. 1t was upo'
! this night that Mosby had determined II
attack and if possible capture this bal
TALON of cavalry, which, oftener thai
any other, had met in battle and deal
hard blows. He selected about 400 O
the best of his command and left camp
crossing the snow clad mountains to The
! right Of Major Coles camp. They cam
| by by-paths and through ravines, avoid
ling the pickets on the Hillsboroug
road, and finally capturing them fror
the rear before they bad chance TO tir
q shot or alarm the camp. 1t was he
tween two and three o'clock on tn
morning of the 10th of January tina
Mosby captured the pckets and prepal
ed his plan Of attack upon the slumbel
ing camp His command was quietl
posted along the lines of tents where til
| Union cavalry men were sleeping in far
cied security, without even "a suspicio
i that an enemy was near.
SHOOTING THE sLEEPERs.
Ala given signal a deadly fire Wa
opened upon them. Naturally, all wa
confusion. The volley, which kille
some of the men in their tents an
wounded Others, was the first warnin
of danger. There had 5been no call
arms. Boots and saddles had not bee
sounded to prepare the men for dut!
The crack of the eDemy's guns was til
call to arms made upon these sleepin
men, with no time to reach their clotf
ing and almost less to grope for the
, arms in the dark. TO be sure. they ha
been used to hardships, and had nev,
failed to respond to the call OF dut,
3 Their pluck and endurance were no
subjected to the severest test known
modern war, and yet they did not fine
or hesitate. Almost without waitin
for the orders Of tleir officers the mt
turned ont into the bitter cold and sno
ankle deep, in their night clothes al
in most instances without shoes. The
= responded to the attack with Il dete
mination which astonished their a
;, sailante, who had expected an easy ca
!. ture.
"Fire at every man on horseback
3 was almost the first order Of the COZ
i handing officer. "Alen DO not take
your horses" The men Qbeyed both q
IT ders, and directed their FIRE upon eve
man on horseback, and this iudicio
ri action won them day.
!. When the Confederates found TIL