Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-24
stands pre-eninent, Not only in the his.
tory ofthe battalion, but in the cavalry
service of'the war.

l A-ONA,Os> 1ANA0lhASs
It the reader could stand upon til
great iron bridge which spans the Potc
mac river at Harper's Ferry, and Loo
upon Maryland heights towering ffon
the rivers brink, 1000 feet into the ali
and crowned with o great stone fort
useful in the days Of which write, an,
then turn theeye toward the great Dill
OF rocks on the Virginia side, known a
l-oudon heights, rising abrubtly from
tho Shenandoah river to the height o
more than LOCO feet, and then upon Boil
war height, standing as bold back
ground to the .desolate village OF Har
pers Ferry, he could beter appreciat,
the situation in which this little band
was placed at the time / will Introduce
them. lie conld better realize it's peril4
and understand the thrilling episode 0,
which am to write.
In the winter OF 1854 Coles cavalry
was oncamped on the east side ofLou.
don heights, q little more than two
miles by road from Harper's Ferry, but.
"as the crow flies" not more than halt
that distance.
They were the only troops on this side
OF the river, and their position. as the
se4nei VIII show, was o very dangerous
one.
The single road, leading past the
camp toward the point, where at the be-
ginning Of my story we found this COM
mand engaged with Mosby, led up the
mountain side, and at times was almost
lmpassable. London county was the
home OF Mosby's most daring officers and
men. Every path, ravine and declivity
n the neighborhood Of this isolated
amp was, therefore, as familiar to Mos
~ and his men as the high road. The
lamp was not established here without
for both officers and men
ecognized the perils which would sur.
onnd it all through the weary winter.
'or TIME the men were cautions and
ever undressed at night. Their arms
we're always within reach and ready for
se, but the sense of danger, which all
elt ut first, wore off as the week went
y and there was no attack, nor even an
larm. Both officers and men relapsed
1to q feeling Of security, which made |
hem more mindful of their own comfort
nan OF the dangers with which they
'ere surrounded. About the LIST Of Jan.
airy there was heavy snowfall, and |
le weather became intensely cold, in
lining the men to STOW themselves
iugly away at night asethongh going (
bed at home. fear, also, that they
Gre not 10 careful about their arms
I'D ammunition.
TERRIBLY NIGHT.
The 9th Of January was very cold and
10 night which followed intensely dark.
he snow carpet which covered the
mp was the only relief to the great
ack veil which seemed to be drawn
'er the face Of all nature. It was upon
is night that Mostly had determined to
tack and if possible capture this bat.
hon Of cavalry, which, oftener than
y other, had met in battle and dealt
I'd blows. He selected about 400 of
best ofhis command and left camp.
'ssing the snow-clad mountains to the
'ht Of Major Coles camp. They came ,
by-paths and throughfavincs, avoid ,
the plckets on the HillsbOrouul,
I'd, aud finally capturing them from t
rear before they had chance TO fire c
shot or alarm the camp. It was be- t
cen two and three o'clock on the d
rning of the 10th of January that u
shy captured the pickets and prepar- Fl
his plan Of attack upon the slumber. Ii
camp. His command was quietly u
led along the lines Of tents where the I'll
ion cavalry men were sleeping in fan il
security, without even q suspicion CT
t an enemy was near. W
SHOOTING TILE sLEEPERs. b.
t q given signal deadly fire was "
ned upon them. Naturally, all was I'll
fusion. The volley, which killed til
Q of the men in their tents and XII
Inded others, was the first warning Fl
anger. There had been no call to 3.
$. Boots and saddles had not been or
,ded to prepare the men for duty. tn
crack Of the eDeiny's guns was the wi
to arms made upon these sleeping WI
with no time to reach their cloth br
and almost less to grope for their
, in the dark. To be sure, they had of
used to hardships, and had never Fe
d to respond to the call Of duty. his
r pluck and endurance were now lin
,cted to the severest test known in str