The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-04-06
FIRE ONLY AT HORSEMEN. :"
THRILLING ACCOUNT OF FIERCE FIGHT
DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
If the reader could stand on the great
iron bridge which spans the Potomac
river at Harper's Ferry, and look upon
Maryland heights towering from the
rivers brink 1900 feet into the air, and
crowned with great stone fort, useful in
the days Of which I write. and then turn
the eye toward the great pile of rocks off
the Virginia side known as the London
heights, rising abruptly from the Shen-
andoah river to the height of more than
1000 feet, and then upon Bolivar heights
standing as bold background to the
desolate village of Harper's Ferry, he
could better appreciate the situation in
which this little band was placed at the
time I will introduce them. He could
better realize its perils and understand
the thrilling episode of which / am to
write.
In the winter of 1864, Coles cavalry
was encamped on the east face of Lon
don heights, little more than two miles
by the main road from Harper's Ferry,
but cas- the crow flies" not half that dis
tance.
They were the only troops ON that
side of the river, and their position, as the
sequel will prove, was very dangerous
one.
The single road leading past the camp
toward the point, where at the beginning
of my story we found this command
engaged with Mosby, led up the noun
tain side and at times was almost impas-
sable. London county was the home of
many of Mosby's most daring officers
and men. Every path, ravine and de-
clivity in the neighborhood of this inso-
lated camp was, therefore, as familiar to
Mosby and his men as the high road.
The camp was not established here with
out reluctance, for both officers and men
recognized the perils which would sur
round it all through the weary winter.
For time the men were cautious and
never undressed at night. Their arms
were kept always within reach and ready
for use, but the sense of danger, which
all felt at first, wore off as the weeks
went by and there was no attack, not
olorrD, pnfh rffs
relapsed into feeling of security, which
made them more mindful of their own
comfort than of the dangers with which
they were surrounded. About the 1st of
January there was heavy snowfall, and
the weather became intensely cold, in
clining the men to stow themselves snug
ly away at night as though going to bed
at home. rear also JnaJ Iney were uUt
very careful about their arms and anu
milton.
The 9th of January was very cold and
the night which followed intensely dark.
The snow carpet which covered the camp
was the only relief to the black veil which
seemed to be drawn over the face of all
nature. It was upon this night that
Mosby had decided to attack and if pos
sible capture this battalion of cavalry,
which, oftener than any other, had met
him in the battle and dealt him hard
blows. He selected about four hundred
of the best of his command and left
camp, crossing the snow clad mountains
to the right of Major Coles camp. They
came by by paths and through ravines,
avoiding the pickets on the Hillsborough
road and finally capturing them from the
rear before they had chance to fire a
shot or alarm the camp. 1t was between
2 and 8 o'clock on the morning of the
10th of January that Mosby captured the
pickets and prepared his plan of attack
upon the slumbering camp. His COM
mand was quietly posted along the lines
of tents where the union cavalrymen were
sleeping in fancied security, without even
a suspicion that all enemy was near. At
a given signal deadly fire was opened
upon them. Naturally, all was confu-
sion. The volley, which killed some of
the men in their tents and wounded 9th
ers, was the first warning of danger.
There had been no call to arms. Boots
and saddles had not been sounded to pre-
pare them for duty. The crack of the
enemy's guns was the stern call to arms
made upon these sleeping men, with no
time to reach for their clothing and al
most less to grope for their arms in the
dark. To be sure, they had been used
to hardships, and had never failed to re
spond to the call of duty. Their pluck
and endurance were now subjected to the
severest tests known in modern war, and
yet they did not finch or hesitate. AL
most without waiting for the orders of
their officers the men turned out into the
bitter cold and snow, ankle deep, in their
night clothes, and in most instances with.
out shoes. They responded to the at
tack with determination which astonish-
ed their assailants, who had expected to
have an easy capture.
''Fire at every man on horseback"
was almost the first order of the COM
manding officer. "Men, do not take to
your horses!" the men obeyed both or
ders and directed their fire upon every
man on horseback, and this judicious ac-
ton won them the day.
When the confederates found that they
we're to be rested to the death, Captain
Smith, one of the principal officers il
command Of the attacking force, shouted
to his men: Fire the tents and shoot 'em
by the light" He was sitting on his
horse near the head of the row of tents
occupied by Company A. A sergeant of
that company. who had been cropping for
L.,