The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-06-17
WHOLE No. 1000

going on. After scout in which | had
gained information about the enemy,
could give 4 shrewd guess as to our fu-
ture movements. | was often amused to
overhear the coniectures and ideas of
young stall officers as to the plans of the
/ General. had to report to Torbert at
once when | returned from scout, no
matter where he was or who was with
him, and sometimes my experience with
him was funny. He was heavy sleeper
and when | reported to him at night
/ would have to shake him up. but he was
/ always good natured lie would often
tell me to warm myself by the fire, or
give me dram from his silver flask, and
long nights ride. l went to report to
| him one night after three days scout
up the Valley. while the cavalry were in
camp near Charlestown. lie was not in
his tent, but the sentry said he saw him
go towards a citizens house, which was
about two hundred yards from camp.
My orders were to report to him as soon
as | returned, SO proceeded to hunt him
up. went to the house and just as |
was about to knock at the door ! recog-
nized the familiar snore of the General
coming from the front room up stairs.
tried the door and found it unlocked. |
knew that the man of the house, who
was a widower. and all his children were
deaf. and that it was impossible to wake
them by knocking, SO opened the door
and went straight to the General, whom
| found in a high-post bcdstead did
not have any trouble in waking him, for
as soon as | touched him he was alert
Something in the surroundings so differ
ent from his usual camp quarters proba-
bly, made him more wakeful than usual.
He leaned on his elbow and listened to
my report, which was quite lengthy. |
expected he would wake up the aid, who
was sleeping by his side, to write copy
of my report to go to General Sheridan,
which was generally done when the in
formation was important, as mine was
that night, but he did not. When | got
through he asked me how | found him
and how | got in. | told him | heard
him snore and simply followed the
sound, and finding the door unfastened
had come straight to him. He turned
over in bed with sigh of satisfaction, l
fancied, and left him.
The next battle in which Torbert dis
tinguished himself was purely cavalry
fight. 1t was in October, about month
after the Winchester fight. The cavalry
had returned from up the Valley and
was in the camp about Fishers Hill.
General Torbert had taken possession of
the house of Mrs. Hendricks, near Stras-
burg. for his headquarters. The wagons
had reached headquarters for the first
time in several days. The house was a
large, old brick mansion, inhabited by
widow and several pretty daughters, who
were thankful for the protection afforded
by Generals presence, and the prospect
of good supply of provisions when he
eft. 1t had been a cold, rough, rainy
day, and the General and officers of the
staff came in at shutdown, hungry, muddy
and wet. The orderlies soon had big
fires made all over the house. Valises
were unstrapped and soon the staff were
assembled i'll the big parlor waiting for
supper, which was being placed on the
table in the dining-room. Some were
seated before the fire enjoying smoke,
others were writing letters: Quartermas
ter Brown DR.. Wilson and Captain AL
exander Moore began chanting the sea
song called Captain Kidd" When
dinner was announced they all went in
and soon were hard at it. But IN excit-
ing interruption came. As the last bone
of a twenty-five pound wild turkey had
shot that day on Masanuhton Mountain
was disappearing in burst General Sher-
dan, bringing with him a hurricane of
wind and rain. | knew as soon as l saw
Kim that he was mad - clear through"
The bright light from the dining room
came through the open door into the hall.
and the loud talking and laughing of the
staff drowned all other sounds. Sheridan
went in upon them like the Ghost in Don
Giovanni. He stood in the doorway
flashing his boot with his riding whip
moment and then opened;
"Well, I'll he id, if you amt sit
ting hero stufting yourselves, General,
staff and all, while the rebels are riding
into our camps! Having a party while
Rosser is carrying Oft your guns. Got
on your nice clothes and clean shirts.
Torhert, mount quicker than h-ll will
scorch your feather
TORBERT AROUSED.
Turning away. Sheridan went off LASH
I 1. l.. IL l