Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-09-01
An Adventure in the Shenandoah
Valley.

A writer in the Washington Post
thus relates an adventure in the
Shenandoah Valley with the celebrat-
ed Confederate, Col. Turner Ashby,
commander of the famous black
horse cavalry:
81 was following up General Pat
terson's predat DRY picnic and writ
ing vivid descriptions of suppositi-
tious military exploits for the Phil
adelphia Ledger and New York 7Ti-
batne, and through Col. D. B. Bir-
ney it came to General Patterson's
ears that I was somewhat familiar
with that-to Northern military
wledg e. unknown country
across the Potomac from Williams
port, Md.
Gen. Patterson consolidated lis
army at Chambersburg early in May
1861, and it was then and there that
1 began upon the duties that led to
my acquaintance with Turner Ash
by.
Through the kind offices of Mr..
Oily Ester, of Chambersburg, l was
provided with horse which though
not much to brag about, was highly
recommended for speed and stay.
One of the Union. loving ladies of
the town, made me up some rough
garments that would enable me to
pass for farmer, drover or almost
any nondescript character | chose
to assume as circumstances might
require.
BY careful engineering l had man
aged to make three successful trips
to Mdrtinsburg, Harper's Ferry and
Charlestown, and had come down as
near our own lines as Falling Wat
ers mill, two miles back on the Vir-
ginia side opposite Williamsport,
where was stationed Colonel Eccols
with the twenty fourth Virginia
regiment, Confederate States army.
During these trips | was supposed
to be a cattle dealer from down in
Fairfax, who was trying to turn an
honest penny looking up fresh beef
for General Johnson's army at Har-
per's Ferry. l actually bought from
Col. Porterfeld's man for $14 a nice
two year old heifer which | present.
ed to Colonel Eccols, and he in turn
gave me a kind of pass, which have
yet, to keep me from being taken up
as a deserter, or too urgently invit-
ed to enter the Confederate service.
On the second Of June, 81, | took
a comfortable swig of whiskey with
my friend John Ensinger, of the Pc,
tomac hotel at Williamsport, and
rode up the river to Clearspring. In
the woods between Clearspring and
Sleepy Hollow, took off my usual
clothes, hid them beneath some
brush and leaves, donned my South
ern dress, and crossed the Potomac
at an old unused ford at North
Mountain Station, on the Baltimore
and Ohio raiload. Here / had a
friend, a loyal Virginian, who post
ed me on everything taking place in
the neighborhood.
From here | made my way over
the hills and by-roads, coming out
on the Martinsburg and Winchester
pike, between the Big Spring and
Bunker Hill. From here | rode into
Winchester with all amount of
cheek that l flattered myself would
have done credit to lightning rod
peddler. | was now three miles ont
from our lines. and proceeded to
hunt up certain parties with whom
| was instructed TO communicate
cautiously. This occupied day or
two more, and 90 Sunday rode out
by way of Berryville, reaching
Charlestown about noon, and as |
sent my horse to the stable and en-
tered the hotel, tall dark complex
toned, but very fine looking officer in
the Confederate uniform of cap
tnia of cavalry asked me politely:
How far up the road have you
Gomez
"From Winchester.
Did you see company of caval-
ny there or on the road p
II saw Captain Bateman's COM