Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-03-10


Colonel Harry Gilmor, the noted Con-
federate scout and guerilla, who during
the war was conspicuous fer his pluck
and bravery In various cavalry expedl-
tons under Mosby's command, died In
Baltimore at eight o'clock Sunday even-
ing. from a cancerous affection, with
which he had been suffering for several
weeks, in the forty-sixth year Of his
ase. Colonel Gilmor met his death with
remarkable forritude. He recently SUD-
mitted to two painful surgical operations,
declining the use Of opiates, but there
wa. no beneficial result. His suaerings
for the ten days preceding his death were
of the most intense character. Nothwith-
standing this he was comparatively cheer
full. His mind was unclouded, and only
a few days ago he conversec cheerfuiiy
with General Jubal A. Early, who called
TO see him. Governor Hamilton was
among his visitors and many executed
crates called recently at his house.
his immediate family and during the last
three hours of his life he was unconsei-
our. Colonel Gilmor was buried with
military honors. The members OF the
MARYLAND Line Society, Confederate State
Society of Maryland, Fifth Maryland
Regiment, Masons and Odd Fellows and
other societies of which deceased was a
member participated In the demonstra-
ton. Prominent merchants anu bankers
have united in an effort to raise sub
seript.on Of ten thousand dollars for the
education of Colonel Gilmor's three Or
phan children, and up to this time about
five thousand have been subscribed.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Colonel Harry Gilmor was born az
"Glen Ellen" in Baltimore county, JAM
uary "a, 1888. In early boyhood he was
engaged i'm work about the farm, and re-
ccived a good education at the hands OF
private tutor. He afterwards learned the
trade of machinist at the Vulcan iron
works. When the war broke out he I'M
! mediately became a warm advocate OF re-
bellion, and IN August, 1861, together with
a number Of other adventurous young
Marylanders, went South and Joined the
Confederate army. Young,Gilmor, hav-
ing by his training at "Glen Ellen" be-
come an expert horseman, elected to join
the cavalry. lie accordingly proceeded
to Charlestown, West Virginia, and with
Two comrades who had formerly been,
like himself, members of Captain Charles
Ridyely's Baltimore County Horse Guards
Joined the company Of Captain Frank
Mason in the cavalry command OF Col
Turner Ashby. At this time Ashby WAS
occupying the south side Of the Potomac,
watching the Union forces on Maryland
HEIGHTS. For four months Mason's conf
pamy was in active duty around iarpers
Ferry, and took prominent parts in some
heavy skirmshing, in which young Gil
NOR soon distinguished himself for daring,
not to say reckless bravery. He was the
principal in several exploits that attracted
attention in the vicinity at the time, anu
WAS soon appointed lin December, 1851
the sergeant major of Ashby's regiment.
Until March, 1867, he continued in service
OH the skirmish lines between Maryland
and Virginia, and eventually gained such
a reputation for energy and bravery that
he was commissioned 4 captain, and au-
thorized by Col Ashby to raise a company
of cavalry in the vicinity Of Winchester.
lie soon called around him about two hum
dred congenial adventurous spirits, mostly
Marylanders, and under Lieut.. Col. j. Il.
Jones, his command forming part OF the
33d Virginia Cavalry. Els first lighting
AS "a commanding officer was before Har-
risonburg. From this time he commenced
a series Of brilliant raids into his native
state. and soon became noted as Il strate-
gist OF marked ability. His reputation,
rendered widespread through the depre-
dations Of some Of the characters he had
gathered around him, led to repeated at
tempts being made to capture him by the
Federals, who desired TO rid themselves
of such dangerous enemy, who, by his
knowledge of the topography Of the state,
operated almost with IMMUNITY. Finally.
in September, 1862, Gilmor made raid
i'm the direction of EcstertOwn, and leav-
ing his command near that place, rode to
the house of a relative seven miles from
Baltimore OH the RestertOwn road. In
formation of his whereabouts WAS received
in Baltimore, and strong force sent out,
which surrounded the house where he
was staying OH the 18th inst, and brought
him a prisoner to Baltimore. On Decem-
Der 2lst he WAS sent from Fort McHenry
to Fortress Monroe, later to Fort Norfolk,
and finally was exchanged in February,
lSc3, returning to duty in Page Valley.
In March following he participated in the
fighting around Culpeper Courthouse
under Generals Fitz Lee and j. L. D..
Steuart, where he won his majority. In
February 1864 by order Of Gen. Steuart.
| he made Il rapid descent on the line of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near Kear-
1eysville, short distance from Harper's
Ferry, and cut the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. While doing this he captured
two passenger trains bound east, and held
the passengers prisoners for several hours,
until his men had completed the work for
which they had made the raid. After
wards the passengers made general com
plant of having been robbed by the raid
ers, and the Northern papers few days
later contained violent attacks OH Major