The National tribune., 1883-11-08
AUsTrxBURG, o.
FROM ANOTHER THIRD WEST VIRGINIA NAN.

FROM ANOTHER THIRD WEST VIRGINIA NAN.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
c. E Shank's description of the Averen raid,
IN TEE TRIBUNE of September %, Is mainly
correct, but he is mistaken as to the starting
point and date of our return 70 Beverley, WA
General Averell, with his brigade, consisting
of the Second, Third and Eighth West Virginia
mounted infantry, Fourteenth Pennsylvania
cavalry, one battalion Of the Third West Tir-
ginia cavalry, and Ewing's) battery d, West
Virginia light artillery, broke camp at New
Creek Station now keyserl on the Sth Of De-
eember, 1853, and returning, reached Beverley
on the 18th instead Of 21st. ss reported. And
viii here make a statement that no e0mTads
who was with Us viii call mistake or an ex-
aggeratlOn- This seventeen days raid or the
nine days Of our returnl was the severest and
most hazardous campaign Of the war. and cur
suferings we're hardly surpassed hy those OF
BGnaparte and his men IN crossing the Alpine
Mountains Think Of being five successive
days and nights In cur saddles. without q nor
sci OF ratiOns. without sleep, IN keen. bitter
cold weather; being fanked and cut of by tha
re5s on every hand, often being compelled TO
foTsake the road (which was the enIy luxury
we had and flee 10 the mountains as the only
means of escape! l never can forget the uighs
OF the 10Th, when they captured so many OF
our boys near Covington. I was detailed IN
the evening with about fifty men 70 gather
c0mplIShed, we undertook 70 Join she brigade
after it had been cut OF on the Sweet Spring
pike. We had crossed the hill in pursuit Of
our men and were coming down with dispatch
towards the COvmgtOn bridge. or rather jack
sons River bridge, near Covington, when our
boys halted and began TO dIsmOunt at what I
have always supposed to be q ssiIl-hOase. /
insisted that we should go on, but being over
ruled, went alone, but only for 3 short dis
tance, for / soon ran into regiment Of rebel
cavalry VINO were on their way 70 re-enforee
Jackson, who was then in front Of and lighting
AvereH at the bridge, and it was not many
minutes until every one OF the squad I had
just left was IN the hands of the Johnnies- Is
was too dark for them 70 discover the color Of
my clothes, and, by using little strategy in
feigning dispatch bearer 70 General Jackson, T
was permitted to pass this regiment of rebels
unmolested, and soon Joined cur brigade az ths
bridge, where AVsrell had Just repUIsed Jack
son, after the latter had set the bridge on frs-
The flames were soon extinguished and va
passed safely over. After holding this position
until ) o'clock next morning f20th) for ths
Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, who Wers
cut off from US on another road. we burned the
bridge and fell back to CalIshan Station where
(as Comrade Shank says We were cut OF On
every road but by-rOad across the Allegheny
Mountains Thus Ye had only one chance for
escape but we took this chance. beginning tha
ing its base on the opposite side at midnight.
The weather had turned very cold after the
hard rains OF the 18th and 18th, and the roads
were now glare Of ice. Our horses, of course.
were very smooth By this time, and our pro-
gress was consequently very slow. and it was
not uncommon for the horses to fall and to 50
badly hurt themselves as 70 never be able 20
gain their feet again. and their inevitable fats
was to be turned over by their half dead mas
ters, out of the road, perhaps to tumble down
an embankment into SONS rayine, or lodge
against some tree which would be kind enough
to hold them there until death came along and
put an end 70 their sufFeringx
On the night of the ODD about midnight,
after we had reached the summit and perhaps
had begun TO descend the Cheat Mountain,
was overcome by combination of cold. hunger
and want of sleep, and fell unconscious by the
side OF the road, where, two hours later, waA
picked up by the rear guard, who, after
we're process of jerking and thrashing mo
around, succeeded IN restoring me 70 conscious
ness, and by their help again Joined NV cum-
pany some time next morning. Should any
coInrade read this who served as rear guard that
night, he may remember the occurrence. Well,
as | said, we reached Beverley the 25th
about noon, and didn't we get away with the
grubl 1t was about hka filing empty barrels
/ was badly frozen, but remained with the
command until we reached Martinsburg on she
31st, when I was taken to the hospital and was
entirely helpless for = month then reported
to nay regiment for duty on 3 cruteh- / still
suffer with my feet and legs, but have nos
asked for pension. / would like to read the
experience Of some other comrade in the Aver
ell raid. WM NORRIS
Company z, Sd West Virgins " O.,
Custer Post. No. q, @. A. 2