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

shoulder, broke the biade near '"S TT
and. passing through. fractured the co''ar
bone. II entered the neck, coming OUT
under the jawbone, directly over the caro-
rid artery, which lt only missed severing
bv an eighth Of an inch. nearly fell
from, the horse; but, dropping my sabre,
! .la.ped hi. neck aud drew myself back
,,,o tho ssd,lle." He was sent 10 the resr,
and after the fght was removed to me
York Hospital, in Winchester where ms
injuries were pronounced serious al"
probably fatal. While lying In the hos
p,tal he received q commission as coionei'
bu: never went into service under his new
rank. On september IS, when his eofu''
ton WAS still critical, the Confederstes
were beaten Before Winchester sn1 nc
was compelled to fee with the deiesteo
army. He rode rs far IS kernstowH 10
m ambulance, when his strength became
exhausted and he had TO take rest. Inc
advance of the Federal forces compelled
him to resume his flight, and he next took
refuge in q relatives house in Se"town.
In a few days, however, when almost
senseless from exhaustion, his friends hsu
10 place him In an ambulance, and he MAS
sent Oh journey Of over Fifty miles over
rough mountain roads to Woodstock, Nj.
Airy, and finally into Nelson County,
when he found = temporary refuge ut the
home of Mr.. Samuel Wood, on Rockhsh
Run In October, when he had somewhat
recuperated, he went TO Staunton, and
served Ms one Of General Early's stan,
until he resumed command Of his battal-
ion. He then went into active service IN
Hardy County, where, on Sunday, Feb
ruary 4th, 1865, he Was again captured,
this time by Major Young, Of Sheiidsn's
staff. Colonel Gilmor WAS sleeping with
y cousin, also In the Confederate service
! In the bedroom Of farmhouse, when
the door wa, burst open and Major Young
dashed In, seized the weapons Of the two
officers, and, presenting his own, inform
ed them that they were prisoners. As
about one hundred men surrounded the
house at the time, escape WAS impossible,
and Colonel Gilmor was soon OIL his way
North in charge of Major Young. When
| they reached Harper. Ferry an attempt
was made to mob the prisoner, and they
would doubtless have been successful had
not his captors protected him with cock
cd pistol in each hand. The same trouble
was anticipated Oh reaching Baltimore,
and a squad Of soldiers under Major
Weigel WAS ut Camden Station to protect
! him. The prisoner was taken out OF the
depot by the back way and reached Boston
February ~. He was confined la Fort
Warren until the fall Of Richmond, and
was released on parole July 20, 1865.
Asa soldier Colonel Gilmor's reputation
for bravery and daring WAS widespread.
He was generally known as being what
military men termed ~ hard fighter" 1t
has frequently been asserted that he killed
more men with his own arm than any
| other officer In the Confederate service.
As y marksman with the pistol he MAS
unrxcelied, and frequently -hot tin cups
! from the heads OF his men. On one Occa-
sion, for u wager, he put five she 10 INTO
five successive telegraph poles along
road side while riding at full gallop. His
| immense strength aid power of endur-
ance peculiarly fitted him for the life OF
cavalryman, and while many blamed him
| for the depredatiOns committed by his
men, 10 one ever questioned his own In
tegIity Of purpose and devotion 10 the
cause Of the rebellion.
| Colonel Gilmor returned to Baltimore
alter the war and entered into Business
until 1877, when he was elected u police
commissioner for that city, his term COM
mencing in 1873. During his service he
was mainly instrumental in Introducing
military tactics and discipline into the city
police force. The good effects Of this in
novation are seen In the efficiency Of the
force ut this time and during the labor
riots ia 1877, when Col. Gilmor's bravery
and Goodness contributed much towards
protecting property and life from the
mob. lie served until 1873. when he re-
/ signed.
Colonel Gilmor, la 1875, lost one Of his
eyes, the eyc-ball being excised without
chloroform by Drs. Chisholm, A. Z.
Smith aud G.. lIalstead Boy Ian. During
the long and painful operation the patient
showed great nerve, never wincing while
under the lancet. He leaves three chill
dren and two sisters. lie Was at the time
of his death the colonel commanding Of
all the cavalry In the State.