Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-08-21
PoETIcAL.
She Had Feeling.
MISCELLANEOUS.
An Incident of the Siege of Har-
per's Ferry.

pei . Gil y
On a beautiful Sabbath morning,
September Sth, '62, as Capt. L. 3.
Savage and Serg'tG. B. Lyon, of Co.
G, 115, N. Y. Vols. went down to the
Potomac river on the right of Bolivar
Heights and near what was called
John Browns Cave, to battle. After
amusing themselves for an hour or so
they started to return by winding
path which brought them to an old road
that led to the camp, when to their
surprise, right in front of them sat a
tall, spare man on an old log, dressed
in rebel gray, as most of the citizens
were. He appeared to be about 50
years of age, and had q rather intel
ligent look and at his side sat huge
market-baslIet filled with pies made
on common teaplate. As they adj
vanccd near to him he passed the time
of day, asking if they did not want to
buy pie. He said he sold the pics
for shilling apiece. Capt. S. asked
the Sergeant if he could help to eat
one. OF course the invitation was
accepted.
The three then sat on The log, and
talked, and ate their pie. The man
in gray said he had heard that the re-
bells were coming up the valley again,
and wanted TO know if they thought
they had force enough to stop them.
They told him that they thought they
had, when he remarked that he hoped
SO. They made the reply that they
were talking to a Union man. lie
said he was, and that was the reason
why he hoped they would be able to
keep the rebels back, for they all
knew him. He said that when they
came up the valley before they took
all his straw, his mules and cattle,
and destroyed almost everything he
had. They asked him how far off he
lived, and he said about three miles,
on the Shcphcrdstown road. lie pre-
tended to fear that they wouldn't he
able to keep the Johnnics back.
They answered him that they had a
large number of troops, with large
train OF Artillery, and Cavalry, with
many heavy batteries. He said he
was very glad tc see them so con-
fident, and sincerely hoped they
might be able to drive the rebels
flying down the valley, never to re-
turn.
They started 10 return to camp.
After going a little way, the Sergeant
asked the Captain if he had any sus-
picion of that man. The Captain
said ne guessed he was all right
Sergeant thought that he sold his
pies so cheap, and was such strong
Union man, and asked so many qucs-
tions, that he doubted his loyalty,
and he thought the man spy. The
Captain thought not, bat said ii
would be no harm TO take him to the
Colonel's quarters. They then
turned back, and told the man that
they presumed he was all right, but
in these times they couldn't tell
whom to trust, and they thought it
best to take him to the CoIoncl's
quarters. This seemed to please
him, and with an air of Indifference
he started with them, saying that he
was glad of so good chance to get
inside of the lines, for he wanted to
sell his pics and get home that night.
They took him to Col. Sammon' 5
quarters, and told their story. The
Colonel sent him, with a Corporal
guard, to Col. Miles headquarters at
Harper's Ferry. lie soon returned
70 the camp with pass, signed by
Col. Miles, to permit him to pass
through the camp and Notifications.
He visited most of the Batteries and
Cavalry camps, selling his pics and
taking in all the surroundings,
Night coming on, he left our camp
and with him went all thoughts of
him for those in camp, until Sunday,
Sept. 18th. After the surrender,
and the arms had been stacked, and
men were sitting around in groups,
talking of the result and what the
rebels would do with them, the rebel
Cavalry came in, posting their guards
around the camp. Capt. Savage
stood in front of his tent, talking
with some officers. The Sergeant
sat on knapsack in Company street.
Up rode a man in the regimentals of
Captain of rebel Cavalry. Riding
up in front of Capt. Savage, be slap
ped the Captain on the shoulder and
asked him if he wanted TO buy an
other pic; and to the astonishment
of Capt. Savage, the pie man of the
Sabbath before stood before him.
These are the facts, as told mo by
my father.
JEN2yTE F. LYON.
Tu7orno NJ