South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-02-29
Four Years in the Stonewali
Brigade.

EOOr xe0r8 In the 6t0n0W8lk
Brigade.
BY JOHN o. CASHIER.
Private Co. A. 33d We. Infantry, Slonsvall
Brissde. let. Division a. Corps, Army 81
Northern Virginia
CONTINUED.
+. McGraw. w. Daily and myself
then started for the place Of rendezvous,
leaving Miller behind 10 await for our
return, or hear OF our capture as the
case might be. The next morning
Lieutenant Blue made his appe arance
with guide aud scout (Ed. Mont
gomery), and we numbered in all fif-
teen, each one armed with q rifle and
six-shooter. We then marched down
the mountain IN single file until we
reachedthe river tine South Branch of
the Potomac); we found y canoe and
crossed; we then kept down the
mountain going north, aiming to get
in the rear of their camp. Il was Sc.
ven miles from Springfield to the 3.
& 0. railroad, and we knew the troops
at Springfield and Romney got their
supplies at the railroad, and we would
aim to post ourselves about half way
between the railroad and camp and
capture all that passed
We arrived at our point Of destina-
ton about the middle of the day
There was rail fence OH each side of
the road, and on the west side there
was a small ravine with some scrub.
by pines. We divided our force,
placing one half at point near the
road,an6 the other halfat point near
the road about three hundred yards
further down, and if q scouting party
camc along. either going north or
south, the first party was to let them
pass until halted by the other party,
and then run out behind them and cut
off their retreat. La this manner we
would bag our gam, and If the enc
my should be too strong for us to at :.
tack we were to keep conceal I'd md
let them pass We had not been lone
in position when the look out report
ed wagon coming from the railroad !;
so when he got in orr trap two men
stepped ont and ordered hlm to halt,
and opened the feace Tor him TO drive
in and Up the ravine out OF sight,
which he did, when we got around
him in order to hear the news. The
poor fellow was scared nearly TO
death; thought he had fallen into the
hands OF Geurllas, and that his time
had come, so he commenced praying
and begging, but we soon assured him
that ne should not be hurt, that we
were regular soldiers, out on raid of
our own get-up; that all we wanted
with him was all the information we
could get, but if he did not tell us the
truth, he should surely die. lie then
told us that he had been sent that
morning to the railroad for load of
beef for the company, but as it did
not come on the cars he had to return
empty, and that there ere no scout.
ing parties ont, that he knew Of; that
they did not scout much, as it was too
cold; lie had left two cavalrymen at
the depot, and each had large sack
OF mail for the troops ut Romney ,a1d
they would be along in short time;
ard that the next day there would
live wagons leave camp and go up to
Patterson's creek, about 'ght miles
west of camp after hay, and there
would be one man besides the driver
to each wagon, and four or five cav
alrymen a. guard, all armed with
six shooters, and they would leave
camp about sun-up; he would not
have to go, rs he bad gone that day
to the depot.
In few moments we saw the cav
alrymen coming with the mail, and
when they got into our trap, we told
them to ride in and we had fine time
plundering The mail aud reading los e.
letters to the boys in the army. We
now had four hor, es and three prison.
ers. We would have paroled the
prisoners, bit had more work TO do.
and was afraid to turn them loose |:
we did not want to be bosherd with
them and the horses on our next day's
raid, go we concluded TO send them
back TO the rear that night. Lieut..
Blue then detailed lhree men to take
them back to Lost river, and there
wait until We came. As soon az il
was dark the three men started with
the three prisoners four horses and the
mail, and we started for the Frankfort
road, to be ready for the hay wagons.
the next day. We stayed al, night
with John Martin, who lived in q Sc
cluded place; pat ont a picket, and
passed the night comfortably.
Directly aflor dag light we were on
the road about four niles west of
Springfield anu two miles cast OF
Frankfort. We were divided into
two squads, as the day before. We
/ held little council OF war as to the
best manner TO proceed. Ed. Mont
gomery said we would las our tran