Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-03-08

horses were the best that could be
obtained; but as a general thing, the
cavalrymen were poor riders. The
artillery was magnificent; their camp
equipage voluminous. In short, the
granduer of such an army was well
calculated to dampen the ardor of
the Confederate, who had compare
lively nothing. 1t was not many
days, however, after the advent of
this white plumed chivalry, when it
was brought forward to witness the
memorable rout Of Bull Run--an ac-
count of which the historian has
long since placed before your read
ers, thereby. obviating the necessity
of me referring to it here. l sup
pose Gen. Patterson feared that I
would feel myself sighted if he
failed to pay me that mark of de
stinction which was making me so
notorious, that of being arrested.
Accordingly l was soon picked up
and trotted off for inspection. Judg-
ing from the time he occupied in in
terviewing me, was impressed with
the idea that he neither considered
me tit for a soldier nor a prisoner as
he dismissed me very summarily,
eDjoining upon me the propriety of
taking an interpreter with me if |
attempted to pass any of Blenker's
or Seigle's pickets, as they were so
dutch that they could not tell
whether was white or black. Soon
after the exit of this army, the Con-
federates came into the valley and
so continued until the close of the
war. either army occupying it alter
nately.
I could not suppress that longing
for military honors, which / claim
was innate, and finding it impossible
to reorganize our company, | report
ed to Col. Jacob Sincindiver in COM
mand of the militia at Winchester.
I was Immediately attached to the
company of Capt. Daniel Stuckey.
The Confederacy was too poor at
this period to give a number or letter
to the companies. The Captain
being an honest farmer in our COM
munity and never supposing that his
country would ever call him into
military life had very naturally neg
lected his education in that particu-
lar branch. But the remedy was at
hand. He knew that / had served
as an officer in volunteer company;
had been held as a prisoner of war;
had seen Gen. Patterson's grand
army; had inspected Doubleday's
great battery; had conversed with
"Stonewall Jackson" and "sassed"
j. E. B. Seuart, and, as matter Of
course, was well versed in military
tactics, consequently, he rendered
me the responsible position of"Drill
Master" to his company and Gen.
Superintendent ofour "mess" which
consisted Of the Captain himself,
Owen T. Hedges, Jno. D. Gordon,
Stephen Snodgrass, Drs. L. M. Sin
cindiver, Pete McGary, Jim Thomas
and Jno. Brady. The honors con-
ferred upon me was the more appre-
ciated, because it relieved me from
picket duty besides being an officer
of rank would of course entitle me
to more comfortable quarters and
more delicate grub than could be OBJ
tanned at the barracks by the COM
mon soldier.
We occupied rooms at what was
then the Taylor Hotel, near the
Co.'s headquarters, with whom we
often engaged in social game of
"old sledge." Four Of this merry
crowd, FIVE with Col. Sincindiver,
have passed off the stage of life. I
will only say that their social quail
ties, together with their rectitude in
life, entities them to honorable men,
tion, and / deeply regret my inabil-
ity to undertake the task. I refer to
0. T. Hedges, DR.. McGary, Capt.
Stuckey and Jno. Brady. They
were good citizens-true and trusty
friends. The monotony of soldier
life created within me a desire for a
change. My interests at home wers
suffering for want of my supervision
and was satisfied that to secure my
crops would pay me great deal bet
ter than to be playing soldier in the
Confederate militia. / repeatedly