Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-03-08
My War Experiences,
BY c. E. L.

iuChliy Va oIUituut dblOu. JuuSO VI.
s. Grantham, who is ever ready to
relieve the distressed, came to my
rescue. afterwards learned that
he went to see Gen. Jos. E. Johnston
and interceded in my behalf, thereby
securing my release. When | was
taken before him he told me that no
serious charges had been preferred
against me, and allowed me to de-
part in peace. Strict rules had to be
observed and no one could get out.
side the pickets without pass,
precaution which neglected TO take,
consequently | was again arrested
at the first picket post, where they
held another post norton over me,
and, but for the timely arrival of an
unexpected friend l would have
been returned from whence came.
The detention here amounted to
nothing more than to increase my
wrath and further humiliate my
pride. ] began to think that / was
looked upon as suspicious charac-
ter or that fate was against me.
Yet no one doubted the truthfulness
of my statements, but some one
must be responsible and they were
governed only by the orders issued
from head quarters, I was however
allowed to pass, and you may rest
assured lost no time in travelling
to my home, which was distant about
II miles from Winchester. The
next morning after my release l ven
tured into Stuart's camp for the pur-
pose of retaining my horse which
he kept during my imprisonment,
but l failed, from the fact that Gen.
Patterson's army was advancing and
Col. Stuart was compelled to fly be-
fore him, taking my horse with him,
and leaving me to brood over my loss
and disappointment. Through the
fundamentally of Col. Jno. B. Hoge
my horse and companion in prison,
Pendleton's Eldridge, was returned
to me, somewhat pale and emaciated,
but otherwise unimpared. l recol-
lect perfectly, as Stuart was falling
back to Winchester, in my anxiety
to get my horse, I was standing on
top of a hog pen by the road side,
no. thinking of anything but the re-
treating Confederates and the object
of my pursuit 1.-THE horse,) when a
shell from Gen. Nagley's advance
artillery of the Yankey army went
screaming over my head. l never
heard sound Of anything of the
kind before, aud / can't tell for the
life of me whether I jumped up, or
fell down, but l know this much.
that 1 never stood in the range of
another cannon ball unless had the
protection of a bomb proof. The ad-
vent Of the Federal army had been
heralded before, but no one knew ex-
actly when it would come.
The mysterious individual who
had visited us at Harper's Ferry and
of whom / have already made men,
tion had made his appearance again
in the neighborhood and with his
child-like simplicity and affable
manner came very near getting sew
eral of us into serious trouble. He
came into this neighborhood short
time before the army, under the
prentence of carrying messages from
parties in Washington city to some
families here, but he proved to be a
spy who was in the service of Gen.
Winfield Scott, fact of which was
entirely ignorant until after his sud
den departure. His course was
watched by some parties who sus-
pected him, and he becoming cogni-
zant of the fact, made his escape and
never returned that 1 ever heard of.
l was slow to believe that / had been
guilty of the atrocious crime of en-
Pertaining or even associating with
spy, for abhor the treacherous
occupation and should certainly
have spurned him as would a mad
dog had l known it; but "when ig.
norance is bliss, tits folly to be wise. !"
He was a good conversationalist and
a man of no mean pretences to the
gentleman, aside from his unholy
mission. He told us many things
which came to pass substantially as
he had stated them. AS l have al
ready stated he preceded Patterson 3
army only few days, and as this