Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-17
SAVED BY sCHEIDAN1 sCHNAPPs
An Amusing Incident in Fairfax County,
Virginia, in the summer of 1862.

-- .-tt'i 'tAit sum anu 'AttA 4ts
SAVED BY sCHEIDA4I sCHNAPPs
An Amusing Incident in Fairfax County,
Virginia, in the summer of 1862.
W.. Art61.r ja P1iladelp1fa Tiaes.
In the summer of 1862 the farmers and
others living in Fairfax county, Virginia,
and particularly those residing upon the
Mount Vernon estate, suffered frequently
from raids that were made by bushwhack-
Ing C0ufederates. To protect themselves
the Union men resolved to form a military
organization. For this purpose meet
ing was held at a hall in the village Of
Accotink, on the ODD of July, 1862, and
Company 4, First Regiment of Indepen-
dent farmers, was organized This body
OF patriots made several important scouts,
and were recognized by Gen. Heintzle-
man m his reports to Headquarters at
Washington. The First Lieutenant of the
company, 4. s. Wright, now a resident
Of Philadelphia, was employed by Gen.
Curtiss, Of Fort Fisher fame. as a scout
through Virginia, and performed excel
lent service. The COnfeGerates became
very much incensed at the action OF Mr..
Wright, his father. Thomas Wright. Ed
ward Gibbs, EDeneZer Erkskine and
free negro, named Robert Holland and il
was determined to capture and hang
them. Gen. Wade Hampton had ridden
into Prince William county. and soon
after his advent a detachment Of Hamp-
toms Legion, under a MAJOR, was de
tailed to make the obnoxious persons
prisoners.
AFTER SCHEIDAM SCHNAPPs.
Ono Saturday morning while Wright
and his companions were returning from
Fairfax COur' House. where they had
been 10 market with loads Of luscious Viz
ginia peaches, HamptOn's troopers made
dash from woods that fringed the road
and, before the farmers had a chance to
draw their weapons, they We're surround
81 and compelled to surrender. The en-
tire party were ordered to get down from
their wagons and march into the woods.
Ine troopers had been drinking, and. be-
fore searching the prisoners, the Major.
VINO was Jolly, clustering old soldier,
said
Boys, do YOU know where there is any
thing GOOD TO drink about here?"
I'm reply to this question, Edward Gibbs,
one of the prisoners. said he thought that
Mr.. Gregg, farmer living near by. had
some scheldam schnapps. Upon this in
formation the troopers We're ordered to
march the prisoners in the direction Of
Gregg house. Upon their arrival there
tine MAJOR drove up to the door. and. ham,
merin@ upon it with the butt end of his
riding whip, soon brought a negro ser
want, who was Immediately informed of
tie object Of the visit. The man assured
theYlsltOrs that his master would attend to
IC-lr wishes and disappeared. Gregg, who
WAS a haIf-hearted Confederate. quickly
appeared, and in answer to the demands Of
the Major and his officers, ordered his
slaves to 20 to the WiUe cellar and bring
out the necessary stimUlants. A number
of bottles were emptied down the thrOats
q the thirsty hOrsemen and but little at
teuti0n was directed to the prisoners, who
had been standing in a group under the
uf7da4fjPa sb3de ofihe 4f3gtd" t6e hand
some lawn fronting the Gregg maneior
iAr troopers guzzled the schnopr- ,..,tiI
they were pretty well elated. some Of them
BENG thoroughly intoxicated
THE MAJOR QUITE MELLOW.
The Major had become rather mellow
himself 10y this time He called for more
liquor. but Gregg Informed him that there
Was NOT another drop of anything in the
house. As there was nothing else to
drink the Major and his soldiers now
turned their attention to the prisoners.
who expected every moment to hear the
command ordering their execution. The
Majors throat had become exceedingly
net and parched by his too frequent PC
taIons of the highly pungent and de-
ceptive scheidam schnagps. Tumbliuc
IRON his horse be went up to I. 5. WrigG
ID and shouted:
y OUng man, do YOU know where the
= q
Wright started for the spring-hOuse.
bile STOPPING down to pick up the tin
cus lying at the side of the sprim--. his
hand accidentally knocked d large 1nem-
or3ndUm book from his coat pocket. This
accident saved the lives of the entire
party. right remembered that his mil
iJ@rl pass, issued and signed by General
Helutz -lm3n, was in the book. He knew
l-at Ju his fellow prisoners had similar
Nas-cs- knowing that neither the Major
his men nor Mr.. Gregg knew
li5 name, nor that Of his friends
ln captivity, he Immediately de-
UiuaI upon method by which to circum-
vent tine enemy and at the same time cf-
feet The escape of himself and his assoc
ciates. Opening the memorandum book
and pulling out the tell tale pass he
quickly tore it into pieces and threw it
into the spring, which was very deep and
d3rkly shadowed by weeping Willow
trees that b0rdered its sides. Wright
then filed the tin cup to the brim, and ran
TO the Major. He explained his long alb
seuoe by saying that he had difficulty in
getting The cut,
TEARING Up TIE PAPERS.
While the Major was drinking the water
Wright had an opportunity to collect his
ideas, and to form plan to carry out his
scheme for the liberation of the party. He
concluded that the best method was 70 in
form his friends of his discovery. To talk
60 them he knew would be difficult
thing. He finally decided to appeal 20 the
Mayor. who had by this time emptied the
cup OF water Going up to the Major, he
SAID very pleasantly:
Major, would you like some more
water. If you want more, 1 viii get it
for YOU. Perhaps. some of your men need
drink, too? Major, / have a favor to
ask. Can l speak TO my friends about
some family matters:'
Yes, if my men need water, get it for
them ID quick. If you want TO say
anything to anybody, say it, and then say
your prayers, as l am going to hang the
Whole party
Wright Immediately conveyed the neceS-
sary intelligence to the farmers and it
was decided that each one should ask to
go TO the spring, and while there destroy
all documentary evidence Of their identity.
Suffice it TO say that this scheme was sue
cessully carried out. The troopers were
ordered to search the prisoners, but there
was nothing found upon them that would
furnish the least cleW 10 their Identity.
Gregg was questioned, but was entirely
unable to give any information whatever.
The prisoners fully expected to be taken
to Richmond and apprehended lengthy
Imprisonment in Libby Prison or Castle
Thunder.
RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS.
just at this moment Holland, the Tree
culJred man previously mentioned in this
narrative, appeared upon the scene. One
OF HamptOn's men who knew Holland
shouted out: That's one of the men
wanted, MajOri" and rushed after the
frightened negro. Holland was caught
and brought before Maj. Butler. He was
questioned and while be tried to deny
his connection with the Union men he
was too well known to his captOr and
Gregg to prove it. After a short hearing it
was decided to take him to Richmond. The
white prisoners were released and departed
to their homes, cOngratulating each other
upon their wonderful escape from cruel
death. Holland, upon his arrival at the
capital of the Southern Cbnfederacy, was
sentenced to q long Imprisonment in Lib
by prison, but eventually escaped with
some Federal soldiers and returned some
time during 1864 to Fairfax county, where
he is now living.
A bill recommending payment for the
service rendered the Union cause by Co.
A, First Regiment Independent Farmers,
was before Congress at one time, but
through the influence of Gen. Joseph Il.
Hawley it was tabled, and has never since
been brought up.
ssBrOyvtt's Bronchial TrOcbeS'