Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-29
CAPTURE OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS
rContinued from former issue. ]

After losing our overcOats and horses as
related on former occasion, we bent our
course toward the Shenandoah River. In the
county of Jefferson, no Confederate soldier
was ever refused the hospitality that could
be offered by her patriotic citizens. They
knew that soldier in their county at such
q time was a seatinei on the watch-tower,
but yet when we made our appearance at
the house of Mr.. Charles Lewis, he was
alarmed and uneasy, and seemed confident
that the enemy would be upon us again
He insisted upon our crossing over the
river or sleeping in the barn, but we, vainly
supposing the enemy would not venture out
two nights in succession, were immo vable.
A good feather-bed had a great attraction
to poor soldier accustomed as he was to
the hard ground or two fence-rails placed
together for bedstead Our object in
prolonging cur stay in that unhealthy
country was, of course, to secure in some
way two horses. And, reader we got them,
but not in the way that was either expected
or agreeable. The misfortunes and vicissi-
tudes which fell upon us, on that eventful
night, diminished the military ardor of my
nature, and thoroughly impressed upon my
mind the gross outrage that is perpetrated,
when one enemy makes night attack upon
another and takes advantage of his denuded
COQulllOUs IL WdS anu we were
again aroused by furious demands for ad-
mittance. accompanied by kicks and curses
and blows repeatedly showered upon the
doors below. At this moment we are in
dismay We look around for some means
of escape. The house is surrounded by the
bold soldiers of the blue. The fences have
been torn down, ami in their stead there
stands circle of horses, of men, Of pistols.
Where can We tly-to the garrett. No
sooner thought of, than we seize our
clothes and start But we find coming up
the winding stairs our foe, with Mr.. Lewis
in front, their unwilling guide. We re-
turned to our room and began to make our
toilet. They approach. Mr. Lewis re-
marks: Gentlemen, don't go in that room;
there are two ladies in it" Certainly nor,
SIR replied an officer. We momentarily
think we are saved; but no. One prying
rascal peeps in to see the ladies-and be-
holds US! Here they are! here they are!
he yels like Comanehe Indian, and the
boys in blue enter, with pistols presented.
We accepted their very polite invitation to
take ride with them. The officer, before
leaving, asked NJ. Lewis if these were the
ladies? We were marched down TO the
road, where there was a line Of cavalry.
Here few minutes were lost IN determining
how to carry us. A big yankee rode up to
Berkeley and shouted, ''Pull off that COAT
He pulled il Off and received in return for
that elegant uniform coat of gray an old
brick colored North Carolina looking coat,
all tattered and torn. Such was my indig-
nation, that | swore then and there that no
sc0undrel of them could make me take off
my coat. Not word more was said, and
we we're put behind two of the men and
the column started Alter ride of two
miles, we halted at the konse of Mrs. VIM
Norris, which Was searched and plundered.
While this YVES going on, Yankee rode up
to me and gave The command, "Pull off
that coat" | told him | would see him to
the devil first. Whereupon he pulled out
pistol tina looked to me as bio as a brass
cannon, cooked it, ard stuck it in my left
eye. | trembled, but remembering my
boast, asked him if he had another coat to
give me in exchange? eyes" he replied.
''Let me see it." He held upa coat, which
seen in the light of that brass cannon, was
the best looking one l ever saw. | pulled
off my coat and threw it to him He brew
me a black alpaca coat, (stolen at Mr.. Lew
ISIS found out afterw rds.) Reader, don't
laugh. You may not think it, because you
have not been put through the ordeal, but
You would have done as | did. Berkeley
did Caesar, had be seen that brass can
non and heard it fired, | believe would have
tainted. Be that as it may an alpaca coat
and the thermometer about ten de grees be-
low the freezing point, is better than the
best coat in tho world and bullet hole
through your head. To proceed We were
mounted upon two horses without saddles,
brides, or names. The people were in the
habit of cutting the tails, and names off
their horses in order to disfigure them that
the soldiers would not be so liable to take
A LODI T. I.
halters. How we stayed on through that
terrible gallop of niue miles l cannot tell.
Sergeant" said an orderly, riding up to
our guard, 'the Major says, if these men
try to get away, or, d-n 'em, if they look
like they want to get away, shoot EN-" |
thought, if / fall off they will think l am
trying to escape, and will obey orders, and
that may have enabled us to keep our seats
on those saddleless, bIidleless, and NAME
less horses during that fearful ride. When
we reached Charlestown, the snow was
falling fast. and, almost frozen, we were
landed in Reno's Twelfth Pennsylvania
cavalry camp. Our friends began at |
once to practice their usual habit of trad |
ing hats and garments. After trading
three times, | found my head decorated |
with rimless greasy yankee cap "Col. |
Reno says, bring the prisoners to head |
quarters" said an orderly to The corporal |
of the guard, and we were Immediately
moved out and in few minutes were ush- |
cred into tent in which there was seated |
a thiclk-set, dark eyed, bulldog looking
piece of pomposity and fat, in Field |
Colonel's uniform Reader, did you ever
look at person and feel instantaueously a |
dislike, an abharteuce, an an:ipathy, come
over you. We'll, | felt just that way " hen
l beheld for the first and only time the
Colonel of the Twelfth Pennsylvania cav
airy | disliked the man at once, not be-
cause | was his prisoner, but there was
'omething peculiarly disagreeble about
him. His tone Of voice, his sheer, his gut
tlral laugh. His white teeth, contrasted
with his saliow complexion, and dark eyes