Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-07-24
BRIEF REMINISCENCE.

(respondent to the old Liberty Bell at Phil
adelphia, win recall TO The mind Of many
kwlo visited the first Centennial at Phila.
3de]phia nine years sgo, the general an
2exiety OF the part Of all visitors to see
(the old bell, which was lowered and
kplsced in a convenient position for in
espcclion. 1t also reminds us that we
Shave among few relics collected dur
fling. the war piece Of the old bell that
hung in the old court house At Dumfries,
IVA, at the date when Patrick Henry
made his famous liberty speech-"Give
me Liberty or give me DEATH" These old
relics, both the old court house and bell
were Ia fair state of preservation until
December q, 1862. when Gen. "Jeb'
Stewart with FIVE pieces of artillery and
900 cavalry made a dash round the Po.
tomnc army at Charlottesville and made
b. vigorous attack upon the 9th, 7lh and
29lh, o. V. l., and two pieces of arlil-
3lery, the three lnfantary regiments mum
herring about 100 men each for duty
8They were stationed at this second oldest
flown ia The United States TO guard n
large store Of army provisions for the
a Potomac army and formed link i,
Excepting open line OF supplies between
! washington and tue headquarters Of the
aUnion army. The rebels were hungr,
and wanted bread, bat they got warmed.
"a over lead and no bread from that grul
pile. 1t was a brilliant dash, well plan
ned and executed by Gen. Stewart, un-
8ti il come right down to urging hi
cavalrymen onto the bayonels of infan
+ trymen that had seen the Johnnies before
T. The wires were cut on both sides OF tn
"a Union camp. with no reinforcement
nearer than twelve miles on either side
The picket posts were captured an'
Stewart's five pieces OF artillery wer'
and the Union camp and solid sho
was sent whizzing through one OF III.
ienls, which was the first information III
lille band Of less than 400 men hnd o
the approach of the enemy. The Ion
roll soon summoned this corposal's guar,
to positions where they presented from
to the enemy. The two Union guns tool
position directly in front Of the old cour
honse, with the 9th Q. v. i. directly i
rear ms support. This was the signal 70
a volley from the ive rebel guns, two Il
The shots passing directly through III
old court house, placing the blame upo
the rebels for the first desecration
what should have been preserved as
-acred relic. The artillery duel lasted til
greater part OF the afternoon, the rebe
cavalry deployed and charged seyeru
times, but were repulsed each time, an
at dark lii up their camp fires just out q
reach Of the Union guns, where they re
mained the greater portion OF the night Il
provoke those WHO would have bee
pleased to take a nap. One thousan
picked men under Col. Steve McGroer,!
came up 'fron, below and a portion q
t;en. Geary's division from above cam
to the rescue early me xt morning, but to
late to see "Jeb" Stewart, who had place
his command out Of range.
To attempt brevi,y on subject ihu
might be strung out TO considerable lengll
the same three skeleton regiments re
msined at Dumfries during cold winie
for that section, and the brick in the oil
court house gradually disappeared an
found their way into rude chimneys i
mud furnaces constructed by the boys Il
Cheating and cookiOg purposes in thel
linen houses. or course the bell cam
down with the building aud the relic fen
soon conceived the idea that II must h
converted into use and il was so converte
by being pounded into small pieces wit
axes, boulders, etc., until the last ve4iag
had disappeared. The bell ~ Itself ha
no incon.idermb!e history. being imrorie
from Scotland In the earliest days VI III
Rerublic.