Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-29

and hair gave him more the appearance OF
an Italian bandit, or Spanish bull hghter,
than an American officer. The Colonei
eyed us from head to foot. "Names?"
GHeadstrong and Armstrong" "Regi-
ment?' "Forty fifth and First Virginia.
"Oficers?" eyes, SIR" Throwing himself
back in his chair and fairly yelling with
laughter, the Colonel finally managed to
shout: 'fWell, you are the d-nest look
ing officers that ever I saw. Do all OF
you rebels dress this fine?'' "Your men
stole our clothes, Colonel?" said Berkeley,
in an indignant tone. "The devil they
did?'' said the Colonel, recovering from his
Mysteries. "Orderly, go tell Major SO ana
SO q have forgotten his name) to report TO
me at once. / will have your clothes re-
turned" But that was the last of it. That
day we were put on the cars and sent to
Harper Ferry, where we met the "Hec-
tor" of the Confederate cavalry, Harry
Gilmore, prisoner and in irons. Gilmore
was captured at Moorefield, Hardy county,
w. Va, by Maj Young, chief of the Jesse
scouts of Phil. Sheridan's cavalry. A Jes-
Sc scout was yankee soldier in gray uni
form. For instance, they would capture a
rebel, take his pass or furlough and his
uniform, and pick yankee as much like
him as possible and dress him in the rebel
uniform; and armed with this pass or fur
Tough, the yank would go all over our
country, gain all the information he could,
and then return in safety within his own
lines. A Jesse scout gained the informa-
ton, which led to the capture of Harry
Gilmore. Maj. Gilmore's command was at
| Moorefield. This account is as told me by
by Gilmore himself. A Jesse scout, whose
name think was White, who was dressed
| in Confederate gray, together with five or
six others and Maj. Young, was on the
train with us; went to Mooreield with a
dispatch from Gen. Early, then in the Val
| ley with his army, to Gilmore; he showed
this dispatch to citizens, who pointed out
| the house where Gilmore slept at night.
White took thorough survey of the prem
ises, returned to Winchester and made his
| report. Maj. Young took one hundred
| picked men, went to Moorefeld at night,
| surrounded the house, and captured the
unlucky Gilmore. Young told me himself
that he had plan somewhat similar to cap
ture Mosby, but he never succeeded, and l
heard he was hung after the war for cap
turing horses 10 time tf peace. l don't
vouch for the truth of the report. | was
landed at the old Capitol prison in Wash
ington. Several very amusing incidents
| occurred. One, as we were being escorted
up Pennsylvania avenue to the old Capitol.
Two dudes approached US, and with their
eyeglasses raised, eyed us rom head to
foot. One remarked to the other: Il say,
Bill, those are the best specimens of the
West Virginia 'geeriller' that ever saw"
Another event happened to relieve the mo-
notony of prison life. The old German
who called the roll before breakfast, and
any time at all was before ''breakfast'
there, was in the habit of calling me
! Opier. l determined one morning not to
| respond. He, supposing that had escaped,
and being responsible for the prisoners.
became very much alarmed. / enjoyed the
situation very much, and in reply to his
question, SIS he not here?" l stepped fol-
ward and said; ''Sir, if you mean Opie, he
is here" "You d-n rebel scoundrel you,
if | call you jeff Davis you answer,
'Opier,' 'here.'' After time, we were
moved out and billed for (H)Elmira, N.
Y. Before the train stopped at Baltimore,
l saw soldier double himself into knot
and jump headforemost out of car win
dow, light out in the tremendous crowd and
escape. What successful Virginia poll
tician that acrobat would make-fellow, if
thou dost see this, move in at onc+! At
''Helmlry" rats were a great luxury. and
some half-starved rebs actually killed the
commandments dog and Toasted upon his
body Our currency was tobacco. Yon
could see BARRIERS sign-shave, chews;
hair cutting, 10 chews. Shoe shop sign.
one patch, . chews; two patches, 10 chews,
&c. Tailor-shop, payments made in to-
bacco or other currency. Some of the
prisoners had money given them by North
ern relatives or friends. Smallpox abound
ed, but believe it was worse to be vacci-
mated, so l thought. and fortunately es-
capped both; but soldier from Louisiana
did better than that. He took sharp
fork, heated it red hot, and pricled his
face and hands, which gave him the ap-
pearance of one with the smallpox, was
sent to smallpox hospital, and he escaped
and went to Canada.
JOHN N. OPIE.