Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-05
WOODSTOCK VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY D. 1886

Ol udIug OOuhtJ' A"NJ "'
Claypole's house, (a) and took him
prisoner. Several young men fled;
among them William Baker AS
he ran across ClaypOle's meadow
he was hailed and ordered to sur
render; but disresarding the com
mand, Capt. Abraham Byrd, OF
Shenandoah county, an excellent
marksman, raised his rifle, fired,
and wounded him in the leg. (b)
lie fell, and several Of Morgan's
party went to him to see the re-
suit. The ball had penetrated just
above the heel, ranged up the leg,
and shivered the bones. As the
poor fellow begged for mercy, he
was taken to the house, and his
wound dressed by the surgeon of
the regiment. He recovered, and
is still living. They took from
Claypolc provisions for themselves
and horses, Col. Smith (who was
second,) giving him a certificate
for their value.
From Claypole's the army moved
up Lost river, and some young
men in the advance took a man
named Matthias Wilkins prisoner,
placed q rope round his neck, and
threatened to hang him. Col.
Smith rode up, saw what was 60
ing on, and ordered them instantly
to desist. They also caught man
named John Payne, and branded
him on the posteriors with a red
hot spade, telling him they would
make him n frcemason. Claypole
solemnly promised to be of good
behavior, gave bail and was set at
liberty.
The army thence crossed the
South Branch mountain. On or
near the summit they saw small
cabin, which had probably been
erected by some hunters. Gen.
Morgan ordered it to be surround
ed, observing, at is probable
some of the tories are now in it,
AS the men approached the cabin,
ten or a dozen fellows ran out and
fed. An elderly man, named
Mace, and two of his sons, were
among them. Old Mace, finding
himself pretty closely pursued,
surrendered. One Of the pursuers
was Capt. William Smokers, an
aid.de-camp Of Morgan, who being
mounted on o fine horse, was soon
alongside Of him. One Of Mace's
sons looking round at this instant,
and seeing Smokers aiming a blow
with drawn sword at his father,
drew up his rifle and fired at him,
The ball passed through the crest
of his horses neck he fell, and
threw the rider over his head
Smokers was at first thought by
his friends to be killed ; and in the
excitement Of the moment, an Irish
man, half drunk, who had been
with Morgan for some time as a
waiter, and had seen much tory
blood shed IN the Carolina, ran ny
to the prisoner Mace with cooked
pistol in his hand, and shot the
poor man, who fell, and instantly
expired. Capt. Smokers soon re
covered from the bruises received
in his fall, as did his horse also
from the wound in his neck.
The army proceeded on to pay
their respects to Mr.. John Brake
an old German, who had 4 fine
farm with extensive meadows, 3
mill, large distillery, aud many fat
hogs and cattle. He was an eXcep.
tion, in his political course, to his
countrymen, as they were almost
to a man, true wings, and friends
to their country. Brake, as before
observed, had joined the tory band
and his house was their place OF
rendezvous, where they feasted on
the best he had. All this appear
ing unquestionable, Morgan march
cd his army to his residence, there
halted, and spent two days and
nights with his reluctant host. His
troops lived OF the best his fine
farm, mill and distillery afforded,
feasting on his pigs, fatted calves
yopng becves, lambs, poultry, Sc.
while their horses, Jared no less
luxuriously upon his fine unmown
meadows, oat fields, &c. AS Brake
bad entertained and feastcd the
tories, Morgan concluded that hC
should feast them in turn.
The third day, in the morning
the army moved on down the river,
passed by Moorefeld, and returned
to Winchester, where it was dis.
banded, after a service Of only
about eight or ten days. Thus
was this tory insurrectiOn crushed
in the bud. The party themselves
became ashamed OF their conduct
and in some degree to atone for it
and wipe of the stain, several of
the young men volunteered theiI
services and marched to aid in the
capture of CORVALLIS.
Within three or four days after
these men were disbanded, two OK
presses in one day arrived at Win
chester, and informed Col. Smith
that Tarlton was on his way tC
rescue the British prisoners at the
Winchester barracks. Col. Smith
| had apain To call ont the militia