Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-02-04
MHEELlN6 AND ELM GROVE 3. z
Brilliant Achievement by hCNeilPs
Partisan Hangers.
BY OSWALD.


tSace De Win you, ucpaAtSN HSASS9' 49,
Drawer spirits e'er marched to battle and
death. No hearts of truer, more kuightly,
mould eer grsspsd the glitteriDg Swofd, or
barlsd tor a nore righteous cause.
With the hour for reliet came q comrede
bringing also, 81 order, with q request 10
report 1t once to Lieut.. Jesse Mcneil,
who, aimee his fathers death, had been l n
command OF the company. Fey Tor such
VS. the name Of enc Of the plcket5, I'm
mediateIy complied, and found his com
maUder at the house Of q friend, where ne
mad been confined for some time by @
severe sprsin, occssioned By a tell from
uis horse during tie holidays.
A few trusty soldiers were 10 the room,
who formed o little council OF war. After
a few commonplace remarks, young Nc
Neil remarked, addressing himself to the
picket, J. B. f., who was,one OF ms father s
s~avcrite scouts; You remember last year,
.b.p you returned from Maryland, and
wanted Pa 10 make a RAID on Cumberland
and capture General Kelley
Yes replied F.; and think 1t can De
done yet, Jesse.'
'Well, said the officer, that's just what |
wet to know; | believe i'll try it, by gum.
III have to 60 something; old Early seems
| determined TO give some one else the com
mor6 of this company. The Ianks rio us
Of Harry Gilmer, but Early amt satisfied
/ vet. and I reckon hell send another OF his
| ne,s 10 iske charge of Us before long. Ii
We could only capture the General | DON
| think we'd be intertered with any longer.
| Cook and Kelley are both in Cumberland
nov YOU know; cs,an'J you 90 down there
and FAD out What "a 30 doae and let me
know 81 oncef
Certainly, l can Vas the response.
well s6ntinued Mcneil, while you re
gone IN pct the men ready and have tne
horses shod and rOughed. How many mel
do you think we will reqqiref :,
About twenty-five, well mounted, vii
be enough was the reply.
AN right. Now wen have to keep tn!
affair very secret, for If it should harper
N leak ont. we might ell be caught ID
trap. By the way I you'll want some on
to accompany you here's GassmSn, VIVA
do you say, jacob will you go! saia %
Lieutenant, addressing q wounded soIGlei
of Ro,ser's brigade, who was present, OuI
nov nearly we'll
Il would ike to 20, indeed, Lieutenant
reolied c. but I'm afraid would no
be able 10 stand the ride; I'll be ready t.
20 on the expedition, however, on F.
report !,
Here's Halter said F., the best DO,
in the army. I'll take him along. Won
you 60, PeDse?
Yes quickly responded HalIer. a b:igh
how Of eighteen, VINO had come from Mis-
,ou1i. and had already seen TWO years ser
vice. III 20 anywhere with you.
KNEW that said F., and now let u
prepare for the trip.
And preparing themselves aud, having
full understanding in regard 10 the pro
oosed undertaking, two OF the scouts Sc
mt on their ~perilous Journey. A te" nignd
,fter found them on the southern bank o
he Potomac, within sight OF the p'cke
cost Of the enemy, and but q few mile
move the CITY OF Cumberland, where NOR
than ten thousand Yankees slumberet
peacefully in their csmps. Below thetord
on the MARYLAND side, lived an lrishmsl
named Stanton, whose generous serVIcesi
oebslf of the Sunny South, on many al
occasion. made him deservedly a pc
among ~Coniederstes. A careful reconno'
sspce proved the ford ~ungCsrded; sc
crossing the river and concssling thei
horses under the bank, the two scouts Wer
aeon before the cheerful fire Of the triendl
Cell. After q consultation, in which tn
feasibility of the conte uplated project wa
discussed and determined, they psrtook
a slight rspsst at the hands OF the hin
hostess, and deputed their IRISH Contedel
ate 10 obtain certain information By a ds
speci6ed. This he was enabled 10 obtai
through tbs assistance Of q Young man !
the psigbborhood. This accomplished, II
scouts mounted their horses, snd, re eros
ing the river, we're before dsyorsskta la pa
/, immediate danger.
From Spoiut below Romney Halter WI
sent with the following dispatch to Lieu
Mcneil:
DEAR JESSE: | have been across u
Potomac and find sl D X. Meet me he
on Monday evening HNller will give u
all other particulars. The attempt If Gu
ried out, will certainly prove successful;
Promptly at the appointed time q
place Mcneil appeared with Gxty-h
men. some If whom belonged to Rossel
Cavalry Brigade, who happened to be-
home on THROUGH, and seeing the directi.
in which the Rangers were marching &C
!. cluded that there must be something IN I
4 wind, and prompted by the love OF Sd!e
y ture which characterized them. fell IN
the ranks.
ts After leaving this point, the band cross
the Middle Ridge and marched swiftly 3
= silently through the fields skirtlng Patti
sons Creek. until they reached tie 70
leading to the mountains beyond. attn
y night, they were scaling the steep sides
2 Knobley mountain, bsiog obliged to wa
Il leading their horses through snow drifts
7. pnknogn depih. Finally the mounts