Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-10-26
REBEL VANDlVER.

HGSGl VAN En-.
Boycevile is "a thrifty village, and to
one from the close, cramped haunts OF
the city, the little hamlet in the woods,
with its three large stores, their geni-
al proprietors, the low, smiling Gotta
ges nesting behind a profusion of flow
ers and foliage, the melodies among
the trees, the pure, woody atmosphere
laden with village sounds, and the low
sun of June overhead, present whole
some, indeed a lasting, impression.
Here, on bright morning, | found
myself waiting the arrival of the mails
over the Shenandoah Valley Railroad.
Yes, sir, I'm goin' a huntin' we
amt no 'Ianks to shoot now, you
know, an an old 'Reb' will shootm
The words came from behind me in
a slow, high-pitched tone. | turned,
and there was something that well
might have made one tremble: a very
tall, gaunt wiry old man, with heavy
cowhide boots into which were stuffed
half the length Of pair Of wOOlen
pantaloons; he wore n WOODEN shirt,
and over his shoulders were thrown a
large pair of saddle-bags; his beard
was long and yellow, and a shock Of
yellowish-gra hair thatched his head,
almost rendering supertluous the low,
well-worn slouch hat by which it was
surmounted. On his arm he carried a
long double barreled shotgun, with
his finger resting menacingly on the
trigger ] should have surrendered
Immediately upon sign from this old
Man of the Mountain" as took him
to be, had there not been that genial,
good -natured something in his hearty
smile which set my fear at ease.
Approaching me, he said, as he eX-
tended his hand.
You are stranger hereabout, sir?
May ask you your nameT'
smith | said, but just then the
train whistled through the woods
That's my train, sir; I'm goin' away
for little hunt, sir; squirrels sir. My
names Vandiver: | live in Millwood.
yonder, sir. Come down to see me; be
back in a week, sir. Yes, sir" he con
tinued, as he pulled toward the train,
Il am old Van good old rebel yet,
sir. This is the boy that carried Gen
eral Crook out of Maryland through
the Yankee lines with forty yellin
troopers at his heels. >
He was still standing on the plat
form. waving his hands and shouting
as the train moved out Of the village.
| had heard something of the eX-
plot with Generals Crook and Kelley,
and, turning TO a bystander asked the
truth of the old mans statement.
Upon being assured that its So |
regretted much that the old fellow had
gone. 4 week after the incident mar
rated above | found my way toward
the pretty village of Millwood, which
lies among a cluster of hills down the
pike from Boyceville, distance of
about two miles The blue mountain
rises majestically toward the south
east within bugle distance, and at its
base the villagers often go and listen
to the low lap-lap Of the Shenandoah
waters as they lick the cool rocks and
river verdure. and roll on and on in
rhythmic ebb and flow. Millwood, of
all the villages in Clarke, is the pret-
tiest. Here are many old residences
that date back to colonial days, and
the villagers are rich with historic
lore. On an old typographical pam
phlet, printed in the year 1900, | find
what seems now an odd description Of
the place: wildwood contains GO or 80
souls; here is large merchant mill, a
fine and extensive mandatory Of
leather. one tavern. a blacksmith. a
taylor a boot and shoemaker and a
wagonmaker. 1t is curious to mark
that in nearly one hundred years Mill
wood has added about 300 souls. and
has still the wagonmaker. the miller,
the tavern, and the shoemaker, but
the 'tdyior' no longer exists. The sun
was low in the skies when / found on
gate by the roadside in the outskirts
of the village sign bearing the words,
j. l.. Vandiver-Horse Doctor" Nest
ling back of the fence, on the crest OF
the hill, stood neat cottage. Enter
ing, / raped at the door and was ush-
cred into the little parlor of this odd
old gentleman. Soon we were talking
of the good old times" and found
no difficulty in drawing from him his
story of the capture OF the two Union
Generals at Cumberland.
You would like TO hear it?'' he
asked, with smile: well, sir, | was
Major, sir, and was with ONeills
Rangers at the time 1t was just after
New Creek had been captured, and
we were camped down thar in the hol-
Ter. between the woods, sir, about q
miles from Cumberland. 1t was Feb
ruary. We had passed hard winter,
sir-very hard. The snow was on the
ground, an one night We were all sit=
tim roun' the fire, when all at once,
Johnnie Fay an Sprigg Lynn spoke
up-(these two boys lived in Cumber-
land, sir, an used to slip in the Yam