Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-06-21
CORRECTs THE RECORD.
Letter from capt. Milton ROuss.
AVON Woop, NEAR KABLETowN,
JEFFERSON CoUHTY, W. VA,
T,o a 1909


June o, 1855
EDITOR FREE PsEss-
No Dear Sir: l have recently received from
DR.. Richardson a copy Of " Official Records of
the Union and Confederate Armies, Series l,
Vol xix, published in 1887, in which am rep
resented by various witnesses examined by the
commission who investigated the Surrender of
Harper's Ferry, az having in violation of my
parole appeared there at the head of my COM
pany, with drawn sword, on the day of the
Surrender. Also in the report of said commits
sion am distinctly named as having on that
occasion violated my parole given few days
before TO Col. Miles who commanded the Fed
eral army there at the time of the Surrender,
and who was killed by cannon-ball on that
dav. In Justice to myself and those who are
dear to me I do not feel that | can allow this
falsehood longer TO remain uncontradicted, and
will state the facts exactly as they occurred,
and if proof be required it is still at hand after
lapse of nearly % years. Quite number of
the members of Co. B who were present at the
Surrender will substantiate the main facts of
the case.
About the 5th of September, 1862, was
wounded in a skirmish with couple of COM
panies of cavalry at Cookies woods, near
Charlestown, and the next day was captured
whilst in buggy on my way to Mr.. Paul
Smiths near Summit Point, by squad of
cavalry and taken to Harper's Ferry. Col. B.
F. Davis-a Mississippian and cousin of Jeffer-
4 a1rtrI o-
longed, rode up to the buggy and upon learn
ing that | was wounded volunteered to send
me up to the Hospital in Bolivar and have my
wound dressed, and told me to follow the Sur
geon who was at hand and who rode up the
hill ahead of the buggy, the guard at the same
time having been dismissed Instead of fol-
lowing the Surgeon to the Hospital deter
mined to try to escape and told Robert Chew
to flank the pckets and get home if possible.
The horse and buggy belonged to his father
left the horse hooked to a fence in Bolivar
and hanked the pickets near the Potomac and
when going along the pike just above Hall
town, about midnight, the moon shining very
brightly, was picked up by few cavalrymen
who had been scouting for me. On my return
to Harper's Ferry Davis was furious and after
insulting and abusing me as violator of my
parole put me in the guard-house. He claimed
that he had paroled me to so 20 the Hospital.
Nothing had been said about parole and he
was simply mad because l had so nearly slipp
ed him through his own carelessness. The
next day | was sent to Col. Miles headquar
tiers and after long and very pleasant talk
with him he paroled me and sent me through
the pickets towards Charlestown giving me
the horse and buggy. During the interview
with Col. Miles ! complained of the treatment
had received at the hands of Col. Davis and
asked permission to settle the matter then and
there as between officers and gentlemen-for
Davis had declared. when accused him of act
ing the part of q ruffian in insulting me when
defenceless, that he would always hold him
self personally responsible for what he did or
said. 1t was then Miles said Dayis belonged to
Mississippi and would no doubt stand by his
word. but that lie could not allow any rencon-
tire within his lines Davis went out with the
cavalry before the Surrender and I never heard
of him again until he was named as among the
slain at Brandy Station in 49,
The night before the Surrender my brother
William and l staid at Mr.. Gardeners and next
morning we together went across the fields to
see the battle which everybody expected. As
soon as the white flag was displayed we went
to Bolivar Heights, then in the hands of our
army. and there met some of the members of
my company-one of whom, John s. Easter
day, offered me his horse, which accepted and
l rode down into the Ferry aloneand unarmed,
not through Bolivar but by way of the Shenan-
doah, and was unarmed during the day. saw
General Jackson Whom | knew personally,
having been cadet at Lexington while he was
professor there and asked him if | could not
be exchanged for Federal officer of the same
rank, but he referred me to General Hill and
he said that my exchange would have to come
through the regular channel by way of Rich
mond, which it did month or two later. If
being at Harper's Ferry as a spectator and en-
deayoring whilst there to obtain my exchange
was violation of parole, then plead guilty
to the soft impeachment.
Very truly yours, &c,
MILTON RoUss.