Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-11-19

being preferable to the yell of the
rebel charge. We had lively run
and narrow escape, many of our
men being run down and taken pris-
oners. The New York papers in
camp, soon after, told us what a
cunning trap Col. Wyndham had
drawn the enemy into down in the vi
cinity of Warrenton. Perhaps it was
a trap, but the spindle on which the
bait was thrown out was too long and
the bait was too large. The discom-
future of the bait was more serious to
US than the springing of the trap of
the enemy. Such whiskey-inspired
trapping did not win stars. Later
in the winter of 1868, part of our
regiment was stationed on picket duty
at Dranesville. Here we were an
noyed by the rebel guerrilla, Mosby.
He carried on quite business for
several weeks, in capturing and kill
ing pickets and otherwise raiding our
outposts. 1t was thought by many
of our command that Dranesville was
too much exposed as picket post,
| that more protection would be af-
forded Washington by retiring a few
miles, and greater security would be
given the picket line. So on the Both
day of March, 1868, we fell back
from Dranesville about eight miles,
and established ourselves in camp
near a small church on the Dranes-
vile pike. About midnight, the last
| day of March, a detail was called
| for from the regiment, of about ONE
hundred and twenty men, but proba-
bly, not over one hundred joined the
party. We were to 60 to Dranesville
and capture Mosby. We had infor-
nation that he entered the place the
night before with sixty men. Our
force consisted of details from six
| companies. 1t was commanded by
Capt. Flint. Lieut.. Holden of Co.
c., Lieut.. Woodbury. of Co. ID, Capt.
Bean of Co. G. and Lieut.. Circuit of
| Co. | were some of the officers. 1t
had showed the day before, and to-
ward morning was quite cold. We
started on our expedition, moving as
rapidly as possible in view of the con
dition of the roads, and reached
Dranesville about daybreak. We
divided and disposed of the detail,
so as to move into the village on the
different roads entering it, and upon
| firing a carbine for a signal, the diff
ferent detachments charged into the
town, finding Mosby gone. He had
been there the night before, and TAX
ing the Leesburg pike, had moved
away in that directicn n. His trail was
visible in the snow, and we followed
about three miles along the pike, find
inc it turned just east of Broad Run,
leading to the north toward the Po-
tomac. From our proximity to the
river, we knew that the enemy could
not be far away. On leaving the
pike, we passed over very poor,
muddy road, that led through a small
growth of timber. In doing this our
formation was 0y twos. After dis
| lance of about one hundred rods, we
came to cleared field which was
fenced, and on the further, or river !
side of which was a set of farm build !
ings. In the barnyard of these build |
ings, enclosed by strong fence, was
the object of our pursuit in full read
mess to receive us. 1t was no optical !
illusion there, in the full light of
that bright April-fool morning, we
saw Mosby's force, larger than we
eXpected-one hundred and fifty, !
strong into their saddles. |
AT last we were face to face with the
enemy. The tug of war had come.
Our men had been riding some six
hours in the cold of cool morning,
and were somewhat chilly. Our horses !
had been moved at quick walk for |
nearly twelve miles, over muddy |
roads and were somewhat tired. Our |
men all had on their overcoats. Mos |
by, his men and horses, were fresh |
and warm from nights rest and an
early breakfast.
His men were in line in the barn |
yard, when we first saw them, and |
our men were strung along the dirt |
road, back to the pike, in column of |
twos. The advantage of formation,
preparatory to a cavalry combat, was
decidedly in favor of the enemy. |
The physical condition of the two
bodies of troops was also in favor of |
the other side. In leaving the woods |
through which we had scatteringly |
made our way, we entered the clear
ed field through gate that was so
hung as to do its own shutting, and |
which we fastened open to facilitate
the passage of our men. We were
armed with pistols and sabres, all but |
those from the detail, from companies |
and d, who carried pistols, sabres
and carbines. Most of the enemy |
carried only pistols; a few, however,
had sabers, and fewer still had a third |
arm in the shape of carbines. Thus
equipped, arrayed and conditioned, a
collision, or the white feather, was inn
minent. Mosby was cornered. To |
his north rolled the Potomac; to his |
west rushed, angry and swollen to
full banks, Broad Run; to his south |
stood about one hundred Vermont |
cavalrymen; to his east lay, tucked |
away under the beautiful snow, the
IL IL.