The National tribune., 1888-01-19
AVERELL'S RAID.
A Hospital Stewards Story.

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Gen. AverelIS headquarters from October, 1868,
to April, 1864, in the capacity of Hospital
Steward. The General was at that time IN
command of an independent cavalry division,
of about 1000 men, operating in West Virginia.
The regiments composing the command were
recruited from the lumber and canalboat men
of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Maryland, and a rough crew they were and
little amenable to military discipline; but they
fought when there was fighting to be done, and
that is a military virtue which in war time
covers many sin.
Gen. Averell had the confidence and respect
of his men, and soon restored order and fair
degree of discipline. As l have already re-
marked, the men were rough set; averse to
restraint OF any kind; unable and unwilling to
comprehend why more should be asked of an
American volunteer soldier than to fight when
the hour for the fray approached. But they
were not lacking in that patriotism that is
native to every American, nor in American
manliness; and while they would unhesitat-
ingly have killed every woman and child in
Virginia if order to that effect had been
issued and they had recognized the necessity
for so doing, they wonld, on the other hand,
have given up their lives, if necessary, to pro-
tect the women of the country they were in
vading against such of their own numbers as
would have so far forgotten their manhood as
to offer violence or insult OF course there
were exceptions, as there are beasts in human
form in every large congregation Of men.
The danger to which non-combatants are ex-
posed is not from the enemy generally, but
from the evil-disposed men who skulk behind
the organized bodies.
On the 9Th of December 1863, three expedi-
tions started out from the line of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad. Two of these went forth with
all the noise and bombast possible, having for
their object to concentrate the enemy's atten-
ton on themselves while AverelPs command
the real expedition-stole forth noisclessly.
1t would be foreign to the object of this mar
rative to enter more fully into the details of
the march. Suffice it to say, therefore, that
about the 18th of December we struck at Salem,
unheralded the railroad connecting Lees and
Longstreet's armies, which we destroyed in a
few hours for length of some IL miles, to-
gether with bridges, depots and an immense
amount of military supplies, inficting on the
rebels stunning blow.
We had marched all the previous night and
after the work of destruction was completed
were gladly preparing to go into camp, when
| courier arrived informing Gen. Averen that
| Gen. Jubal Early, with his corps, instead of
making straight for US, knowing that we could
easily slip away, was marching to our rear for
4 the purpose of occupying all the passes over the
Alleghanies, and thought be had US.
| So, instead of camping, we hastily pulled
out, still hoping to forestall Early. We marched
| all night and all next day over ground that
was soft and Doggy from three-days fall of
rain and snow mixed. About p N. the fol-
] lowing day we came to the Jackson River,
stream that few days before had been only
| knee.deep, but was now raging, roaring tor
rent; and, behold, the only bridge across the
river was in flames.
Gen. Averell, who was making fast time with
his force, knowing that the enemy was before
him, behind him. and on his TANKS, had waited
for the wagon train about an hour at the bridge,
and when we failed to appear at the end of
| that time, believed we had been captured, and
himself set fire to the bridge to block the rebel
pursuit. So, with the pitiless rSer before us,
deserted by our comrades, we went into
biyouae, feeling somewhat sad. The command
thus cut of consisted of the 18th Pa. Cav,
| which had been doing duty as rear-guard, six
ambHlauces and "a wagons. We were not at
tackled during the night, and at daybreak next
morning proceeded TO burn the wagons aud am
balances, and prepared to swim the river; a
farmer having shown the Colonel in command
the only available fording place, where, he
said, we would only have to swim about 40
yards.
My horse had during the march contracted
what in that section was called the mount
ain scratches" and was SO lame that had led
him all the preceding night He was now shot,
and / took possession of one of the mules be-
| longing 10 the burnt ambulances. Mounted on
my new charger-a means OF transportation
had no former experience with and not the
slightest confidence in-I rode down to the
river aud saw the 14th Pa. begin to cross.
} heard the Colonel in command caution his
men, who were already somewhat weak from
hunger and fatigue, not to look down at the
raging water, but look way ahead, or they
would become giddy saw, one after another
seven horses and their riders swept down the
river and drowned, without one man so much
as turning his head to look after them.
Eina hat for nf ycsza
mounted On new and strange animal, be
tween whom and myself there existed as yet NJ
bond Of sympathy or congeniality How
would get across that stygan river, ice float
! ing on it, on that little mule when those pool
fellows were swept off on their big horses?
p determined not to attempt to cross, but to try
to make my way back to our lines by hiding
during the day aud travelling at night; or, i
I necessary, give myself up to the rebels The las
q man Of the regiment had crossed, and though
+ / was the only Federal left on that side, ant
= was just about TO make bout face and strik
out on my own hook, when up came fna
: | rear-guard, consisting of Captain and "a men
"Well, Steward, what are you doing here?
:, asked the Captain / told him my fears AM
purposes. " / am very sorry" he replied; 4" Blu
4 my orders are TO make every man cross Yol
I viii have to try it." So in l went, with abou
q as much hope Of reaching the other side as
: had Of reaching Heaven In went the mule
;, front, deeper and deeper, until he began t
. swim. / simply slackened the reins and shu
;, my eyes, and the first thing knew was Of
= dry land, and the little mule stood there wit
as much nonchalance as if lie could perform
!, such feat as that 20 times before breakfast
From that time till no longer had any us
for him | looked upon that mule as a frien
- and brother, and many time afterward whel
r we two were travelling alone, and he insiste
- on giving expression to his longing for congen
" ial companionship-a a muie will do unde
!. such circumstances by breaking into franti
and prolonged but most pathetic bray--I woul
70 remember our joint passage of the river, an
= forcbly restrain myself from falling belligel
2 emily upon his sensitive but inviting ears.
. even, in my gratitude. e., lively sense
: rivers yet to swim-tried to immortalize hir
= in verse, but, my muse being unproptious,
a refrained.
- Before we got back we had been eight day
y and nights in the saddle, and most of the con
- mand Il among the number) five days an
y nights without food.-T, V. Brown, Hospiti
Z Steward at Gen. AverelPs Headquarters.
~ Asthma.
young man taken down with asthma WI
Or very much frightened, and went to the be-
p. physician in the place and stated his symptom
a -, It'd