Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-06-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Blue and the Gray.


The following letter was written
by Maj. S. j. c. Moore, of Berry
vile, in response to the inquiry re-
Gently published in regard to Con-
federate soldier, emanating from
Federal officer, and which appeared
in this paper.
MAY 7rn, 1883.
Mr.. f B. NieSe-sos..
Late Sergeant Co. b. Slh Ohio RegimcHt.
DEAR SIR:-I have just read in the Winches-
ter Times your letter of April 18th, 1888, to
Major j. w. Newton, concerning certain in
cidents which occurred at the battle of Kerns-
town on the 23rd of March, 1859. and can
posi- bly, give you as much information on the
subject as any one else. / have concluded to
write to you.
The troops engaged in the affair ON the
right side of the Valley Turnpike facing to-
ward Winchester, on the Confederate side.
were four companies of infantry selected from
the Stonewall Brigade and ordered TO report
to Colonel afterwards GereraD Turner A.
Ashby, for duty OIL the outpOsts. The compa-
nies were :. D. of the End Virginia, command
ed by Capt. Nadenbousch, of fMartinsburg (now
of West Virginia. 50 H. of the same regiment.
commanded by Capt James Hunter, of DUFF
fields, Jefferson county (now in West Virginia)
:. II of the same regiment, commanded by
Capt. Moore Cthe writer and n company from
the 4th Virginia regiment, cOmmaqdcd by
SupL- III. Oh hc HuQ
beeu on that duty for some days. and were
formed into a temporary battalion. under COM
mand of Nadcnbousch who was the ranking
captain. On that day. we were thrown for
ward on the right OF the Turnpike for the pur-
pose of occupying the attention of the enemy
while General jackson was forming his line #
battle on the other side OF the road, wherr the
real engagement tnak place laier ia the day.
Our f0ae companies were dcpl0ycd us elzir-
nlishcrs. with portion OF Col Ashby's caYal-
ry as our reserve, and advanced into piece of
woodland where encountered your skir-
mshers who slowly retired upon q line of in
fantry concealed by piece of high ground in
their front, and by the woods. just at the
moment that we found ourselves very ,peaf
this line of battle. an officer of Col. Ashby's
command CLieut. james Thompson, who was
killed in the last battle on Virginia SOIL at Ap-
pOmattox), rode up with orders for Us to re-
tire. AS soon as VIC commenced retrenting,
the troops in our front pursued US vigorously
and kept up q constant fire from which we
suffered greatly in killed and wounded. Col.
Ashby ordered up Capt. Chew's Battery OF Ar
tillery and opened IRE at short range on the
same time portion Of his cavalry. charged
then on the left flank, which Two attacks
checked for time the pursuit and enabled IS
to escape what at one time seemed certain de-
struction to our little battalion.
The Lieut.. who vas Wounded, and attempted
to leave the Field on a horse, was Lieut.. Link
of Co. II. End Va, who recovered from his
wound and survived the war. do not know
whether ne is living now or not. 1 did not
know him, very well and have not heard of him
for a number of years. feel quite sure that
have heard he recovered and was at his home
after the war ended.
l think Pleasant Valley must have been the
name of his country home, as have no know
ledge of any town or village of that name in
the section from which he came. The name of
the village near which he lived is Dnflields.
Jefferson county. West Virginia, q station aud
PostofIice On the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
You are mistaken about having wounded the
Major commanding our battalion. As have
said, Capt. Nadenbousch was in command Of
1t, and he was not wounded. This know. be-
cause saw him the next day and every day for
some time after that affair. II was his horse
wounded. and Capt. NadenhouFch was with
him helping to take him off. but he and some
others who were with him were compelled to
leave him, because of the vigorous pursuit, and
as he could not sit on the horse without being
supported, he fell to the ground, where you
found him.
l think il probable some one Of those who
were with him was wounded as you have stat
ed, and that Link in the confusion and excite
mcnt, suffering u he was with broken leg.
got the impression that il was the battalion
commander. and therefore SO informed you
Itissomeshat reiDarka able that aIlfour of our
company commanders on that day are still liv-
ing. We were all young men then, but are all
growing old now.
Martinsburg. Berkeley county, West Virginia.
(Sadenbousch was promoted and afterwards
commanded his regiment. the 2Dd Va
Captain James Hunter, Duflields, Jefferson
county. West Virginia
Col j. K Edmuudson. Lexington, Rock
bridge county, Virginia He became Colonel
! of his regiment, the 4th Virginia, and carries
an empty sleeve.)
And the undersigned. who afterwards be-
came AdjutaDt General of the Army of the
Valley of Virginia
1t gives me pleasure TO write To you, because
the spirit of your letter Is that which ought 10
influence and govern every man in 0nce d.
Yided ard now united country.
have always had great respect for the 9Th
Ohio. because If / mistake not. faced them
not only at KearIiFtowD, on March 23rd. but
at Winchester May 2Jth. at Port Republic in
Jtne, and it may be on other fields and can
bear testimony 10 their gallant and soldierly
beafing on every field ON which ae met them
They believed that they were doing their duty
and so did we. II matters not which was
wrong; we can, if We viii. he friends and
brothers now. Yoti have my warmest sympa-
thies in every effort TO promote this result
Yours respectfully.
sANDEL J. c. MooRE.