The National tribune., 1889-10-31
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
CAPTURED BY MOSBY.
KlIled Three GuerrIIIas and Escaped.


other Union prisoners page Az, chapter 81
"Caftured hy Mosby.') Either from an intent
TO praise Capt. Badger, or being ignorant of the
facts, be gives a very incorrect account OF the
whole affair.
of r cavalry division at Front Royal; Gen.
George h. Crook commander of the Eighth
Corps; Capt. Cheringt0n, of his stat; Tx
President T. b. Hayes, Colonel of 23d Ohio, aud
also Gen Philip ii. Sheridan, were he now liv-
ing. for the truth OF the following statements,
which would probably never have been written,
were il not for the article appearing so absurd,
in the Blue aud Gray"
ID was on the morning of Oct. 4, 1864, that l
bridled and saddled my horse, which called
"Mosby," having captured him at Myers Ford,
on the Shenandoah River, short time before,
in a fight with Mosby's command. mounted
him, and bidding my comrades gOod-hy started
for Cedar Greek, distant IS miles. had ridden
shout four miles. or little beyond Warrenton,
when I saw five soldiers about one-fourth of a
mile ahead of me- Just then passed man
with CARLOAD OF suEaT-ca and asked him II
the five soldiers were Yanks and he said they
were they being dressed in our overcosts
Fearing treachery, ! pulled my revolvers
around 10 the front and opened the holsters of
the same. As they We're coming toward me
we soon closed mp, and as passed them bidding
the time of day, their response was three
cooked revolvers at my head, with demand
for my surrender, which did without further
ceremony, knowing the consequences OF not
doing so. Having surrendered, they took my
reviewers, also my Spencer rifle lseven shooterl
removing the cartridges from the chamber and
cylinder of my gun and taking my cartridge
box from OF the front of my saddle
We then started for the woods east OF the
nike about oae-tbird Of a mile, and after riding
shout 80 rods they handed me my gun, saying 1t
was no good without ammunition. When we
got to the woods four OF the rebs went back 10
the pike while one nan guarded me, who
amused himself by asking me questions as TO
whether ] belonged TO the scouts or not. /
told him / did not, knowing the penalty for
scouts and spies. But he thought WAS too we'll
armed for a common soldier having two navies
aud a Spencer rife. told him that was a
safeguard at Winchester; but he told me would
be examined when they rot 10 Gen. Rosser $
headquarters at Brentsviile, assuring me that
] would be shot or hung if found 10 be scout
or spy.
At this time the other rebs came up. having
several prisoners and the men aud regiments
were as follows. TO the best OF my knowledge:
Capt. Badger, Sd y. y. Cav, has Orderly aud
daTky: also a mail-carTier OF Gen. Powell S
Division, whose name did not learn Thomas
Green who now lives at Euclid, o., and Curt
Mcintosh, Of 90. J. 23d OHIO; Bill Tatman and
Tom Wilson. I'd Va. Cav; Geo. Johnson and
Geo. McCauley, 9Th Va. and your humble sery-
ant the writer. one OF Blazers scouts, formerly
Of 20. @, 23d Ohio. Capt. Badger was on has
way TO Harper's Ferry for the purpose of in
speeding troops but he failed 10 make the in
spection that trip.
Knowing that we would be searched, took
the precautiOn 70 hide my money, which
amounted 10 SO IN greeBbacks, eight silver 90
cent pieces, and 80 cents in scrip. Ii was wet,
drilling day, and had my Oilcloth over me.
] took my knife and cut slit in the waistband
Of my pantaloUns, and slipped all the money
IN excepting the 80 cents IN scrip They took
Us into the woods and commenced their task of
searching, which was no doubt pleasant one to
them As they realized about 500 IN the opera
tion. a. well as several watches They took 10
cents in silver from Tom Wilson. the only
money he had From they took the 80
cents In scrip, - postage stamps, gold ring,
gold penhUldeT and pen. knife, boots, OyercOat
aud hat. giving me ia return a pair Of shoes
aud : small gray bat minus rim. in search
ing me Jim Crow, one Of the rebels, took two
letters OF mine written by Miss nj. j. Smith,
nov my wife. which were addressed In care
Of Capt Blazer. commanding scouts" This
was a dead giye-away for me; but ] coolly re-
marked that they we're letters from my girl,
when be returned them. ] Immediately came
10 the conc. usiOn that lie could not read, else
my identity a. 3 scout wOua have been COM
pleie-
The search being through with, they started
NJ ia casierly direction. Que man keeping
about 800 wards ahead While riding along /
took the envelopes of my letters aud chewed
them up. We crossed the Shenandoah River
al DonTad's Ford, three miles above Ashby'F
Gap. IA the Blue Ridge, after dark. After
crossing we went into SCHOOL, house and
busted myself ia building fire. using my let
ten and old Testament, which found in
the room, for kindling. The rebels took care oil
our horses, relieving us Of that trouble, after
fHsFft
the L. s. mailbag and opened the letters, from
which they got snug sum Of money which the
boys IN blue had sent home TO wife mother
and they bad lois Of fun over the love letter.
they read. He remained there till near day
light, when VIC were ordered 10 move. We
mounted our horses and rode about three miles
when We came 10 rich farmers plantation
where AOsby procured corn, paying for IL in
Confederate money, or siud," Is we called IL
While the animals were eating Mosby took first
choice out VI the captured horses after which
he marked numbers on little slips Of PAPER
put them in lat and held it up each mar
pulling cut q number; the one having No
Inst choice, no. 2 second choice, aud 80 on
" bile this was being done Tom Wilson, Of ths
% Va. Cav, slipped down the laUe and mad.
bis escape into the mountain, getting back SAFE,
While fhe men were busy with their lottery
told George MeCauley that had cartridges lol
our guns, he also having Spencer, aud wher
~ would get 10 Luray Valley We would Iid,
SIDE by side and try 70 load our guns aud max,
OuT escape. lie az once consented.
Now - inform the reader where I got m,
cartridges. j had l0t In my saddle peck cts
which they bad not cakeu the trouble 10 search
and were u hot Tor this oversight we woul,
probably have no account 10 give. We Wer
again ordered 70 mogut. aud leaving the road
followed paths aud byways for several miles
when got 10 ElacktDwn on the Mauassa
Railroad, about seven miles from Front Royal
One 81 the guards had left his prize horse whii
passing through the mountains. and the ride
being little lame, Mostly ordered me 10 dis
mount and let him ride my horse. al the sam
time telling NE u take hold Of his (Mosby's
horses tail, which ! did he being very 6ne
large lfOu- gray, aud we started across the val
icy AZ q brisk tr0t. my heels keeping pace wit
The irOn-gray'g hind-iect. After getting "a
The mountain they got horse for the fellos
aud gave me back nay M0sby - for which fsyo
Nas daily thankful. We then went down il
LuFsy Valley, where the little band halted
Fna MOsby Informed " that we were iusid
Their iines and the first effort 10 escape woul,
be sure death. Then MOsby and Que of his me-
left as they going back, 80 this LETT three guard
with us, namely: Lieut.. Whiting, Jim Crow
aud Ackinsley. just before leaving M1sly
rode up 10 Capt. Badger. saying: " will tsk
that pOcketbOok," which the Captain uroat,tI,
HANDED over. Then turning 10 his men n
remarked, Meet me at C. Wednes8a,
evening" started of in a nOrtheasteariv N
Teeli6n, which was the last We saw of Mosby
Being GA the big road, McCaulcy and ,nvscl
rode side by side. Here ] managed 10 mas
cartridges 10 him, with which he loaded IA