The National tribune., 1889-09-19
SOME or HIS arAR nrrIs.p


mile down the road. aud known as the " Dew
lis jump" toward what is called "Chincapin
| Neck" heavily wooded section, forming the
point between the Rappahannock and Rapidan
| Rivers, toward Fredericksburg. Its location
made il good picket station 60 watch the road
either way. One time in 1862 the Confcder-
ates pcketed here for long period. The re-
| serve was in my front yard, and the videt,
| mounted in the road on the slope of the hill
| by my stable. / had 20 furnish them rations
and forage. and take my pay in Confederate
money, which at that time would purchase
anything.
One day In August, 1862, my son Clark, q
boy of - years, was talking with the videt,
who told him that there was carbine lying
| inside the fence down the road. Clark went
| to get it, and rs he picked it up he heard the
! picket fire in his rear and the bullet whistle
over his head. He looked up and saw n column
of Federal cavalry charging up through my
field from tho Kcley's Ford road. He threw
down the old carhine rs he ran to the house,
and / met him at the door as Federal column
! came sweeping up the road, while another was
| charging through the orchard back of the
! house. The ath Va. aud I'd S. G. Cav. were
camped on Graysonis place, about 300 yards
east of me. They were alarmed by the Pickets
ut my house. who had fired and retreated, and
as | looked toward them | saw them getting
into line as the Federals were charging on
! them from both sides. felt sure they would
all be captured, but they managed to get away
with the loss of only one man killed and some
horses killed and captured. They must have
had many wounded who escaped. The Federal
wounded were cared for at my house, until the
ambulanees came and took them.
CLARK FOUND HIS cARBINE AFTER THE
FIGHT,
but made him take it away from the house.
as / did not want any guns around. had my
hot railaf mn hphfpd he nailipy iy, ba
hall, and kept them there until the war was
over. The sth n. Y. Cav. then patrolled the
Fredericksburg road past my house, aud /
found them very nico men. They gave me \
safeguard and treated my family well. /
learned shat they were keeping open the COM
munication with Pope's troops at Fredericks-
burg and those near Culpeper and Little
Washington.
In the evening Of Aug s, 1862, Federal
soldier came 10 my house, the Sth N. Y. Cav.
having taken of their safeguard and left the
route. He said that he was a courier from Gen.
King, who was coming from Fredericksburg to
join Gen. Banks, and had dispatches for the lat
ter. lie said that his horse Was broken down,
and that he wanted fresh horse. / told him
that could not get him till morning as my
horses were some distance of, so he had 20 con-
tent himself take bis supper and go 10 bed. l
have no doubt that there were many men in
the Sonth who, under the circumstances, would
have taken the courier prisoner and obtained
has dispatches, for il was whispered among the
knowing ones that Lee had whipped of Nc
Cteilan, and was coming up this way from
Richmond with his army / thought at the
time how foolish Of the courier 10 place himself
in anyones power during the night and If il
had been me- / felt that ] would sooner have
lain out in the brush aud gone to a house for
horse in daylight. However, was up before
daylight. the next morning, and went after the
- a 4 Y
found the road filed with Federal infantry,
who were asleep in the fcnce-corners aud door
yard. learned that they belonged TO Kings
Division.
THE COURIER GOT HIS MOUNT,
leaving the Government horse with me IN ex-
chaBge-or rather until he returned mine
and started of amid the curses Of the men who
we're awake, who shouted at him and wanted
TO know what courier was hanging around
farm houses for. i suppose hs explained TO the
officers, for he went ON with my horse, and
soon the Infantry got up and commenced
marching. As the day progressed they pushed
forward very rapidly, for tho musketry and
artillery began 10 sound at Cedar Mountain, II
miles away, whore Jackson and Banks were
engaged These men OF Kings, or whoever
else was with him, were no doubt very hungry
and thirsty. They had evidently marched
hard, and the weather was warm and roads
! Of the well. but lea Den down in the we'll on
the bueket-Tope and dipped it out with tin cups
They also drank two tubfnls Of soapsuds, or
rinSing water, left from the previous days
washing. Ny family did not get mouthful TO
eat all day, for rs soon rs anything edible was
| brought out the men seized il at once. They
were all over my house, and also the McVeigh
house. about 100 yards south Of me, and OF
which had charge. At the latter house--Off
| the road about 90 yaFds-an officer asked for a
drink of milk. The soldiers were ali around
| In the yard at the time. Ny youngest daugh-
| ter went 70 the nilk-house to get the tactical.
but as soon as she opened the door she started
| hack with scream,
| FOR THERE WE'RE THREE Or FOUR INDIANS
| helping themselves. The other soldiers who
| were around laughed. and told her not 10 be
| frightened, as The fellows were not dangerous.
| Capt Moore, the Quartermaster, took three
stacks Of hay and 3 quantity Of corn from me,
and gave vouchers for them ] told him
| that already had vouchers from Gen. Bulord's
command for two stacks of unthrashed wheat
! two stacks OF hay and 800 bushels Of corn, and
asked him what good the vouchers would do
me- lie said that i coald get pay from the
| United States when the war was over. IL could
| prove my loyalty. j told him that ! could not
do this easily, and therefore all they took from
me was equivalent TO conlscati0n. Kings
men also killed seven hogs, Eve calves. aud
I any number Of chickens for me, besides taking
| of - bead Of cattle. They would have plum
dcred the houses had IL not been for Capt
| Szyers Of q Maryland regiment, and Mai Bel
| ger, Quartermaster, who drove them Off
Ny youngest daughter had little pony,
which was quite a pet. When the other horses
around the houses were taken, including the
| Government horse left by the scout, the pony
WAS left undisturbed until the straggiers came
along. One hummer from Massachusetts, in
| fAntFy regiment broke the lock on the stable
! door, and was leading out the little pony, pro-
| posing 10 have "A ride aud be better prepared
| for foraging. Ny daughter went out aud seized
The bride, telling him that he must not take
her pony, and begging him 10 let the poor little
| thing alone. He jumped astride Of IT, with his
| knapsack on his back, his pOrtly hayersaek by
his side, aud his long gnu across his knees, his
fest nearly touching the ground. He was truly
a eomical sight He seized the bride rein and
ordered my daughter to let 90. She commenced
| crying. but held on 10 the bridle He then
took his gun. and, with an oath, struck her
| with the butt over the shoulder / started %
her assistance ON a run from the house, where
| had been trying 10 keep out some others who
wanted cooking done, but before / reached
| there the officer in command OF the rear-guard
gailOped up the hill, and seeing the condition
Of affairs rushed up,
SEIZED THE scALLAwAe RY THE COLLAR
and jerkcd him of the pony to the ground lie
turned him over TO the Tear-gnard when they
came up, assuring me that he should be prop
eriy punished; and thus my daughter saved
| her pony.
all this time the fighting was going on al
Cedar Mountain, and soon the Federal wagon
fEuf A