Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-04-01

closely in our rear. Serg. Pearson OF
Co. was riding close at my side,and
the road was narrow with almost per-
pendicular cliffs rising high on either
side. AS we were just making ready
to ford a small creek, the Sergeant
said, cit was just here where we
were fired on last year, but I think
we shall get through safely this time. ("
Instantly there was the crack of
gun, and then a full volley fired on
us, and if a thousand muskets had
been fired in open field the rattle and
reverberations would not have equal
led the sound of the volley in this de-
file. ] ordered a charge, not so much
to get at the rebels as to get out of
the range of their pistols. We could
not see man, but we thought "the
woods were full of Them" We struck
across the creek, and one man dis
mounted without orders, taking
thorough bath with his regimentals
all on. We went on little distance
and found an old set of buildings
where we had time to rest a moment,
count our losses and decide what was
best to do next. 1t turned out that
many of the horses were wounded
from pistol shots, but no man of us
was lost. A squad of rebs had post
ed themselves up on the cliff above
the road and had disputed our pass
age in the manner related.
Part of my men were armed with
pistols, sabres and carbines, and
part had no caybines. | ordered the
carbineers to dismount and prepare
to return to the place where the john
nies had made their ambuscade, while
the remainder were to keep in line by
the buildings. We returned to the
Gap, and soon got within carbine
range of them, and pretty soon one
turned summersault down over the
rocks, and I've no doubt that fellow
never killed a "Yank' afterwards.
We kept up the fire for some lungth
of time, when Col. Preston came on
with cheer and we soon returned to
camp, the raid or reconnaissance hav-
ing resulted in pretty effectual scare
of the rebs, the capture of some pris-
oners and much valuable information.
Col. Preston was consequently prais-
ed for the success of his raid, and
the brave lieutenant and his men who
so valiantly charged through the Gap
to get out of the range of rebel
pistols honored by much news
paper praise.
On the 30th of May, while we were
encamped on the line of the railroad,
near Kettle Run,a supply train which
was going to the front was attacked
little way south of our camp, by
Mosby with force of about 80
men who had howitzer with them,
by which they disabled the engine.
They pulled rail out of the track
by wire, ran the train off, fired into
the engine with their gun, and so ter
rified the guards that they ran with
out making fight. They then cap
tured the mail, robbed the train of
such things as they could eat or make
way with and fired the cars. Our
regiment happened to be mounted
and was returning from drill, when
we heard the sound of the gun, and
knew pretty we'll that Mosby was in
the mess.
Col. Preston ordered me with a
part of the command to strike along
down the track for the train while he
took circuitous route in order to cut
off the retreat of the enemy. We
went off on the gallop, and reached
the train, which was on fire, but
Mosby had gone. We followed on
his trail and kept up a running fight
for an hour of two, when Mosby
found favorable position to make a
stand and placed his howitzer where
it was pretty dangerous thing. A
part of the 9TH N. Y. Cavalry were
also in the pursuit, and were the
first to charge the rebel force. Lieut..
Barker with 80 of the New Workers
charged on the gun which was fired
almost in their faces. killing three
and wounding seven men.
Lieut.. Hazeton of Co. Ill Of our
regiment, with few Co. { men, then
took their turn and received the con-
tents of the howitzer when within
a few feet of t,but went forward and
in a sharp hand to hand encounter
cut down Capt. Haskins, an
English officer, who had charge of
the gun,by saber blow on the head,
wounded Mosby and scattered the
whole force, Mosby escaping thro'
the woods. The Englishman had
fought in the Crimean war, and came
here to fight, for his love of adven-
ture, losing his life. The captured
gun was returned to Gen. Stahls
headquarters, and the affair reflected
much credit on the cavalry command.
Mosby was quiet for some time
thereafter, and the Vermonters never
had another clinch with him.
After few days we went to Fair
fax Court House, and after having
done some scouting and skirmishing
with Wade Hampton's Cavalry, then
passing north to take part in the
Gettysburg campaign, we crossed
the Potomac and took part in the i'm
portant events of the next few weeks