Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-08
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
MosRrs FAMOUS RAID.


Confederate army, known as partisan
ranger, but called a guerrilla all the
same, talked thus recently to New
York Herald reporter:
''In April. 1868, General ]. s. B. STU
art, the dashing Prince Rupert of the
Confederacy, recommended that 1 be
promoted to the rank of Major, which
promptly received the Endorsement of
the Secretary of War, j. A. Seldom. In
order to signalize my advancement I
proposed to go on rather big raid and
bag small army of Union cavalry.
about three hundred cavalry were at
Dranesville and I harassed them so
much that they did not put their picket
line half mile from camp. ! wrote to
General Stuart and advised him to send
small force and capture them, but he
was busy watching for Hooker to cross
the RappahannOck and could not spare
any troops. / resolved to scoop the three
hundred by surprising them.
''On the 3lst of March l was met at
Rector's Cross Roads, in Loudon Coun-
~, by sixty-nine men, the largest force
1 had ever had under me up to that
time. They were a motley crowd, though
somewhat better dressed than Falstaff's
famous regiment. Some of them had
been wounded and were unable to do
infantry duty, and others had absented
themselves from their regiment without
leave. But / never investigated mans
military record when he fought under
me any more than / would his pedigree
THE men got prizes in the way of
booty captured, and somehow they
seemed to like to go on expeditions that
were hazardous and often richly re-
warded
Getting near GAINESVILLE l learned
that the enemy had broken camp and
gone beyond Difficult Run, several miles
below. Passing through Dranesville we
Travelled to MiskeIs farm, which was in
the forks of Goose Creek, and the Poto-
mac river. Snow was on tho ground,
although it was the last day of March,
and we were glad to rest and warm our
selves
The enemy were camped about if
teen miles below and did not think it
possible that they could hear of my
picketed our horses inside the BARNARD,
which was surrounded by strong fence
Sentinels were stationed as a guard
over the horses and to arouse us in the
event of an alarm. Many of the men
went to bed in the hayloft, while others,
including myself, lay down on the floor
in the front room of the dwelling house,
before big log-fire.
There were Union camps across the
river, but had no fear of them that
night. When woke up next morning
one of my men came in and said the
enemy were making signals across the
river. / went to the backyard to recon-
hotter, when | saw one of my men, Dick
Moran, running across the field waving
his hat and calling out that the Yam
KEGS are coming Not a third of our
horses were then bridled and saddled.
1 had buckled on my arms coming out of
the house. As soon as got to the en-
closure where our horses were / saw the
enemy coming through gate about two
hundred yards off. 1t was too late to
retreat, and so / ordered my men to get
ready to fight.
They saddled and mounted and re-
served their fire. l did not have time to
saddle my horse and had to lead the
charge on foot Captain Flint was so
sure of bagging US that he ordered the
gates shut after passing through, in
order to prevent us from escaping. An
other squadron was in the open field,
moving in our rear. 1t looked blue for
me, and the many shining sabers FASH
ing in the hands of the cavalryman as
they dashed toward us made me think
that at last my Waterloo had arrived.
We were cooped up in the angle of two
streams and surrounded by over four
times our number, with half of my men
unprepared for fight. Captain Flint,
by dividing his command, increased my
chances of escape at least fifty per cent
I'm the previous engagements l had
learned the superiority of the pistol over
the saber and ordered my men to use
these weapons. When Captain Flint
arrived within fifty yards of the barn
yard gate / advanced, pistol in hand,
opened the gate and ordered my men
that had mounted to charge. With wild
yells they dashed into the ranks of the
Union cavalrymen, and tell you it was
a conflict that meant life or death to us
all. When got through the gate Har
ry Hatcher, brave and valiant soldier,
dismounted and gave me his horse,
which mounted quickly and rode into
the fray.
Our tactics completely surprised
Captain Flint, who evidently thought
we would remain on the defensive. IN
a few seconds the Captain was shot
dead, and before his men hardly knew
1t we were among them with the death
dealing revolver Their swords were
no more effective than wooden weapons
and in few minutes they began to re-
treat pell-mell. When they reached the
closed gate they could not open it, and
many persisted before it was pushed
down.
"All my men performed wonders, but
wish to speak of a young r'illery Off
Ger, Samuel +. Chapman, VINO quit the
study of divinity, and, like the Round
heads Of old, went into battle singing
psalms. He was with me to go on that
special raid and when l saw the Union
soldiers closing in upon us that bright
April morning l thought that young
man would never sing again, except in
heavenly choir. Armed with two re-
volvers and saber be dashed into the
ranks of the enemy like wrathful
Achilles, a pistol in each hand, and
every time he fired. either to the right
or left, saddle was emptied.
Before the enemy had got back to
the gate, retreating, Sam had emptied
both of his revolvers and was using his