Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-08-29
CROOKS CAPTURE.
A THRILLING EPISODE OF THE
CIVIL WAR.

excel for daring conception anC
successful execution the capture O
General George Crook and Genera
Kelley at Cumberland, Nd, il
February, 1864, by a band of Con
federates known as McNell's Rang
ers. This body was composed Oi
| as reckless a set OF young Mary
landers and Virgiuians as ever
drew satire. They we're command.
ed by Captain Mcneil. from
whom they derived their name
He was a man Of unfInching cOur
age, and led his men In many 6
bloody encounter, and was eventu
ally killed IN a desperate fight neal
Mt. Jackson, in the Valley of Vir
glnia.
McNeil's rangers carried free
lance and were generally found
lowering near the Federals, watch
ing their movements, destroying
wagon trains, capturing horses,
munitions of war, ETC., all Of which
we're turned over to the Conted-
crate Government for a cOnsidera.
tiOn.
In February, 1864, New Greek
was captured by General Rosser,
and McNeil's Rangers we're ad
vanced to within thirty miles o
Cumberland, Md. One n g b
around the camp fire two OF tht
boys, John Fay and Sprgg Linn
whose homes were in Cumberland
were relating the adventures they
| had encoutered in visit to theI
homes, from which they had jus
returned, and IN the course of tn
conversation expressed the belle
| that the town could be penetrated
by a small body OF men and Gener
| ais Crook and Kelley brought safe
lily of. The suggestion Instant.
| took root among those wild boys
| and in less than fifteen minutes l
was determined that the attemp
should be made, and Major JOC
Vaudiver volunteered to lead them
with the Il sshlng Kuykendal
| second III command.
1t was well known to the Rang
ers that General Crook had jus
succeeded General Kelley IN The
command OF that department, an
had established his headqIa ter
| at tue Revere HOuse-at that tim,
Kept by a Mr.. Daily, of OAkIan'
and whose daghter is now Genera
Crooks While General Kel
ley still fingered at the St. Nlch1
las, a short distance from the Re
we're.
About dusk of a cold Fcbrual,
day, with two feet Of snow cover
ling the ground, the cOmman
started on their perilOus journey
Moving rapidly, they crossed tn
south branch of the Potomac an
, reached Knobby Mountains, whcr
they were Hospitality eutertaine
by sympathizing friends, who wer
much surprised when they weT
told the object of the expidiilbr
aud every argument was used
induce them to retrace their steps
at which the boys only laughed.
After hastily refreshing then
selves aud horses the cOmmau
moved silently on until the Pot
mac was reached, which they fOr'
ed, every man being wet to II
waist by Its icy waters. O
, through the darkness they spa
not knowing what a minute mig
bring forth, for they were satisft
they must be in close proximity
the enemy. And neither were the
mistaken, for suddenly the shu
command: "Who comes there
tb convinced them that they we
II, is upon the UnlOn OutpOstS. Tue
,ss was no time tor words, aud IN
,1s instant the unlucky picket po
- composed of three men, we're cI
60 St. tive. The password was now
go be hGd at any cost, but it was 4
IrfT until bridle-reln had been plac
around the neck of one of the I
= happy pickets that he blur'
out, "Bul's Gap"
- Moving now more cautiously,
~. ~. Rangers approached light IN
~ q distance, and again the cry: "W
:: :: Genes therei" greeted ih'
III ..a "Friends with the cOuntersig
or replied Vandlver. "DismOut,
,ss; s:; vance one, and give the count
ssS slgn," came back in a clear, ri
- ing voice. But, instead of G.
p plying, Vandiver ordered his II
Es Forward" and they dashed
the midst of about forty Union
4 IN,