Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-04
nIsron1cAL EVENTS AND INCIDENTS
Suggested by the Death of Captain W. j.
Robb.


81 want TO make a little correction in
your notice of the death of Captain w. j.
Robb.n said Justice w. II. Davis, yester-
day. you say that Captain Rooo was
cantured at Petersburg, Grant county,
West Virginia, in June, lab4
Yes; that's what tho Adlutant deherdI
report for l>6t, says
II. ct me correct you and il, as was an
eve witness TO what am about 10 relate.
Gen. Early. with infantry, say 5000, and
Cen. Rosser with say 200 cavalry came
from the Valley Of Virginia across the
mountains in the latter part Of January
1854. for the purpose of getting cattle Tor
the Confederate forces at Richmond, Il.
Col. Thoburn was then in command OF the
Union forces at Petersburg, Grant county,
for short time. Col. Mulligan, OF the
Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
being senior officer, had charge OF that post
the early part of August, lS63, up 20 d lew
weeks before its evacuation ny Col. II no
burn Mulligan was transferred 10 the
VALLEY of Virginia Winchester near
which place (kearnstownl he was alter
wards. as Col. Thoburn was, too, killed.
"Petersburg is 43 miles from keyser
then New Creek, and was the depot OF
supplies, il being on the b. X o. railroad,
for AN the Union troops in that section OF
the State. All supplies had to he hauled
i'm wagons. and many train did the Rebels
capture while en- route between New
Creek and Petersburg, while Mulhgan
and Holmes occupied the post. kosser
was sent in advance OF Early. lie ven
tured Us far as the b. X q. railroad on Pat
tersou' ; Creek. looking for cattle and the
scattered forces of the Union army. lie
then. under orders from Early fell back
towards Petersburg, on the Patterson
creek pike. and instead Of coming direct TO
Petersburg. as he was ordered, he went IN
10 camp ten miles east of Petersburg,
while Early was waiting in the mountains
in sight of Petersburg all of the night OF
the last day Of January, lS6i for RosSer to
hold Col Thoburu IN check in ms fOrtlh-
cations. Precisely at midnight, after sew
eral interviews with Col. Thohurn, who was
fully advised and aware oil his surroundings,
he moved out Of his strong works, with his
handful OF men, including the Mulligan
brass battery of six pieces-three l2-pound-
ers and three 6-pOunders. He went cast
on the Patterson Creek pike one mffc and
a half and then left il. going up what was
then known as White Mans Hollow TO the
Kingwood road, and followed 1t through
the hills and mountains until he reached
Greenland. While he was going east on
parallel line with Rosser, Rosser was max
ing towards Petersburg, on a parallel line
with Thoburn, and not more than four or
five miles between them at any point.
When Rosser reached Petersburg. little
after daylight. on the first day Of Februa-
rv. 1864. ThOburn was then at Greenland,
on his way TO New Creek, which place he
reached that day. Early soon joined Rosser,
and they had sharp words about Rosser's
bad management in letting Thoburn
escape.
"Rossor captured Capt. Robb a: Pueblo,
some miles east of Petersburg, lying III a
fence corner. This was Feb i, 1864. Capt
O'Rourke. of Mulligan's battery, was also
captured AT the same time beside another
fence. he having fallen from his horse and
dislocated his shoulder. y few other
stragglers were captured. O'Rcurke's
shoulder was set, and he, with Capt Robb.
were sent to Richmond, by Early. Twenty
five years last February the events l have
mentioned. happened, and little thought,
while Capt RObb was an inmate Of my home
as a boarder. and when saw him start for
Richmond, after shaking hands with me and
nv family. that in afterlif would be called
on to thus narrate the facts. Nulligan, Col.
Thoburn and Robb were soldiers and cit-
zens OF the highest type, when ! knew
them. Mulligan and Thoburn fell in battle
in arms, but Capt. RObb was spared TO die
a quarter Of q century later