Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-09-26
THE PANORAMA OF WAR.
INCIDENTS OF A DARING RAID MADE
DURING THE LATE UNPLEAS-
ANTNESS.

DURING The LATE UNfLhho-
ANTNESS.
In no part of the Southern Confed-
eracy did the panorama of war change
so rapidly and so often as in the Val
ley of Virginia. 1t was border-land
between the contending forces, into
which bands Of either army sailed
whenever the opportunity offered OF
capturing detached company of the
enemy or of seizing arms or proyis-
ions. Sometimes these raiders vere
successful; at others the attacking
party was routed. This latter fate
befell Captain G. Blanchard Philpot,
of Ashby's Brigade, in his attempt to
captured company of Federal soldiers
at Charlestown, West Virginia.
Captain Philpot was a native Of
Frederick county, Md. In the begin
ming of the war he crossed the line
and Joined brigade of Virginians un-
der the command of the handsome
and dashing cavalry officer General
Turner Ashby, whose daring exploits
as a raider have been celebrated in
song and story.
In 1868 Ashby was killed and was
succeeded by General Beverly, now of
Washington, and finally by General
William l.. Jones, a thorough soldier,
whose gallant conduct soon won the
confidence of his troops. In the spring
of 1863 the brigade was encamped near
Harrisonburg, Va. General Jones
was not the man to remain long in
idleness, and hearing that troop Of
Union soldiers was quartered in a very
old log church, near Cumberland Gap,
he mustered every man in his brigade
fit for service and marching with them
to that point surrounded the building
and captured the party.
During the absence of General Jones
the camp, with few sick and wound
ed solders-some of whom were con-
valescent-was left in charge OF Cap
tain Philpot This force was further
augmented by few stragglers, who
had been absent on furlough and
tired of inactivity and the dull routine
of camp life. Captain Philpot had
formed company of these odds and
ends of the brigade, numbering forty
five in all, and prepared for a raid into
Charlestown, eighty miles distant,
where one hundred Federals had en-
camped in the Court House.
At o'clock at night IN the third
day after leaving camp Captain Phil
pot reached the bank of the Shenan-
doah river. They found the stream
much swollen by spring rains and ap-
parently impossible. Awakening a
farmer living near they asked him to
the ford and show them the way.
This the man refused to do, saying
that any one who attempted to ford
the river would be drowned. He
pointed out the direction, however,
and undaunted either by difficulty or
hazard Captain Philpot and his men
plunged into the stream, reached the
opposite bank in safety and pursued
their march.
Upon arriving at the house of Geo.
Tate, mile from Charlestown, they
dismounted, tied their horses in a
wood and made their way into the
town. Reaching the Courthouse,
they found a guard posted outside.
One of Philpot's men, in disobedience
to orders, fired at the sentinel, who
Immediately returned the shot. The
report of these discharges created
general CONSERVATION. The Federals,
suddenly aroused from their slumbers,
flew to their guns. Led by Captain
Philpot, his little band of followers
rushed into the Court Al
though wounded while entering the
door, the Captain, still retaining COM
mand, ordered the Federals TO sur
render. His plucky antagonists con-
tinued to fire, however, and forced to
resort to strategy, Philpot shouted
out Twelfth Regiment, Seventh
Regiment, Whites Battalion, advance
and surround the building" at the
same time telling the enemy that they
were hemmed in on all sides, and if
they did not surrender at once the
building would be burned over their
heads
At this juncture one OF Philpot's
men threw a lighted match into pile
of straw and, thinking that the threat
of burning was being put into execu-
ton, the Federals laid down their
guns and marched single file through
the Court House door. Making his
men gather up the arms of his prison
ers Philpot marched with them TO the
spot where their horses weIe corrleda.
! Here every man was required to sad