Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-10-04
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
WILD CAVALRY RIDE.
Strange Blrthday Reminisccnco of n Con-
ma

L WcHUy-Sl years ago on JnO Sou Oh
july" he said, "the command to which
] belonged-the Fourth Virgnian of
General j. e. b. Stuart's old brigade
was resting after the affair at Ream's
Station, in the county of Dinwiddle, and
of all tho miserable camping grounds Of
the war that hot, dry, dusty camp was
the worst l ever saw. For weeks we
had had no rain and tho pine leaves of
the forest in which our blankets were
spread-for tents we had none-were
curlod into spfrals and the finer pieces
were resolving into dust. Food was
scarce, more so than usual, corn meal
being the staple, and it was musty at
that So when on the evening of July
% Sergeant Stringfellow, noted scout,
came into camp for volunteers to take
"littlo ride" as he called it, into the
enemy's lines, l was only too glad to fly
the evils that were to dangers wo knew
not of. The then Sergeant Stringfellow
was regarded as ono of the most daring
and reliable scouts of General Lees
army-he is now and eminent divine of
the Protestant Episcopal Church.
''When the moon was just sinking be-
hind the western horizon and it's linger-
ing beams were disappearing for tho
night from among the silent and scrag
gy pines, about one o'clock party of
twelve ragged cGvalrymen armed only
with pistols and sabers quietly departed
from the camp, following in single file
the lead of the sergeant, who ignored all
questions rs to the route and purpose of
the expedition until the journeys end
chpnll In hnpp ronn1,pl ,pnG lnrl-
and hot, as we silently travelled over
smooth fields and through long stretches
of pine woods stopping only now and
then to listen to the calls of the owls,
which several times startled the whole
party by thoir nearness. 1t was not un-
til daybreak, and after many miles had
been placed between ourselves and our
sleeping comrades, that we drew rein,
and in obedience to q low-spollen COM
mand from the sergeant, we dismounted
from our weary-and previously tagged
out-steeds and drew around in circle
to hear his plans. The place where he
had halted was beside sandy road, bor-
dered by thick pine forests, and for a
mile or more in either direction there
was an unobstructed view-a long, mar
row lane nearly as level as floor. Hav-
ing divided the squad into two parts,
| Sergeant Stringfellow at last relieved
our increasing curiosity as to his inten-
tionS.
Some days ago while scouting in that
neighborhood he had noticed that every
morning about sunrise a squadron of
colored cavalry passed from its camp to
that of another command some five
miles away-for drilling purposes, per-
haps-and it occurred to him that here
was fine opportunity to pay of an old
score or two with quid pro quo, as well
as to exchange some very Indifferent
horse-fesh for first-class goods and to
give the sable troopers an object lesson
in the mysteries of war.
''Five of US were posted up the road
distance and the other seven were
stationed in the woods about where the
consultation was held and the plan of
| procedure was for the seven to remain
quiet until the head of the expected
| column reached the farther squad, when
simultaneously both parties were to
| break into the road and fire and yell for
| all they were worth. Some fifteen or
twenty minutes of anxious expectancy
elapsed, when from between the trees
we could see the enemy coming along in
dog trot some sitting sideways in
their saddles; others with the bride
reins loose upon their horses neclIs and
their hands and arms giving expression
to camp-meeting song they were sing
ing, which filled the air with the true
and charming negro melody.
A. ~.
smaller squad, when the sergeantcri
Charge boys, charger! and in an instant
we dashed into their midst, firing our
pistols and yelling like demons. As
| founded and confused those who did not
| tumble off in trying to right themselves,
turned, only to be confronted with their
rear guard rushing up, with our fellows
| in their midst, whooping and shooting
| right and left, and then followed a scene
| that beggars description in any Ian
guage. Some of the troopers fell fiat on
| the roadside and lay there until they
could recover their surprise and flee for
| their life. Others dashed their horses
into the woods, got stuck, dislhounted
| and fed in dismay-canteens, caps and
| other accoutrements were scattered in
every direction. The majority, however,
| cut out down the roads, sending the sand
| up in clouds behind their horses tails.
| For five miles along that narrow, sandy
lane we won't together, r,helter-slselter,p pis-
tolls cracking, horses falling ana our
men yelling like madmen. The woods
on either side OF the road were fast fill
ing with the terrified, fleeing troop
| ers.
1.-The race was brought to close by
our discovering upon turn in the road
of an abatis, through which the foremost
pitched headlong, whereupon we turned
back and gathered up the trophies. We
reached camp late in the afternoon
without the loss of man, and richer by
some eighteen or twenty horses more
than we wanted for our own use and a
white sergeant we picked up forgood luck.
Five days later the surplus captured
steeds were put up at auction and
brought from $4,000 to So, 900 apiece in
our money.