Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-05-08
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
MOsRYs FAMOUS RAlD.
The Guerrilla Captain Tells Of a Thrilling
Episode of the War.

ranger, but called a guerrilla all the
same, talked thus recently 70 a New
York Herald reporter:
In April. 1868. General J. +. i. stu
art, the dashing Prince Rupert Of the
Confederacy, recommended that / be
promoted 10 the rank Of Major. which
promptly received the Endorsement OF
the Secretary or War. j. A. Seldom. In
order TO signalize my advancement /
proposed 70 go on rather big raid and
bag small army OF Union cavalry
About three hundred cavalry we're at
GAINESVILLE and | 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 ! was met at
Rector's Cross Roads, in Loudon CouH-
~, by sixty-nine men. tho largest force
! had ever had under me up TO that
time. They were q motley crowd though
somewhat better dressed than Falstatfs
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 a 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 20 on expeditions that
were hazardous and often richly re-
warded
Getting near Dranesyille I learned
that the enemy had broken camp and
gone beyond Difficult Run. several miles
below Passing through GAINESVILLE we
travelled 70 Aiiskel's farm. which was in
The forks Of Goose Creek and the Poto-
mac river Snow was on the ground.
although i was the last day ct March,
and we were glad 30 rest and varm our
The enemy were aamped about df-
teen miles below and ala not think It
possible taat they could hear of nv
presence before morning We fed and
picketed oar horses inside the BARNARD.
which was surrounded 81 4 strong fence
Sentinels were stationed as guard
over the horses and to arouse MS in the
event Of an alarm Many 81 the men
went 10 bed In the hayiogt, while others,
including myself. lay down ON the floor
IN the front room Of The dWelIing-house
before q big log-fr
There we're Union camps across the
river, but | had no fear Of them that
night When I woke up next morning
one OF my men came in and said the
enemy were making signals across the
river went " the backyard to recon
hotter, when ! saw one OF nay men Dick
Moran, running across the Held waving
his hat and calling out THAT the Yam
KEGS are coming Not a third of our
horses were then bridled and saddled.
l had hucitled on my arms coming ont 81
the house. As soon as got 10 the en-
closure where our horses were saw the
enemy coming through a gate about two
hundred yards OIL 1t was TOO late Is
retreat aud SO I ordered nay men to ret
ready to fight
They saddied and mounted and re-
served their fire did not have time TO
saddle my horse and had 20 lead the
charge on foot Captain Flint was 80
sure OF bagging Us THAT he ordered the
gates shut after passing through. in
order 70 prevent Us from escaping An
other squadron was in the omen field.
moving in our rear III looked bma for
me, and the many shining sabers flash
ing IN the hands Of the cayalrvmau as
they dashed toward us made me think
that at asst my Waterloo had arrived.
We we're cooped zap in the angle OF two
streams and surrounded by over four
times oar aumbce with half 8f my men
unprepared for q fight Captain Flint.
hy dividing his command, increased nay
chances Of escape a least fifty per cent.
In the previous engagements ! had
learned the superiority Of the pistol over
the saber and ordered ny men tou,e
these weapons. When Captain Flint
arrived within fifty wards of the barn
yard gate ! advanced pistol IN hand.
opened the gate and ordered nav men
that had mounted toeharge With wild
wells they dashed into the ranks Of the
Union eayalrymen. and tell you ID was
a conflict that meant life or death TO rs
all. When got through Tie gate Har.
nv Hatcher, 4 brave and valiant soldier,
dismounted and gave me his horse.
which mounted quickly aud 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, aud before his men hardly knew
i we We're among them with the death
dealing revolver. Their swords we're
no more effective than wooden ncapons
and in few minutes they began 10 re-
treat peli-mell When they reached the
closed gate they could NOS open II, ana
many persisted before ii was pushed
down.
All my men performed wonders. bat
! wish 10 speak Of Young artillery Off
Ger, Samuel + Chapman. Who quit the
study OF divinity. and like the Round
heads OF old, went into battle singing
psalms lie was with ME to go on that
.-..a I i