Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-05-03
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
MossYs FAMOUS RAID.
Tho Guerrilla Captain Tells of a Thrilling
Episode of tho Wnr,

ranger, but called a guerrilla all the
same, talked thus recently to a New
York Herald reporter:
"In April. 1868, General j. L. b. Stu
art, the dashing Prince Rupert of the
Confederacy, recommended that / be
promoted to tho rank of Major, which
promptly received tho Endorsement of
tho Secretary of War; j. A. Seddon. In
order to signalize my advancement 1
proposed to go on rather a big raid and
bag small army of Union cavalry.
"About three hundred cavalry were at
Dranesville and / harassed them so
much that they did not put their picket
line half mile from camp. l wrote to
General Stuart and advised him to send
a small force and capture them, but he
was busy watching for Hooker to cross
the Rappahannock and could not spare
any troops l resolved to scoop the three
hundred by surprising them.
'On the 31st of March ] was met at
Rector's Cross Roads, in Loudon Coun-
ty, by siXty-nine men, the largest force
had ever had under me up to that
time. They were q motley crowd, though
somewhat better dressed than Falstatf's
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 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 so on expeditions that
were hazardous and often richly re-
warded.
Getting near Dranesville l learned
that the enemy had broken camp and
gone beyond Difficult Run, several miles
below. Passing through Dranesville we
travelled to Miskers farm, which was in
the forks of Goose Creek, and the Poto-
mac river. Snow was on the ground,
although it was the last day of March,
and we were glad to rest and warm our
selves.
THE enemy were camped about fif-
teen miles below and l did not think it
possible that they could hear of my
presence before morning. We fed and
picketed our horses inside the barnyard
which was surrounded by strong fence.
Sentinels were stationed as a guard
over the horses and to arouse us in the
event of an alarm. Many of the men
went to bed in the hayloft, while others,
including myself, lay down on the floor
in the front room of the dwelling house
before big log-fire.
'There were Union camps across the
river, but I had no fear of them that
night. When l woke up next morning
ono of my men came in and said the
enemy were making signals across the
river. / went to the backyard to recon
noiter, when l saw one of my men, Dick
Moran, running across the field waving
his hat and calling out that the Yam
KEGS are coming Not a third OF our
horses were then bridled and saddled.
] had buckled on my arms coming out OF
the house. AS soon as / got to the en-
| closure where our horses were / saw the
enemy coming through gate about two
hundred yards off. 1t was too late tc
retreat, and so l ordered my men to gel
ready to fight.
They saddled and mounted and re
served their fire. / did not have time tc
saddle my horse and had to lead the
charge on foot. Captain Flint was sc
sure of bagging US that he ordered the
gates shut after passing through, il
order to prevent US from escaping. An
other squadron was in the open field
moving in our rear. 1t looked blue fol
me, and the many shining sabers flash
ing in the hands OF the cavalryman a'
they dashed toward US made me think
that at last my Waterloo had arrived
We were cooped up in the angle of two
streams and surrounded by over foul
times our number, with half of my mcr
unprepared for fight. Captain Flint
by dividing his command, increased my
chances of escape at least fifty per cent
''In the previous engagements l hat
learned the superiority of the pistol owe
the saber and ordered my men to us'
these weapons. When Captain Film
arrived within fifty yards of the barn
yard gate / advanced, pistol in hand
opened the gate and ordered my mel
that had mounted to charge. With wilC
yells they dashed into the ranks of thu
Union cavalrymen, and l tell you it wa
conflict that meant life or death to u
all. When got through the gate Har
ry Hatcher, brave and valiant soldier
dismounted and gave me his horse
which L mounted quickly and rode int
the fray.
'Our tactics completely surprised
Captain Flint, who evidently though
we would remain on the defensive. Ii
a few seconds the Captain was sho
dead, and before his men hardly knew
it we were among them with the death
dealing revolver. Their swords wer
no more effective than wooden weapon
and in few minutes they began to re
treat peil-mell When they reached tn
closed gate they could not open it, ant
many perished before it was pushe,
down.
"All my men performed wonders, bu
wish to speak of young artillery off
Ger, Samuel +. Chapman, who quit tn
study of divinity, and, like the Round
heads of old, went into battle singin
psalms. He was with me to go on tina
special raid and when 1 saw the unio
soldiers closing in upon us that brigh
April morning l thought that youn
\ I