The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-23
A CLOSE CALL.
A "Reminiscences of the Shenandoah Valley.

which have no place in the reports of military
commanders or writers of general history.
The rebel cavalry and their murder0us allies,
the guerrilas, were watchful aud active; aud
the adventurous "Yank" who strayed far
from camp or from the column on the march
was almost sure of getting into difficulty,
belonged 10 the cavalry arm, being mem-
Der of the ID w. Va. Cav, and | shall try to
relate in as plain and brief manner as can,
what happened to a comrade of my company
and myself during that campaign
/ think IL WIS about the 9th of October, 1861,
that the cavalry began falling back toward
Winchester after raidng mp the Valley as far
as StauntOu. l had been afflicted with that
haue OF a soldiers life, diarrhca, since August,
and was IN consequence. almost played out.
However, / determined to stick to the saddle
il possible until the campaign closed; and |
did SO. but II required the use of all the sand
that possessed 10 carry me through.
One afternoon on the return march we trav-
eled pretty lively, and the rapid motion OF my
horse, by no means smooth traveller, caused
me SO much suffering that determined to fall
out of column, strike slower gait. and take
the risk. Comrade Davis proposed staying
with me- and said all right So we logged
along some distance i'm rear of the column,
which did not halt until reaching lIarrisonburg
about dark. As il was quite dark when we
got in, and knowing that Il would take us some
time 10 find our regiment IN the darkness, we
buukcd down IN fence corner all TO ourselves.
We prepared bite of supper, fed our horses,
rolled up i'm our blankets, aud were soon asleep.
When We awolc in the morning the sun was
shining brightly. aud all was hustle in the
camps about rs. We leisurely cooked and ate
| our breakfast, fed our horses, saddied up, and
started TO JON the command but found. TO our
surprise, that the cavalry were couc-had
MAJ Ched away at daylight. MS some infantry
men told Us. So we started down the Ninchcs-
ter pike, surprising they had gone that way.
After going some two or three miles we over
took a squadron Of the I4th Pa Cav, and the
Captain in command informed us that his
squadron was the only cavalry on that road,
the command having gone another routc, and
that he was ordered to Mt Jackson To guard
a bridge. ! then said 10 Davis that we must
take the back track TO Harrsonburg. get onto
the Luray road, and overtake the cavalry as
soon as possible.
But TO this the Captain demurred saying
that If we attempted IL we would surely be-
killed or captured before overtak ing our regi-
ment He urged us TO continue on with him
10 MI. jackson, and as he only expected TO re-
main there few days We reluctantly concluded
10 do So
When we reached tho bridge at that place
the Pennsylvania squadron put up some pup
tents, which they brought with them, on the
south side OF the stream aud on the east side of
the pike. just across the pike from their camp
stood an old log cabin minus doors windows
and a portion of the floor, but with a fairly
good roof, aud in this Davis. myself and two
Others who had in some way strayed from their
commands established our quarters. i forget
10 whose command those men belonged, but !
think one was a Sergeant and the other a clerk
at some officers headquarters.
There was good-sized hole in the center Of
the roof oil the cabin. from which portion of
the smoke from fire which we made in the
center oil the hut found cgrcss. On our side Of
the pike was a large cornhcld, running close mp
TO the back door Of our quarters. We pickctcd
our horses in close proximity to the cabin, and
settled down TO make the best of it.
The next day passed by tameiy enough. and
the f0nr Of Us planned that we would do q lit
tie scouting and foraging on the morrow IL the
Captain did not object. He consented, with
the injunction that we keep our eyes and cars
open, and not 90 too far from camp. This last
injunction We did not obey 70 the letter, going
as far as New Market which is, believe, some
eight or 10 miles above Mt. Jackson.
Our object IN going so FAR was 90 obtain in
formation Of the cavalry, but we could hear
nothing. We were not molcsted, but on the
march back 10 camp saw abundant signs from
the far of hiiltoUs each side Of the pike that
We were being well watched bv tho enemy. and
we were satisfied by the time We reached camp
that there were rcbs enough within 10 miles Of
Mt Jackson To clean out our little force in u
july, and We so reported 10 the Captain. He
however, did not see il in that light, aud scout
ed the idea Of McSeili's guerillas tackiiug
squadron Of cavalry. Davis seemed 20 think rs
the Captain did, and threw aside his arms
carelessly and stripped 20 bis shirt aud pants
upon lying down that night Against this /
protested, but 20 30 purpose. But was much
disturbed and very uneasy, and If ever had
presentiment that was the time
j seemed 10 feel. in fact 10 know that we
would be attacked before morning. i there
fore kept my arms where / could put my hands
OH them IN q moment and did not remove any
portion Of my clothing. / stretched myself
upon my blanket long after the others had gone
20 sleep, but there WAS no sleep for me that
night. / tossed from side 10 side thinking the
4 night would never end. AT last began to feel
a BIT chilly, for the nights were quite cool and
arising, stirred the fire. As soon az il emitted
faint blaze ] began fumbiinP for my watch TO
ascertain the time But shall never know
what the watch would have told me; for was
/ interrupted by the shTill rebel yell, and what
seemed 70 inc the thunder Of a million ho0f-
| beats on the muTky morning air. No time for
| iooing now. had my arms strapped on in
/ moment.
| l then grabbed Davis, who was snoring
l Bwcetly, aud shook him until his teeth ratified
I Next ! gave the Sergeant and Hcadqnarter
I Clerk a sounding kick each, with a pleasant
/ information that the Philigtines were upon US.
/ Ny horse was saddled. brdled and tied 10 "A
3 cherry tree about - feet from the front door.
/ DaVis's horse was tied 10 the windOw-casing
near the door. spranR to my horse, united
him, placed my foot in the gtirrup ready 10
mount, and drew my pistol. / knew if the
] Tebs, who were now shooting and shouting
/ among the tents across the pike, saw the light
I from our fire they would surely come that
4 way, and made up my mind right there that
Y would not 20 with them as a prisoner, be-
I cause IN my condition "a that time a rebel
prison would have been certain death.
IL a low voice ! urged Davis and the others
% hurry up but they could not find their
clothes, their aTms-in fact, nothing. Finally
| Davis gave up the hunt aud began uutying his
horse. Just then two Johnnies, no doubt at
! tracted by the light came across the pike at IA
1 doR-trot, and, accOsting Davis, asked what nc
| was doing. He replied that he was untying
that horse. They evidently took him for one
/ Of their own men, as Que of them told him 10
hurry up and get the horse, and that they must
| skin out Of there IN hurry that about half the
| Yanks bad got away aud were hid among the
corn, and might give them trouble when day
light came. They then passed into the hut,
just AZ the Sergeant aud the Clerk sprang out
al the back door into the corn. with the rebeis
close after them. Now" / said to Davis " Is
our time before any more Of them come this
way"
We mounted and rode quietly TO the ford.
just above the bridge, and into the water. Az
We neared the shore on the north side we were
suddenly brought up standing by sharp halt,
uttered in a low tone, and two or three carbinea
thrust full IN our faces. Like fash IL came to
a