Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-08-14

gun OF Meade's action with the re-
treating Confederates. For three
DAYS his force lay on its arms along
the crest of South Mountain, anxious
" awaiting the signal II was known
that Meade and Lee had been in close
quarters four or five days and the
thunders of battle were expected any
moment. Kelleys veterans were
wrought up to the fighting pitch, and
were literally spelling to get at the
"Johhnies." This was especially SO
of Mulligan's famous Irish brigade.
On the morning of July "A General
Kelley sent a scouting troop from the
Ringgold Cavalry, which returned
three hours. later with information
that during the night Lee had crossed
the Potomac. Kelley immediately
marched, without orders, to Williams
port, where the crossing was made,
hoping to catch belated brigade or
two, but he only got few stragglers
and some abandoned property. An
order reached him here from General
Halleck to proceed 10 Cherry Run,
seven miles above. cross the river,
and harass the enemy's right flank.
This order came near losing the whole
Of Kelley's force to Lee, for Ewell's
corps, after crossing, had gone ten or
twelve miles up before striking back
into the country, and kelley's cross
ing at Cherry Run placed him not on
the enemy's right wing, but between
/ two of the retreating columns.
Kelley marched up Back creek
seven miles in the night OF July IS lG,
and went into camp in Il gap Of North
Mountain, with headquarters in the
pretty little village OF Hedgesville.
Lees troops were struck with terror
when they found out that the Yankees
were in force at Hedgesville. They
thought it was Meade's army in hot
pursuit which had thus caught them
saddle bagged across North Noun
tain But there was JOY in the rebel
camp when the report came that IT
was only kelley's little army, instead
/ Of Meade's host Of one-hundred
thousand, and plan was immedi-
ately made to capture it. a council
Of war was held on the night of the
18th at the residence OF Charles
James Faulkner, Minister TO France
under Buchanan, which was tempora-
rily General Lees headquarters.
The Faulkner homestead is known
as Boydvile and is near Martinsburg.
1t was arranged that General Jubal
Early should take large force and
move swiftly through Bakers Gap,
about eighteen miles above Hedges
Vile, and thence down Back creek to
within reach Of Kelley's rear, to be
ready TO attack at daylight on the
18th, while General Ewell was to en-
gage Kelley simultaneously in front.
The plan was well laid and Kelley
told me it would have been pretty
certain to result in his destruction
had he not been saved by an almost
miraculous circumstance
THE PLAN TO CAPTURE KELLEY.
The council of war was attended by
a negro man servant belonging to DR..
+. Boyd Pendleton, who had been
loaned to the Faulkner household on
account of his talent as a compounder
of mint juleps, to wait on the dis
tinguished officers. While serving
juleps, cigars and other concomi-
tants OF Southern hospitality the
darkey kept his ears open, and he
picked up enough to know what was
going on. When the council was
over he went home and told his mis-
tress. Mrs. Dr. Pendleton, what he
had heard. This lady was strongly
loyal, and at great personal sacrifice
she had held ont alone and feariessly
against all her people in maintaining
her Union sentiments. On hearing
OF the plot to crush Kelley she re
solved to apprise him Of his peril,
and she sent her faithful black man
with the message, but Ewell's pickets
would not let him pass, and he came
back to his mistress Then, with u
woman's ready tact, Mrs. Pendleton
decided to send her son Nathaniel
10 wears old. TO warn General Kelley.
She gave the lad small basket and
told him to say to the guards that he
was going out to pick blackberries
The pickets patted him on the head
and let him through, telling him to
look out for snakes and Yankees, and
not to forget to come home. 1t was
but half mile to the Federal line,
and there little Nat told the officer IN
charge that he wanted 70 see General
Kelley, but no amount of quizzing
could draw from him what his errand
was. Finally the officer took the boy
on his horse and carried him TO the
headquarters. The General was alone
When the picket officers retired, the
bright little fellow told Kelley he wa'
going to be killed The General was
naturally surprised at this abrupt and
startling information, and he asked the
lad how he knew it, The boy replied
archly that he knew it because hii
mama had said so. Then, with re
turning self possession he remembered
more of his message, and he told the
General sententiously that all the
Yankees were going to be killed, too!
ABABY MEssENGER.
The Generals surprise gave way tC
amusement. He thought he haG
=. "a