The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-09
The BATTLE OF TREvIllIAN.
Gen. Rosser's Paper Before the
Old Vets.
Read at the Regular Meeting of Watts
Camp Last Night-Rev. mr. Duffy Makes
an Interesting Acknowledgements to
tho Grand Encampment-Routin Bus
mess Disposed of.

The regular monthly meeting of
| Watts Camp, Confederate Veterans, was
held last night, and very enjoyable
evening was spent
Owing to the absence Of Commander
Brooks the meeting was called to order
by Adjutant Pitzer, who stated that
number of ladies were anxious to pre-
sent the camp with banner, and he
thought it would be proper to appoint
committee to select device for IL @
banner. The camp agreed with this
IDEA and Messrs. Talliaferro, Dupuy
and Judge Parrish were appoi nted tho
committee.
Col. Brooks came in at this time and
took command of the camp. The reso-
luton OF Capt Buford in regard to pro
p ring history of the war to be used
In the public schools was brought up
and a committee of Ave, with Capt Blu
ford as chairman, was appointed to con-
Ter with the camp at Richmond in re-
gard to the matter. Judge Parrish, N.
b. Johnston, Mr.. Dupuy and Capt.
Vaughn, are the other members of the
committee.
An interesting paper on the capture
OF the Union generals, Crook and
Kelly, and Adiutant General Melville,
was read by Rev. j. w. Duffy. These
.hree officers were captured at their
hotels in Cumberland, Md, by a force
of sixty Confederates under Lieut. j. C.
McNeal. At the time of the capture
there were 5000 Federal soldiers in the
city.
Mr.. .DuHys account of the march to
| Tho CITY Inv thnSn hraun
entertaining. TO John c. FAY he gave
the honor of conceiving the plan of cap
ture.
When Cumberland was reached the
command was divided into two squads.
Ono was to go the Barnum house where
| General Kelly had his headquarters,
and the other to the Brewer house,
where General Crook was CHARTERED.
In the CITY, at the same time, was
Brig Cen Hayes, afterward president
OF the United States and Gems. Light
horn and Duvall, but this was not
known to Lieut.. McNeal at the time.
The squad that was sent to the
Barnum Hotel to capture General Kelly
had no trouble in getting into tho hotel,
but they got into the wrong room where
ad]utant general was sleeping and he
was also II ade a prisoner. General
Kelly was in the next room and he was
! soon captured.
When the squad that was sent to the
BREWER House reached this hotel thew
found General Crooks room and he was
told that he was under arrest. The
general asked by whose order he was
arrested and was informed that it was
by order OF General Rosser Sergeant
Nanderver was in command of the
squad and the prisoner asked him If he
was General Rosser. YES" replied
the sergeant, II have 2,5U0 men and
have captured the town"
The march back was made under
great difficulty, but they finally landed
their prisoners in Richmond.
This paper was followed by one from
Gen. Thos. A. Rosser on the baltic of
Irevllllan's Station, which was read by
Mr.. N. V. Johnson. In 5his fight the
writer was brigadiergeneral and
commanded the Virginia (Laurel) bri-
gade in Hampton's division. Sheridan
ommanded the Union forces in this
engagement. He had come to the Army
OF the Potomac with Grant and was
supposed to be general of ability, and
the writer was afraid he would prove
TOO strong for them and preferred to
surprise him while he was living in
camp not expecting an attack.
The fight which followed, although
the contestants were cavalrymen, was
done mostly on foot as the wooded ma
ture of the country made 1t iuApracti-
cable to use horses. The fighting kept
up until after dark, when Sheridan re-
treated. In this engagement General
Rosser received wound which shat
tered the bones of his leg just below the
knee and cut an artery from which it
bled so profusely that ne tainted and
1ell from his horse. Resolutions of
thanks were adopted to Rev. Mr..
Duffey and Con. Rosser for their excel
lent papers.
MIR. n. Is. Johnston read an extract
from religious paper ca He'd the "Sol.
diers Visitor" Published at Richmond,
July 20, 1864, after which a general
discussion took place as to the best
means of reviving interest in the meet
ings and bringing out large at
tendance of members
On motion of Mr.. Johnston, COM
mittee of three, with Col. Brooke as
chairman, was appointed to consider
some means of providing entertain
ments. Judge Parrish, Mr.. Talliaferro
ana MT Johnston were appointed tho
committee.
Notlce was given that motion will
be made at the next meeting Of tho
camp to change the bylaws in regard
to meeting nights.
On motion OF Capt. Ford ladies and
the sons of Confederate veterans were
invited to attend future meetings OF the
camp, and on motion OF Capt Buford
Mrs. Lucian II. Cooke was elected an
honorary member OF the camp.
MIR. N. b. Johnston. CHI airma1 Of the
committee on entertainment, read
the names Of tho following comrades
who are expected to make addresses at
future meetings OF the Camp Messrs.
i. LOckett and W 2 Dnnuu at tho