The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-13

Monday night before Watts Camp of
Confederate Veterans:
Ga April 8, 1865, tho drv on which
Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomat-
tox. General Stoneman in command of
some eight thousand cavalry and
artillery was in the county of Patrick
which lies upon the North Carolina line
with its western border skirting the top
of tho Blue Ridge. The county wa5
then fifty miles from any railroad and
within its mountain Businesses many
deserters had found safe retreats.
Some OF theu from the far South, and
some from more contiguous sections.
General Stoneman remained at the
county seat some two days getting his
forces we'll in hand before he pushed
his advance into North Carolina to form
junction with General Sherman.
Whom he left tho county number of
his men deserted and finding congenial
spirits in the deserters from the South
ern army, who hal congregated in largo
numbers, they determined to organize
body OF raiders" intent on plumber
and robbery.
The scene Of rendezvous was at tho
homo OF MS. Martha Brown, who lived
on Rupell creek, some six miles south
of tho courthouse. A Federal soldier,
who wore sergcants uniform and who
was called by his associates CAPTAIN
Scott was the commander and organizer
of the body. Within few DAYS after
Stoneman had marched from the county
Scott had gathered around him somo
two hundred men, hardened, desperate
and lawless. Mrs Brown had three
sons and son-in-law who were desert
ers, and hence her homestead was Sc
lectcd for headquarters. a Federal flag
was hoistcd upon pole in the yard and
for short time the raiders would
keep quiet, with picket5 posted to give
alarm during the day, but at nights
parties would scour the country and
steal horses, wagons, provisions and
brandy. just at this juncture news of
the surrender Of General Lee reached
the county and the widest confusion at
once prevailed. All knew the Con.
federacy to be at an end.
The civil officers, powerloss and de-
moralized, refused to act. There was
not an organized force OF any kind
nearer than the city of Richmond, two
hundred miles distant. Captain
Scott" and his followers Saw at once
their opportunity and made the most of
1T. Inc entire country for twenty miles
was laid under contribution to them.
Armed bodies of men were sent out
moth day and night, citizens were ares
ted ana held as hostages, women and
children frightened and iobberies were
committed in the most wantOn and fla
grant manner. Proclamation was sent
forth that If any effort was made to
resist them they would burp the houses
OF those who attempted it, AT tho
camp scene of debauch and carousal
was carried on without inJcrmission.
A pretended form of government was
set up and the oath OF allegiance to
the United States was administered
Capt Scott was supreme.
Deserters from the Confederate army
had been hunted by enrolled officers
until they were possessed with bitter
hatred for all who were loyal to tho
South, and they were hot for retaliation
and eager to pursue those who had
been pursuers. The negroes from whose
limbs tho letters of slavery had been
struck by the success of General Grant,
with an alacrity which was natural,
were ready to obey any command which
might be given by soldier who wore
tho blue" SCOTS command consist3d
of about one hundred and a fly of the
former class, fifty of tho latter and six
deserters from the Federal army.
These days have long since pass cd,
and the incidents here given are Of NO
Importance except to illustrate tho con-
dition Of the Southern States in the
interim between the downfall of the
Confectionery and the re-esta blishment
of State Governments under the consti-
tuition Of the United States.
10 attempt a detailed account of the
fragrant acts OF this lawless band would
be tedious and without profit, but it
may not be aIhiSS to review tho attack
upon the home OF Geo. w. Hylton. He
was in the Confederate army. His wife
was almost the only white person upon
his farm, where there were probably
fifty negroes. Scott's men went there
to plumber the premises, entered the
dwelling and found Mrs. Hylton on tho
eve of childbirth, they sacked the
house and in the eXctementa premature
delivery was brought upon her, from
which she died.
In the meantime the soldiers from the
disbanded army were returning home.
SCOTS men had been terrorizing tho
county about two weeks. The writer
of this article detcremined to make an
effort to break up and capture the band.
lie secured four or five trusty young
men and sent them into the county of
Henry to organize company for relief.
Instructions were given them to meet
at designated point at 0 o'clock at
night with all the soldiers they could
gather for the purpose of surprising the
camp. At the appointed time the run
ners met having secured about seventy
five men armed with army muskets, and
on broken down horses, who were az