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

tance OF the DON tTIdLN anu N'NAANNN
moments delay he dispatched
squadron Of cavalry under Captain
Hart. a gallant and trusted officer, 10
scout the Back creek country "a far
up as Bakers Gap. This was AT IN
the afternoon Between and the
cavalry came back at storming gait
with report that Early's troops IN
great force had gone into camp at
Tamahawk Springs. a short distance
above. at o'clock.
The warning was thus fully con
firmed and General Kelly concluded
the best thing TO do was 10 break
camp and get away ~ soon n po2ti'
BILE. He ordered his men to gather as
msny fence rails and dry limbs as they
could and make line OF fires, which
should satisfy the enemy that he was
living in bivouac calmly unconscious
OF his impending fate. AT an or
der was given 10 withdraw down
Back creek to the Potomac. aud the
retreat was executed in perfect mir
tarv order. The artillery moved
first. the infantry next and the caNal-
ry guarded the rear. At midnight
the little army was all at the river
and the first streak OF drawn broke
upon the last man to wade TO Mary
land shore
With the precision OF an action IN
the drama a large force OF Confeder-
ate cavalry came dashing down the
creek, with II mighty laundering oi
hoofs and the wild blare Of many
bugles, just in time TO find It's game
beyond reach and drawn up in II line
of battle on the other shore, ready To
receive early callers But the caVal
nv had no mind Of making such call
With loud wells and a few stray shots
il headed back up the creek IN slow
trot.
Thus smart Virginia woman foiled
three great, if not the greatest, Con
federate leaders i'm one Of the best
pieces Of strategy the history Of the
war affords.
GENERAL KELLEY'S GRATITUDE.
General Kelley never forgot his ut
| tie savior. He had carefully noted
his name, and a. the years passed by,
after peace was restored, he watched
the Youngsters growth until he be
came OF suitable age for cadetship.
Then General Kelley went to Presi-
dent Grant and told him of his provi
Dental escape throught the agency
of the boy and his mother, 1t was
, the first time the story had passed his
/ lips. Then he said:
Nov, Mr. President, ! have never
asked favor of the Government, and
| shall never ask another. want
you to help me to pay this debt OF
gratitude and OF loyalty. want
this lad appointed rs cadet AT the
| Military Academy, and ! want 1t done
to-day, sir"
The President sat and smoked Mt
least two minutes, without speaking,
though it seemed ten. Then he said:
ut shall be done to-day, General
Kelley. 1t is very appropriate and |
will take pleasure in doing ii. "
Within two hours the appointment
was brought to the hotel by one Of
the executive clerks and placed in
| General Kelley hands TO be delivered
to Master Nathaniel Pendleton.
The young man went 10 the Acad
/ emy, but Gid not get in. Like most
! Southern youngsters OF quality at his
age he was good Greek aud Latin
/ scholar. but was deficient i'm the En-
/ glish elements. He il now the pub
Usher OF Il prosperous newspaper at
Berkeley Springs, better station in
/ life than TO be an army lieutenant in
time OF peace.
! HOW EARLY GOT EVEN.
General Kelley also told the story
\ OF his capture with Crook. In Feb
ruary. 1866, when the war was closing
and vigilance on the upper Potomac
was relaxed, an audacious little
band Of rebel gueriIlas under Captain
/ O'Neal made night dash into Cum
berland, dragged Generals Kelley and
/ Crook out OF bed and carried them of,
all in the twinkling Of All eye. The
plan was laid by one OF the guerillas,
Jim Dailay by name, haruDscaruni
fellow, who was brother-in-law OF
! Crook. General Crook had married
Mary Daley, pretty Irish girl, out
Of a rebel family at Oakland, the
daughter Of "a tavern keeper, and her
brother Jim thought it. would be Il
very smart thing to make the capture.
They were taken TO Richmond, by
way Of Shenandoah Valley, rs prison
ers OF war. On reaching StauntOn
the distinguished prisoners were TAX
en- to Early's headquarters. The
great rebel leader received them very
Hospitality. he regretted that the
fortunes Of war made it necessary FOL
him to regard them as prisoners rath
er than a. guests. Then he said tt
Kelley:
Il intended TO have had the pleas
ure myself OF capturing you and YOU
supply train at Hedgesville, bot yot
mysteriously gave me the slip anc
you didn't leave cracker behind
Ny army went without breakfas
that morning, sir! | had estimated
that il would be a fair morning
work before breakfast TO take you
and we had depended on your sup
I niles