Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-07-25
ALOVER In EACH ARMY.

south. There viii be a storm to
day. said Johnnie Bellos, at Maj
tinsburg, w. Va, September l, 1864
1 Our regiment was being mustered
for pay, aud our company in lint
waiting for its pay, and GU
company was out in line waiting fol
its turn. A corporal asked Bellos
What he maent by saying there
would be a storm, when the morn
ing was clear and cool. Bellos re
Piled as he pointed to a house a few
hundred yards away on the south
err suburbs Of the town: "Do yoU
see that girl at the top window
she is an indicator, and faces the
south. ! have often noticed thai
every time the enemy moves toward
Martinsburg she is at the window
| believe she is u southern spy, OF
some spy keeps her posted" The
boys tried to tease Bellos by telling
him that the young lady at the win
dow was Only trying to fiirt with
HIM. No." said Bellos. 1.-THE
girl at the top window will make
signs to the enemy aud let them
know the number of troops that are
around Martinsburg."
Colonel Schoonmaker, commander
Of The fourteenth Pennsylvania Cav
airy. had just finished mastering
Company l. and had come to ON
company, X. He took the orderly
sergeant'S book and began to cal
each man by name. Whiz whiz
whiz said three bullets, as they
flew over our heads. g what did
tell you said Johnnie Bellos. "See
our camp Is attacked, and The
enemy is right on us" AS our com
pany happened TO be lhe nearest tt
the enemy a few volunteer skirmish
ers were called for aud [ went Will
the rest. | was told to go upon tht
top of a hill towards North Noun
tain, where ] got good view OF oul
camp: saw our men set fire to three
hundred bushels Of oats in sacks
that belonged to our brigade, and
also the commissary stores. | saw
the position ofeach of our regiments
saw the Confederates' infantry line
march towards the eighth Ohio Cav
airy, which was dismounted to fight
in line behind stone fence. While
| was watching the different move
ments, brigade Of Confederate
cavalry came charging over the bill
and was nearly upon me before !
saw it. layed fat down on my
gray horse and used my spurs. The
horse ran as fast as he could down 3
hill alongside of a rail fence that
protected me trom the bullets.
came across picket post and yelled
I" The rebs are upon you" Somi
OF the pickets mounted their horses
and got away. Others were captnr
ed. Two men were captured in {
field trying to jump their horses
over a fence. | soon reached thu
brigade, which had fallen back
through MartiHsburg in good order
The brigade fell back to Williams
port. About a dozen men from DIFF
ferent regiments reached Williams
port too soon. General Averil
made them carry fence rails fol
hours, as a punishment for leaving
their respective commads in time 0
danger without orders.
The next day we marched back tC
Martinsburg. We looked for th(
girl at the widow, but she was no
there. No storm to day. sale
BeIIos. September the 3rd we ad
vanced to Bucklestown, where oul
brigade had u lively skirmish will
the enemy. Major Foley, comman
der OF the Second Battalion of ouI
regiment, was wounded
The next day our brigade march
ed through Bunker Hill and on to
wards Winchester in line Of battle
We threw down all the rail fences
as we went along, for we knew tina
General Early's army WAS encampet
at Winchester, and that we wer,
liable 10 come back much taste
than VIC advanced. That night til,
brigade remained mounted in line o
battle.
ARACE FOR LIFE.
The next morning (the 5th) it wa
showery. We advanced within sil
miles Of Winchester and halted
d. Oar battalion (the 3rd) remained Oh
the skirmish line; the rest of th'
brigade fed their horses and madt
coffee.
While on the skirmiSh line tina
afternoon Lieutenant Kelley tolC
James Kilgore and the writer that
as we had good horses, we were t,
take a ride around a small bill OF
our right to see il the enemy wa
moving column from that direc
ton. Kilgore aud l rode down {
lane, passed by IL barn and wen
through gate, which opened int
a field. With Kilgore in the Leaf
we followed path that led arount
the hill. Before we got around th'
hill l thought Of the old saying
"The man who looks back will new
er be shot in the back" l looket
back and saw coming out of a thick
ct ten mounted men, dressed il
United States uniforms. / knew a
once that they were either Confeder
ate scouts or Mosby's men. Icalled t.
kilgore. We turned our horses ant
spufred them towards the gate. Th
Confederates also made for the gate
and within ten rods of the gate W
were all together. They called to Il
to surrender, but we paid no atter
ton. We got through the gate
but the Confederates stopped at il
They did not shoot, for they kney
the shots would draw the attention
of the right of our skirmish line
which was 4 short distance away
All this was done quicker than | ca
tell it. The ten Confederates GO
away.
THE STRONGEST ARTILLERY
ABOVE.
La the afternoon General Aver
) ordered his squadron to move il
line Of battle. When we came t
, I