The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-04

taken from the ulllef SIDE OF TIE hLOfAt Inc
writer OF this became well aud personally ac-
quainted with Gen. Miles carly IN the Spring
of 1862 ] never saw anything 10 make me
think that be was not true to our flag, but 90
think he was little timid and would rather
have been little ways from a battle. j also
fhink be liked to be on the safe side Of the
fence was under his immediate command
through the Spring Of lace, and ] was more or
less with him, as my company did picket duty
al Halltown aud Charlestown until tho 25th Of
May, when the battle Of Winchester was
fought
Col Miles did not like the regiment be-
lonred TO- aud told me If he ever got the chance
he would send us 10 the bad place and he did
as he sent us into battle without arms, as we
bad but a few old Hall carbnes, which were
worthless With such arms the regiment was
sent into tho battle Of Winchester. As the
regiment was scattered, 1 reported TO Col.
Miles aud FOR some reason lac took q liking for
my company, aud wanted as 10 take artillery
and stay &C liarper's Ferry with him, but as
we had enlisted IN another branch Of the sory-
ice ID was that or nothing with US. We got 10
afterwards as history shows.
i visited Col Miles often, and be would grant
me anything wanted Tor my company, and as
there was not much lighting, j asked him for
furough to go home. He granted ID, with
proviso for only 10 days that ii he telegraphed
me before the time was out WAS TO come inn
mediately and be told me there soon would be
q fight aud he wanted every man, aud especially
officers, at their post On the sixth day Of my
absence j received Telegram 10 report imme-
Ciatey. ] did SO, aud lac acknowledged my
prOmpincss with compliment j was driven
into Harpcrs Ferry aud reported Immediately
20 Col Miles. lie told me that lie would hold
the Ferry as long as he could, but thought it
would be useless, as he had information that
jackson had 10000 men.
j. with my company, was scouting every day.
We would 20 As Ear as Berry vile, and sometimes
further, aud report 10 Col. Mics every evening.
Id was At tins time that thought Miles favored
the J0hHuies, as he would show it sometimes.
] had been presented with splendid rife, and
always carried ID on scouting pedItiOus. One
day while out aud not lgr from a stone school
house between liarpcT's Ferry and Charles
town, saw = small company of men. ] dis.
mounted crawed along close TO the wall Of the
house. aud got within 20 rods of the men.
Soon ] SAW StOHeNall jackson come out OF the
woods leading his horse, and in one hand had
his fiela-gass. HestoppeG, and while his horse
was drinking was survey wing our forces on B0li-
var Nights. ] could have killed him easy, aud
without much danger 70 myself brought my
rife 10 my face number Of times, but could
not shoot, as ] thought 10 would be murder.
lie let haze horse drink and lcsurely mounted
and rode into the woods.
When i reported 10 Miles that night and told
him OF the circumstance be took me by the
hand aud shook ID heartily and made the re-
mark that he was glad did not shoot jackson.
] was surprised, and thought he. showed weak
spot
AT another time ] had the luck Of saving
Chariestown from being burnt After the
Town Hail was burnt, 4 with my company,
drove out those who bad set Il on FIRE, got out
the citizens, and saved the town. When re-
ported 10 Miles what 4 had done lie was &c
rtIr lr~ A.
self lie asked me IL ] would 20 home with
linn when he went again; he told me be lived
not lar ifam Baltimore. IN al Of my acquaiut.
Huce with lIlm i believed him 10 be true and
loyal hut Dee bad many friends on the other
side hc would sympatAize with them, but mol
20 The detfimeut Of our cause. The Johnnie,
left the Valley without taking Harpcr's Ferry
On june p ls62 my company, with the RESI-
Of the regiment, was ordered TO the Relax
House. Mda where we were properly equipped
and made ready for the Fall campaign, aud
Regular Army officer, B II Davis, appointed
as our Colonel. ON the 29th Of August we wcr,
once more ordered 30 HupeFs Ferry, and an
rived There the next day iu good shape ant
READY ior light. We found 90 IaTper's Fcuy
the l2th ID. Cav, squadron ofthe Isl Nd an,
partot tHcfth ri Cav, besides some few othe
cavalry making our cavalry force between
1900 and goo Dol ALL
j notice Ia looking over my note book tia
VIC bad 81 pieces Of artillery in Harper's Ferry
also two siege guns on Maryland flights AM
about u 600 infantry; have most OF the Tegi
monis named boz my book. We secuted the Val
Icy once more, and my note book gives som
very Interesting and daring accounts whic
VIII never b. mentioned. But 81 one j mus
speak. An officer Of the sth n y Cav. va
leading hls company along the south side
Harper Ferry and the Johunies then Occu
pied L0uduuI--l ehts They threw shell an
aHr HH.t.. .f. IsHa
the fuse sta burning, when the officer jumpe
from II- horse. gIasped the she'll and threw
into NIe ultl-Tace1 Whore 10 exploded, throw in
water over d good part Of the company III
bad nor been Tor this daring act The C0mpau
would have been nearly wiped out ofcxistcuc
VIII such derls ever bc paid f0ry But that on
Ger Frce we'd Hls reward when hc saved his mel
We bad uoi been ut narpurs Ferry long b,
fore we found we were surrounded. ] sa
Gen. AlIr twice o. three times every day. an
talked with lIm. Il0 would say: There
DO danger, jackson viii not disturb u.s."
asked d Ilrs why hc dad not throw his forces d
Maryland Rights. Tie made The rcmari
We are safe enough On the 18th Of Sci
lenbeI iAe luu began. Shot aud shell eau
thick aud fast. Our regiment was oucamp,
pa the south part 81 the town, bGtWCon London
aud Bolivar flights, tile shot going over OF
heads. making lively time ioI the boys
went ald saw Gen. Miles and hc seemed abo
az calm as bee usually Was, not seeming 10
alarmed about our having 10 surrender
Ou Saturday the officers Ol our regiment we
called to Col Daylss quarters, aud propoi
ti0u made That we fight our way out OF Tia
pcr's Igry That night permission was ask,
81 Miles, bul refused. lie said II would be
useless sacrifice OF lives. The attempt ~
given up IHt o. light but on Sunday ID was aga
aEitatod and a council Oi officers Of tie A..
uIeut called when we agreed 10 follow o
Colonel whether Gen. Miles was willing or nt
Zach officer Was sent 10 lbs company with
oers 10 cali all men into line, ssk them to !