Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-02-17
A RIDE FOR STONEWALL.

fought on March %, 1882, and for the
only time in his military career Gen
eral Jackson was beaten. True, he
contended against heavy odds, &C
complished his purpose of retaining
Banks and his army in the valley, and
was thanked by a resolution of the
Confederate Congress, but the fact re-
mains, his marvellous record contains
this one defeat.
The army returned to its former
camp, south of Mount Jackson and
near Rude's Hill. was Young and
still a younger looking second lieu
tenant in the Second Virginia Regi
ment, Stonewall Brigade. One raw,
cold day, near the middle Of April, |
was ordered to report at once at head
quarters for special duty.
AT army headquarters was intro
duced to General Jackson, who re-
ceived Inc with his characteristic po-
liteness and few words. After dinner
he withdrew TO his room and l saw
no more of him that day.
For several days l was engaged with
Colonel Baylor, arranging the con-
scripted militia and assigning them to
old regiments.
On April II General Banks ad-
vanced, and General Jackson broke
camp and moved further up the val
ley | was left behind with cavalry.
The next day we reached Harrison
burg, and about the time of setting
sun General Jackson called for me.
The heavens were covered with black
clouds and the rain was descending
in torrents. The General handed me
a paper from under his rubber cape
and requested me to take it to Gen
eral Ewel. Surprised to hear that
Ewell was in the vicinity, l innocent
ly asked where | would find him. He
quietly replied that he was on the 9th
er side of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
somewhere near Culpeper Court
House, and while my heart stood still
with amazement he told me the con-
tents of the paper, and added that as
it was very important he did not care
to send it by courier and wanted it
delivered by daylight in the morning.
/ ca,
paralyzed. / had never been over
foot OF the intervening country, had
only vague idea that Culpeper was
somewhere beyond the mountains,
but how to get there | could not i'm
agine. And then night was upon US;
it was raining like the deluge and l
had already ridden to and fro that
day about twenty-five miles. But
young man soon rallies, and | quickly
pulled myself. l was being weighed
in the balance, right there, and | de-
termined to throw all my weight in
the scales.
General, 1 will start at once if l
can get horse"
Take my mare" said generous
Kidder Meade, Of the staff, and
strike for Stanardsville first"
As rode away on Meade's beau'i-
full dun mare the voice Of the General
followed me-"a successful and pleas
ant ride" 1t was kindly meant, but
it sounded like sarcasm. Forward l
went into the mud and into the night,
every minute growing darker and
wetter. All WEAKNESS was gone, and
l felt as fresh as my mettled horse. In
a little while | was rounding the base
of the Massanutton Mountain, where
it breaks as abruptly down into the
valley as it rises from it as Strasbnrg.
The towering mass only Mortified the
night. Then on through McGaheys
vile and across the South Fork OF the
Shenandoah to Conrad's store. Here,
as l approached the Blue Ridge, |
felt almost helpless in the impenetra-
BILE stormy night. l stopped to make
some inquiries and procured small
bottle Of whiskey for an emergency.
Then into and up the black noun
tain. Vision was hopeless, but fortu-
nately the road was solid and fairly
good and my horse could keep 10 ii.
| could reach out and feel her neck
and ears. but coud not see them NY
speed was necessarily slackened, not
only because horse cannot climb a
mountain like goat, but safety re
uuired some caution. At tines |
heard the water rush under us and
across the road aud tumble in tor
rents so far down below that / knew
we were travelling along perllous
edges. The ascent seemed very steep
and very long. At last we reached
the summit of Swift Run Gap. 1t was
from this summit and through this
gap that Governor Spotswood and
his Knights of the Golden Horseshoe,
in 171e, obtained the white mans first
view OF the Valley Of the Shenandoah.
From the same point OF view l did
not partake Of their enchantment.
But Just here | met a knight Of
less romantic order. He was be-
lated, drowsy, bedraggled courier
plodding his way from Ewell to Jack
son. From him extracted some use
full information as to my route and in
return gave him pull at my flask. 1t
was vile stuff, but as he seemed to like
it l gave him the bottle and left him
on the summit.
The descent was quicker. and | soon
went plunging into Stanardsville,
having gone thirtyseven miles on
that blooded mare. Here tried to
get another horse, but failed. My ef-
forts cost me half an hour. and then l