West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-03-22
Written fer the Aasvs.
A TALE OF THE WAR PERIOD.
BY W. SCOTT GARNER.

"
historical research in another part
Of the country, / encountered a gen.
tieman who had visited Kingwood
IN 1868, and whs proved most in.
telligentand Interesting companion.
Wnen our days labor was ended
and We sat &C ccntentedly smoking our
cigars by u comfortable fire, he be-
gan asking me questions about
West Virginia, aud the conver-
sation finally drifted back to the
past and took up the intense years
of the civil war. During the even
ing he told me, among other things
of local interest, the following
story. connected with the times of
the war. in the events of which he
personally participated.
In July, 1868, a party OF some
thirty men from the vicinity OF
Glover's Gap. IN Marion county.
started to join the Southern army
in the Valley of Virginia. Some Of
them were armed and others we're
not. Among the numb Der were three
or four clothed in the regular grey
uniform of the Confederate soldier.
while all the others wore citizens
dress. On their way east this COM
pany passed through Mouongalia
county, providing themselves with
horses stolen from the farmers liv-
ing along their line of march. They
made their way across Clinton dis
trict, and on the Kngwood road /,
near the point where it is inter
sected by the road from Fetterman,
they met farmer named Granville
Brown, returning from GladesvIlle
IN Preston county. MIR. Brown was
riding IA fine horse, which they pro-
ceedcd to confiscate without cere-
mony, though they made no effort
10 detain the rider.
Some of the men whose horses
had been taken held hasty con
sultntion and determined to arm
themselves and follow the Confed-
crates, in hopes Of recovering their
property. Accordingly some ten or
twelve. among whom were Granville
Brown, William Thompson and
Hcnry Betll, started in pursuit.
Meanwhile word had been hastily
sent to the commanding officer ut
fctterman, where considerable
number Of Federal troops were sta
toned, and detachment of sixty
men under the gallant Captain Par
ker, who was afterward killed ut
Rocay Gap, was started toward
Morgantown for the purpose Of in.
tercepting the Johnnies. This body
of soldiers reached the Kingwoed
road about one hour after the Con-
federates bad passed, but learning
he direction taken by them, imme.
dlately pushed on toward King
wood, and some three miles west OF
Zinn's mill they overlook the party
Of Monengalla citizens who had
started to recover their stolen horses.
A short consultation was held,
which resulted in the return to
their homes of all the Monongalia
farmers except Granville Brown,
who was engaged to pilot Captain
Parker's command through to
Kingwood. They pushed on aud
arrived at the toll gate near
kingwood about eleven o'clock that
night. William Stone lived there
at the time, and OF him they made
inquiries and learned that some
time previous two men had ridden
up and asked for the news. They
were told that q company Of soldiers
had come from Rowlesburg that
evening and we're then encamped at
kingwood. On receiving this in
formation they had turned back up
the pike, and it was then noticed
by Mr.. Stone that a number Of
other mounted men we're in the
road some distance above, but it
was too dark to tell how many.
When this was reported 10 Cap
tain Parker, he sent scouts out
through the Hackslbarney country
and back along the pike, to find out
where the fugitives had left the
road and what direction they had
taken. It was soon discovered that
they had turned to the right and
were making a detour around King.
wood on the south. Captain Par