The National tribune., 1894-12-20
FIRST VT. CAV. ON A RAID
Mosby Scooped the Piclets from Under
their Very Nn.na.

Mosby Scooped the Piclets from Under
Their Very Noses.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Not wishing
to have people for a moment think the 9th n.
Y. Cav, spoken Of in recent article, were
not what they seemed, / will relate bigger
one on the 1st VT Cav, myself included.
During the Winter of 1862, '63, a detach-
ment from several regiments was sent to
Dranesyllle, Va, on picket, with also q
picket-post at Herndon Station, some
three OF four miles from Dranesviile, on
the railroad running from Alexandria to
Vienna and Leesburg No one was fully Salts
fled as TO why this picket-post was kept up
at Hernd0n Station, unless for the supplying
Of Mosby with horses and equipments; at
all events, this was the result of the post.
There were living near Herndou Station
two Union girls and their brother who often
acted rs scout for our army. During the
Winter some 30 OF the LIST VI. Cav, myself
one of the number, conceived a plan to capt
ure portion OF Mosby's men while they
were In the act of "scOopng" the HerndOn
pickets. Aiming ourselves with seven
shooters and two navy reyolyers apiece and
plenty of ammunition, We had a pleasant
night for our raid, saying nothing to orr
officers or other men regarding the expedi-
camp soon after dark, striking through the
woods until reaching the railroad. 1t was
then easy 10 follow the SAME until HerndOn
Station was reached. We made good prog
ress, and nothing occurred until we reached
our destination, about II O'Clock.
The picket-post WAS located in pine
woods near the road from GAINESVILLE where
it crossed the road at HerndOn Station.
Having taken in the situation We went to q
schOOl-house In the town and built up q fire
and made ourselves comfortable until about
o'clock, when the usual raid was made on
the pickets. But had Mosby known of our
whereabouts it would have been an easy
matter for him to surround us here. As for
makinghu us prisoners that would have been
another thing. We were well armed and ON
foot, and nothing to look out for but our
selves, and we had no inteD ton of being
taken prisoners that night.
About 4 o'clock we took mp our position
behind the railroad embankment, which
made us coed fort, facing the picket-post.
The pickets seemed to be sleeping finely, as
we could hear their shores clear across the
track. But we did not wait long here be-
fore we heard the sound of horses coming
down the road from the direction of our
camp. They came up to the pickets and
woke them up ana took them along, one
shot being fired only.
We were now all ready, with rifles raised
to discharge them the minute they came to
the railroad track. But they took a blind
road and loped off with everything right
before our very eyes and arms! A bat1led
lot of men we were. There was no use fir
ing, only to betray ourselves. To have
picket-post thus captured under our very
noses was aggravating, to say the least. After
a short council of war we started to wake |
up the Union scout and have him show us
if we could not head off the raiders before |
they shonid reach their camp.
We were soon under way, and made fast |
time for hOrsemen on foot. We kept up |
lively march until daylight, but to no pur-
pose. After daylight we leisurely made our
way back to camp, never once speaking of |
our "raidn
have no doubt many Of the men who |
survive have entirely forgotten this incident. |
Some of them, l know, we left to sleep be- |
meath the Virginia sod, brave boys and true.
Comrades give us more of the pleasant side |
of camp life, even if you do have to give |
yourselves away.-S. A. CLARK, Lieutenant, |
Go. +, LIST VT Cav, Willow Lake, s. d.