The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-19

us from the district in which we operated
by destroying everything that could sup
pOrt man or horse. But so far from Quell-
ing, his efforts only stimulated the fury Of
the rangers. In snow, sleet and bowling
storms. through the long watches of the
winter night, his men had TO wait for a
sleepless enemy TO capture or kill them.
How untiripg that enemy was may be
gathered from the following dispatch, a
sample Of many similar ones:
HEADQUARTERS
MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION
November 20, 1864
Commanding officer Charleston: Look out
for Mosby tonight. He is reported to be about.
I. ii. SHERIDAN, Major General.
AS / wanted 10 have a conference with
General Robert E. Lee about my plans for
future operations, l turned my command
over to the next IN rank, William Chap
man, and, taking with me one of the men,
Boyd Smith, went on visit to the army
headquarters near Petersburg. When [
got off the train there L recognized in the
crowd the face of an old cOllege-mate, DR..
MonteirO, whom | had not seen for thir-
teen years. | had changed so much he
did not recognize ME until L told him my
name. he was then surgeon In WiSe's
brigade, and ! told him he was the very
man | wanted, for the surgeon l had. DR..
Will Dunn, was too fond of fighting.
wanted one that took more pride In curing
than in killing. ! had him transferred to
my command before l returned. After
spending a few hours with General Lee
and getting his recommendation for the
promotion of two of my officers, Chapman
aad Richards, l returned TO mOnd,
and in a few days was back with my men.
On the day after my return, Decembe
q. had gone to the house of Joe Black
well, a farmer in Upper Fauquier. TO at
q nH of pny
Jake Lavender. report came that a
body of The enemy's cavalry was advanc-
ing on the road TO Salem, a few miles
away. Not caring TO interrupt the we'd
ding festivities. with one man-Tom Love
| rode off in that direction to reconnoiter
We were riding across field OF the Glen
Welby farm, as ii was safer than going by
the main road, where there was danger of
running against the enemy's column,
when we saw two cavalrymen ap-
preaching. Pretty soon number of 9TH
ers appeared and began firing on us. l
knew then that these were the bankers of
the main body of the enemy out of sight
over the hill. So Love and l galloped
away few hundred yards and then halted
on an eminenre. They did not pursue, and
soon we saw the whole column in blue NOV
ing on the road to Rectortown. After reach
ing there they kindIed fires and seemed 10
be preparing to bivouac for the night.
1t was about dusk, cold, drilling rain
was falling ana freezing, the road was
covered with sleet, and icicles hung in
clusters from the trees. After reconnOit-
ering the encam pment and satisfying my
self that they had prepared to spend the
night there, | dispatched man to inform
Chapman and Richards that wanted them
to attack the Northern camp about day.
break the next morning, aud to get their
men ready. Love and l then started off in
annthHr 1irantion for thu puTDOSe of DOtifv-
ing some other officers and collecting the
men q will here state that as we stayed
inside the enemey's lines we were obliged
to dispense for safety. AS we were pass
ing the house of citizen, Ludwell Lake,
who was famous for always setting good
table, the lights shining through the
windows tempted me, as L was cold and
hungry, to stop where l knew L would be
welcome. So | proposed when we got to
his front gate TO dlsmOunt aud go In to
warm and get something TO eat. Love
SAID be would stay out at the gale and
keep watch while / was eating my supper.
mo, Tom," said; at wouldn't do me
any good il you were out here In the cold.
mere IS no danger; get down.
We tied our horses and went in. The
family was at supper. and we were soon
seated at the table enjoying some good
coffee, hot rolls and spare ribs. Among
those present was Mrs. Skinner. whose
husband was then prisoner at Point Look
out. She had managed TO get pass through
the lines to visit him, and had seen a
number of my men who were also pris-
oners there. We were enjoying our sup
per and her account of the trip and the
various devices to which the prisoners
resor;ed for amusement. when suddenly
we heard the tramp of horses around the
house. One door OF the dining-room
opened toward the back yard, and on
opening 1t l discovered several cavalry
men. Hastily shutting II turned 10 the