Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-01-19
GENERAL ROSSER'S RO-
NANCE.
How a Rival In Love and War 0utwitted the Gal'
liant RAIDER.

ington Post, was one Of the bravest
and most dashing cavalry officers
in the confederate service. as hand
some as he was brave, and as adept
in the art Of Irritation as he was
skilled in the tactics Of war.
Among his numerous engagements
his raid on Beverly, W. Va, has
fingered the longest in his memo
nv, not so much because OF the raid
itself as of it's denouement.
In the wee sma' hours OF a GER
tain night in January, 1862, a par
ty of Union officers were endulglng
in the pleasurers of a ball in the
little town all unaware that the
dashing Rosser with his cavalry
was riding fast upon them. AS
they entered the town they made
straight for the hall which was the
only lighted building at that time
of night, and they went, too, with
tn. din of exploding firearms and
the blood-curdling Confederate yell.
General Rosser was riding at the
head of his own column, and just
before they reached the hall, where
CONSERVATION reigned equal to that
that Byron tells about in Belgium's
capital, he saw lady and gentle
man run across the street in front
Of his advancing column and disap-
pear in a house, but in the excite
ment of the capture and the confis-
cations of such stores as he could
not take with him they were not
pur.ued.
About 8 o'clock that morning a
mulatto boy brought him a note
from Mrs. Blank asking the favor
of his company at breakfast. he
knew that meant a rebel sympa-
thizer, so he wrote courtly accep-
tance, although he was suffering
from a slight wound which he had
received during the melee. Mrs.
Blank was a lovely white-haired
old lady of the Southern type
while her daughter-ah!-was sim
ply exquisite and captivated with
out delay the heart of the young
cavalryman. Girls were no differ
ent then than they are now, and
given these romantic surroundings
what more natural than a very
pronounced Irritation?
But the orderlies kept running
in for instructions, and as Genera
Rosser's annoyance was noticeable
the young lady suggested that they
| 20 up stairs to mothers room
land to leave the mulatto boy t.
say that he was engaged. Well, tn,
time of his stay was short; Uniol
forces were gathering and the Con
federates must leave that night
Vows of love and undying constan
cy were exchanged, an | it was witt
a sadly shattered heart that tn
doughty young General marches
away IA few hours later.
At the close Of the war he wen
to Baltimore. where he was mad
superintendent Of the water-works
One night at the hotel a friend in
PRODUCED him to Captain Brown
who On hearing his name laughe
outright. General Rosser is at al
times a gentleman and naturally h
reese nted such treatment. He coul
not look at the man but what h
caught him smiling at him, and f
nally he burst out with:
swell, sir, may | ask what Their
is in my appearance to cause you
laughter?"
Certainly, General" was tn
friendly reply. IF you will ste
away from these gentlemen l Wi
tell you"
i When they were beyond earsho
| he asked:
! did you lead a raid on Beverly
w. Va, in January, 1892"
i II did"
/ "You took breakfast with Mr.;
Blank that morning. didn't you?
"Yes," was General Rosser's as
r tonished reply, for he could nc
, Mace the man before him.
"Well. didn't You 60 up i
mothers room with Miss Blanl