Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-20
How Gov. O'FerralI's Life Was Saved
nv Cant. J. II. H. Figgatt.

DIV OdVt. H H l66ott.
Sometime ago the Norfolk Land
mark printed a paragraph saying that
il must have been a sad task for Gov
ernor O'Ferrall to have to offer a re-
ward for the arrest of Cashier FIggatt
seeing that the cashiers brother, Hon.
J. H. "a. Figgatt. had once saved the
Governors life. :,
Governor O'Ferrall was seen the
other day by a Statesman and In the
course of conversation was questioned
as to the incident to which the Land
mark had reference.
THE GOVERNORS STORY.
me story which the Governor told
was not oniy interesting, but thrilling
and was in substance as follows: In
September, 1862. just before the battle
of Antietam, the Twelfth Virginia
Cavalry, Col. A. W. Hartman, crossed
The Potomac near Leesburg and NOV
ed towards Poolsville. Governor o.
Ferrall was captain in this command.
The command moved on to Urbana,
but next day came back to Poolsville
and suddenly and unexpectedly met
the advance
CAVALRY. FORCE OF MCCLELLAN.
The Confederates were largely out
numbered and retired, but in doing SO,
thew got into lane which had been
washed by the floods of years into a
deep ravine.
The enemy seeing the disadvantage
of the Confederates pressed them sore
lv. and small detachment OF the fed
erals succeeded in fianking the Confed-
crates and shooting them from that
quarter. Col. Hartman, Capt. OFFER.
rail-, Corporal James Templeman. OF
alx <,fR no hrid no
and one other whom the Governor
cannot recall, galloped out and charg
ed the men on the flank and put them
to flight.
CUT OFF.
BIT before they had time to realize
it. they found that the Confederares
had passed through the gap. and, be
ing followed rapidly by the enemy
Col. Hartman and his little band were
cut off.
The Colonel told his men to take to
the fence, but Col. O'Ferrall replied
that the fence was mortised structure.
too strong to be torn down and too
high to be jumped. He assured his
Colonel that the only way of escape
was to make a bold dash through the
enemy's lines.
ADAsH FOR LIBERTY.
Every WE'LL replied the brave col
onel, well make it," and oil they
went. Col. Hartman passed through IL
safety, but Templeman and Black
were both hurt, the former being Grip
pied for life.
Capt. O'Ferrall's horse was broken
down and he had to ride slowly. He
fought his way along, using his pistol
when necessary, and received cut on
the shoulder, but was not disabled.
He was beginning to see daylight
ahead. when a Yankee soldier made
for him with drawn sabre. just as he
raised his sabre for left-handed cut.
CAPT. O'Ferrall put his pistol into his
antagonists face and pulled the trig
ger.
But the weapon failed to fire, and
that was his last load. The enemy
blinked his eye and again made for
the Captain, who threw up his right
arm to ward off the blow, receiving the
full force of the sabre cut on his wrist
One bone of the wrist was broken, and
CAPTAIN O'Ferrall's right arm dropped
HELPLESS to his side. He quickly drew
his sabre with his left hand. however,
and the enemy pressed him closely.
THE GALLANT RESCUE.
The Captain realized that In his dis
abled condition it would be a sorry
fight for him and pressed forward with
ali his might. The Yank saw his ad-
vantage and was about to run the
Captain through, when another horse
man dashed up and engaged the infu-
rated Yank. There was sharp spar
ring and loud clash of sabres for a
moment and then Captain O'Ferrall
90 <1,o fr1u I1o RI tho cyrnnnd
The dust was so thick that he could
not discern who was his rescuer until
the conflict was over and Sergeant
Major ]. H. H. Figgatt rode up to his
side. They rode away as fast as they
were able and joiued their command
without further incident.
Mr.. Figgatt was afterwards promot-
ed for several acts of gallantry and
among those mentioned was that Of
the rescue of Capt. DECENTRALIZATION
mond State.