Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-08-31
INCIDENTS or THE WAR
SRe Captured Officer.

| The following incidents, which &C
CURED IN correction with the move
ments of Coles Cavalry during the
war, go to prove that it is best under
all circumstances to practice kindness
and consideration towards others. even
though enemies; in other words, to do
as We would De done by.
This first incident occurred on one
of the numerous scouting expeditions
of our cavalry, and in Fauquier Coun-
ty, Virginia. On an afternoon late in
the fall, near night, our column dash
ed into Upperville, and found therein
few mounted men Of Mosby's conf
mand, several Of whom we captured,
among them a commissioned officer
The latter being determined fellow did
not surrender until hehad expended all
the shots he had. The prisyIers were
placed in the rear under charge Of ii e
guard, and we moved on through
Ashbys Gap. The officer was pleas
ant-looking aud sociable individual,
and as he and rode side by side he
engaged me in conversation. He tod
me OF several wounds he had received
in battle, and that the severest one
was on one of his legs. Drawing up
his trouser leg to show me the scar,
a roll of paper money fell from it to
the ground. He was embarrassed, but
remarked that it was Yankee money.
and having it upon him while being
pursued he thought he would insure
its safety by concealing it in the leg
of one his boots, which fact he had
temporarily forgotten, and when he
drew up his trouser leg to show me
the scar the money came with il and
fell to the ground. One of the men
behind US, dismounted, secured the
roll, and handed it to him He seem
ed much surprised, but agreeably so,
and said that since we were kind
enough to let him keep his money he
would put it in his pocket. l told
him it was safe there, as our men had
no disposition to rob him of it. He
thanked US and said lie would remem-
Der our kindness. He was frank
enough to tell us he was going to es-
cape if he could. Late in the night
miserable wet night with rain and
snow iningled-we bivouaked. The
darkness was intense and the discom-
fort gigantic, but we constructed the
prisoners shelter, after first building
rail fire, and made them as comfort
able as we could, aud put a guard
over them. True to his warning,
during the night this officer escaped,
and Coles Cavalry never captured
him again.
In the following January portion
of our command met with disaster at
Rectortown. A number of the men
were made prisoners and taken to and
confined in the Belle Island stockade,
near Richmond, where they remained
some months. One day Confederate
officer dismounted at the gate of this
stockade and inquired of the guard
whether some Of Coles Cavalry were
not inmates there. One of our men
happened to be within hearing and
was considerably startled and fright
ened by the officers query, as he fear
ed it meant being scnt further south.
The guard noticed this man, and,
knowing him to be member of the
organization inquired after, summon
ed him to approach, and then directed
him to assemble all of Coles Cavalry
within the stockade in line at the gate.
He did SO, and with many missivings
they waited to see what was wanted
The officer then announced himself to
them as the man who had fallen into
their hands at Upperville the previous
autumn, and escaped, but had not
forgotten their gentlemanly treatment
of him when in their power. He
then gave each Of them Confederate
6ve-dollar note (Which, as he said,
was the only money that could be of
use to them there. as token of his
appreciation, and wished he were able
to give them more.
This occurrenceargued well for giver
and receivers. 1t has good moral:
with what measure ye mete it shall
be measured to you again"