Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-11-09
A NIGHT EXPEDITION.
By ]. A. scorr.

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In the spring of 1862, when Coles
Cavalry were encamped in the Wash
ington County Fair Grounds, near
Hagerstown, a detail of men was
stationed at Williamsport to guard
the Potomac Ferry there. No three
years troops had yet entered the
Shenandoah Valley, and the people
living on that side of the river were
supposed to be wholly devoted to the
Southern Confederacy, or Rebels, as
they were most generally called. 1t
was as yet an unknown land to us
who were guarding the ferry, and as
we looked across the river we often
INDUCED in curious speculations as to
what the Rebels were doing and where
they were. For all we knew there
might be one behind every tree i'll the
woods and squad of guerillas hidden
in every cluster of bushes on the other
side. At any rate it was considered
very unsafe for any but large force
to put foot on the Virginia shore at
that place. 1t was also supposed that
everything in that region was devoted
to the uses of the Rebellion, and if
anything of use to the latter could be
wrested from it, it was so much clear
gain to the United States, and it
would be feather in the cap of any
who would be successful in such an
enterprise.
One day there came among us a
man who introduced himself to us as
a sergeant of Redpath's Cavalry. We
called him "Redpath, as the most
convenient name He was a very
specious talker. He knew we wanted
to be doing something, and he also
knew where there were several fine
"Rebe1' horses little way from the
river on the other side, or, rather,
horses belonging to Rebel citizens,
which would soon be put to the uses
of the Con federacy unless they were
brought into loyal atmosphere. If
he could only get two or three men
to join him and cross over under cover
of night and capture these animals, it
would be a grand exploit He would
lead them, and would only want one
of the horses, and they could have the
rest. He got the ear of our lieuten-
ant and buzzed in it till the lieutenant
was charmed with the thought of the
adventure and its possible returns,
and then sergeant succumbed to its
seductive influence, and only one
more man was wanted to complete
the necessary number; but the whole
thing must be kept profound secret
for the time 1t vas not very easy to
see why, if it was legitimate enter
prise, it should be kept secret, but it
was perhaps for the reason that the
glory of the capture might not be
wrested from the chosen ones by
another party.
The third mana corporal-was
taken in hands by the lieutenant and
lured into it, and on the evening of
one wet and drizzly day it was de-
termined to attempt the enterprise.
"Redpath" was on hand, and said it
was just the kind of night fol the
business-wet, dark, and no one stir
ring. At ten O'Clock they started,
and found it very dark indeed They
were soon at the ferry, and in little
while they and their steeds were land
ed on the Virginia shore. They rode
to the edge of the wood and halted at
the command CT the lieutenant, who
directed ''Redpath" to ride in front
and the rest to draw their pistols and
keep them in hand, informing "Red-
path" that if he led the party into a
trap his life would surely be the for
felt. There was possibility that he
might be Rebel spy-therefore the
lieutenant's precaution. "Redpath'
solemnly declared that, he acted in
good faith, was perfectly wiling to
march in front, and to be a victim ifhe
Intentionally led them into disaster.
Bidding them follow, he conducted
them along the Martinsburg turnpike
for distance, forest on either side,
and then, turning suddenly to the
left off the pike, they entered the
wood. Here it was so dark they could
not see one another. After lodging
trees, their horses stumbling over
rocks and brush and logs, they at
length reached rail fence, which
throwing down, they emerged into a
cleared field. Marching straight on
some fifty yards the guide halted and
said that the horses they were after
were stabbed not far away. He sug-
gested that one remain on the spot
and take charge of the horses they
by no means changing position, and
the others dismount and go slowly
and cautiously to the stables. The
question was asked: "Who will stay
with the horses2" when the corporal
volunteered to do so, and the others
dismounted and left him. He remain
ed in the darkness and silence, in
tensely alert, for perhaps half hour,
when suddenly the baying of a loud
mouthed dog and the clatter of horses
feet were borne to his ears, and the
three men arrived each mounted on
horse. All then hastily retraced their
course through the woods to the pike
and to the river, arriving there and
crossing before daylight. 1t was Sun
day morning, and bright and clear
''Redpath'' said he would go right on
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