Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-11-12
War "reminiscences.


crowded excursion train, on the N. s. w. for
Morgau's Grove, you informed me that you
was preparing for trip to the Atlanta Expo
sition. suppose you have returned by this
time with lots of good things to tell us through
the columns of your most valuable paper.
promised to give you an account of trip
taken by Mr.. R. and myself into Warren
county. have been very busy or my promise
would have been fulfilled before this, and now
here go: We boarded the early N. & w.
train for Ashby Station, where our friend j..
E. B. was in waiting with span of horses
that do credit to Warren county.
1t was q beautiful sunny morning and all
nature seemed to unfold her busom to her
drouth-strickcn hills, the birds and insects
seemed 10 give vent to new life IN their sweet
strains of music. We drove past many colo
NAL residences which carried our thoughts
back to ye olden days. We were in pursuit of
hay. we abandoned our team and Travelled
on foot over many of the hills inspecting hay.
After a while something seemed TO be getting
wrong with our party and Mr.. Jas. E. b. sug-
gcsted that it was dinner that was wanted and
we all agreed that was the trouble, but the
next question was where would we get it.
MIR. b. named several places but admitted
there was doubt about getting it, but finally
said there was one place where man was
never known to miss his dinner. Bro. Il. had
begun to look little serious and enquired
well where is the place, and Mr.. b. says
Sherwood. This called to memory CONVERSE
ton had with my old friend g. j. B. some
ten years ago about the genuine hospitality
that was always displayed at Sherwood. So
we all started for Sherwood. We got down
in the vicinity of Milldale and oh! th hills
and rocks, they made me feel like tho stripes
in the Union flag. Bro. R. was not saying
much but he looked like we felt, and believe
the whole business of us could have eaten n
q good sized shoat. This was in the region
where my old friend N. T. S. lost his fortune,
and this had the effect to make the scene
more unpleasant. But ut last the darkness
was dispellcd and We drove out to the beau
tiful surroundings of Sherwood. This is one
of the grandest old homesteads that you
will see in lifetime. The yard was strewn
with Mr.. It's white Sherwood chickens, which
somewhat resemble in size the ostrich. They
were hybridized by Mr.. T. himself, and are
the handsomcst fowls have ever seen. Mr.
T. greeted us with smile and said 'lightout
boys and come in and join us in Pot Luck
Well we went and after pleasant chat we
were invited to dinner. We partook of a ham
that would have weighed about twenty pounds,
and from its fine flavor should judge that it
had spent its End birthday in the smoke-house'
One of old Africa's sons flew around the
table with his white apron as if he had cleo
tricity under his hecls-suppose he was of
Mrs. It's own training, and all together we
ate dinner long to be remembered.
After dinner we had a pleasant chat with
Mr.. s., who said: "One night during the war
L had come home for n good nights rest. Dur
ing the night a squad of Yanks came to the
house plundering; one of them kicked my
fathers room door open. (And he showed us
the distinct heel print, which was about the
size of a mule shoe) Mr.. rs. father came
ont and collared the YaDk and babe him
leave. Mr.. T. was standing at the head of
the stairs with his pistol in hand, aud said had
the Yank attempted violence to my father 1
would have opened fire. Capt. Baylor of
Charles Town was stationed at this time near
Stone Bird &c, and sent word to the Yankees
that if they did not leave the vicinity and
stop their pluudering, that he would make it
hot for them,-they needed not the warning.
The Captain summoned his company to-
gether, but only twenty of them turned up to
the roll call. They attacked u scouting
party of Yankees out on the old Stone Bridge
road, killing and capturing 80 out of 60, and
but for some misunderstanding would have
capture d the whole thing without scratch
1 have heard that the Captain was hard to
beat at law but did not know he was such
fighter. 1 have noticed in Chas. B. Rouss'
Trade Journal where he claimed to have wore
the gray, but was always OF the opinion that
he made himself most useful around the COM
but not so, as an eye witness tells me
that in the above engagement, he saw Mr.
Rouss in parallel running fight, and Rouss
sent his adversary to the great etern al. Mr..
II. Informed us that during the battle of
Gettysburg, he and his friend Newton
sndlcr were firing at the enemy across piece
of triangular stone fence, and one of the
enemy clipped his face SO close that he re-
marked 10 Mr. Sadler, Newt, that fellow
las one Of those improved guns and II we
don't mind he will hurt rome OF us" sadlcr-
"TbIDk 40, let me try him, land just MS he raised
Ills head above the stone fence u spnttered
baIi few all over his bosom. Mr.. T. said
Newt, wait Il moment until l work little
hoic through the fence, and then you raise up.
Mr.. Il. fired aud the firing from the opposite
side ceased. and the result Gun be Imagined.
Well, We were so pleasantly entertained that
three O'Clock arrived before we dreamed of 1t.
We drove then TO new section Of the
county, through the grand estate of the late
Capt Earl, and we must compliment Mr..
johnny Earl for having tho banner corn crop
oil the season, which looked to us us bearing
12 barrel crop. We partook OF Mr.. Earl's
nice fresh cider, then made the circuit around
to the residence of our friend Jas E. B. for
supper, aud though Mrs. BIS. infant babe was
greatly affected with a half dozen blood boils.
she gave us supper that does credit to the
old Virginia cooking. The rolls must have
been made of some of Cones White Glover
Flonr,-they was just grand.
At 8 o'clock we boarded our train for home
and thus wound mp one of the most pleasant
days that we have spent for a long time.