Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-11-02
A SMITHF1ELD PICKET.
By JAMES A. ScoTr.

By JAMES A. ScoTT
Smithfield is village lying on the
road between Charles Town and Win
chester, Virginia. Another road or
turnpike crosses the former at right
angles in the village. During war
times there were but few Union peo-
pie in the place. These roads cross
ing here made it important as pick
ct post or post of observation, and on
that account there were at one time
some twenty men of Coles Cavalry
stationed here. Near where the roads
crossed in the town was a turnpike
gate, at which toll had been collected
from travellers previous to the war.
The posts of the gate were stout and
sound, and the gates still hung to
them but, of course, always swung
open, it having been SO long since
they were closed that they must have
been very rusty on the hinges. One
day in 1862 this picket was surprised
by dash upon them of Confeder-
ate force much beyond their strength.
A few of them were wounded, a num-
Der captured and some with particular
ly fleet horses got away. Among the
captured was young man who would
have escaped had it not been in his
| flight citizen of the town rushed to
the gate and closed it upon him.
This enabled his pursuers to make
him a prisoner. The father of this
young man was also a member of the
company to which he belonged, but
was not with the party on which the
dash was made. He beard from one
of the escaped how his son had been
trapped, and he was much enraged.
When news of the disaster reached
the camp of the cavalry, an order was
issued for force Of some seventy-five
men to go to Smithheld and picket
the place until further orders. 1t
came to the ears of this force that the
Confederates threatened to capture or
drive away any picket that might be
put there. 1t was determined they
should have ga merry time" doing it.
When the party arrived, and almost
before they had time to dismount,
the father of the young man mention
ed as being captured at the gate was
off his horse, and Selling an ak at
the nearest house he proceeded to cut
down the posts holding the gate.
When he had them both down, he
remarked that it gave him great sat
isfaction to know that that gate would
not again be shut on any Union sol
der.
Disposing of their horses, the force
then took possession of large frame
structure where carriage building had
once been carried on and proceeded to
fortify themselves, as we'll as they
could, and make themselves and
horses comfortable. An order was
then issued and posted about the town
that the place was under martial law
and any citizen foundupon the streets
or anywhere outside of the house in
which he lived after 9 p. m. would be
arrested and be under guard for the
night, and all lights must be extin-
guished at the same hour on penalty
of a bullet being sent in the direction
of it. After the hour of 9 had passed
they went to work and quickly bar
ricaded the passages of the several
roads with whatever they could lay
their hands on-boxes, wagons. carts,
wood, logs, brush, and what not.
They also looopholed the walls of
the frame building. No disturbance
Of any kind occurred during the night.
At twelve o'clock they would quietly
mount their horses, and with the least
noise possible march out of the town
and patrol the surrounding country
and be back again before daylight.
One night when out patrolling, GO
ing through a body of woods they
heard the noise of an approaching wa
gon from the front. This was odd,
and wonld have to be looked into
The officer in charge ordered all the
men to file off into the woods where
they could not be seen, and he and
one other remained in the road to
await the wagon, When it came
near, il was halted, and the following
colloquy ensued between the officer
and WAGNER elderly man, ac-
companied by grown young woman,
who proved to be his daughter. His
wagon was laden with salt, which
was then contraband, to go over the
lines. The conversation was about
as follows:
"What are you and who are your"
ga farmer; who are you?
"a Confederate scout. :"
"Any more of your"
ooh, yes; have some men off here
in the woods"
you'd better look out for the
Yankees. There's a lot of 'em at
Smithheld.
Eyes, know; and that's my bust
ness. l want to find out how many
nra of C..,;t1,EoId 1lri,n4 Ln.,a .ro,,