Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-01-18
FIGHT OF COLES CAVALRY NEAR LEES
BURG. VA. AND COMMANDMENT AND
SURRENDER OF HARpERs FERRY.

SURRENDER OF HARPERS PERRY.
Near the last of August, 1862. Cole
Cavalry were ordered to make a re
connaissance in Virginia cast of tn.
Blue Ridge. The second battle o
z Bull Run had just been fought, AMI
: intense interest in the result of tn.
a battle was felt by the garrison of Har
pers Ferry. Owing to some of thu
confident words and orders of the new
! commander of the Army of the Poto
: mas previous to the battle, some were
sanguine that the Confederate army
was beaten but there were some signs
, ominous of Federal defeat, and some
i Were anxious to know the result.
Hence the order of Coles Cavalry Il
make scout in that direction to gain
intelligence. We prepared for an alb,
sence of some days. and leaving oul
camp on Bolivar Heig hts we marched
down through Harpers Ferry. crossed
. the Shenandoah, and toled over the
heights of the Blue Ridge into Lou
doun county settlements. We were
out two days and nights scouting in
mans directions, aud, not fading
the enemy in any number worth men
, tioning. on the third day-Sepeember
?, I862-we marcEedin the direction oil
Leesburg. Amid heat and dust and
!. worn with fatigue. we came in sight
of the place little past noon. Our
force consisted of no men. At one
period in our march, when within a
couple of miles of Leesburg, few of
US had our attention attracted to NOV
ing objects long distance away on
our left towards the river, on the old
Balls Bluff battle ground. We were
in doubt whether they were men or
animals. We called general attention
to them and the commander halted the
column and various field glasses were
leveled in that direction. No men
coming under vision they were sup
posed to be cattle. for one was not
satisfied. for l was sure / had seen
men. The column moved on noteve
taking the precaution to send Skin
mishes forward. Had that been done
they might have developed the enemy
andavoided usa surprise. We march
ed compactly quite up to the edge
of the town and were halted aud de-
tail made of sergeant and about a
dozen men to enter and patrol the
town and perhaps capture some stray
Rebel or Rebels. In a half hour per-
haps. they returned with four or five
Rebel soldiers they had picked up.
We asked these about the result at
Bull Run, and they told us ''the Yankees
were whipped and all cut to pieces. !"
We said We could not believe it. and
they replied that we would believe it
before we were much older. Soon we
were ordered to countermarch in the
direction of the Potomac. On the
right and left of the road were fields
of tall corn inclosed by strong fences.
The column was not more than half
turned when volley of bullets came
from the field on one side and very
soon one from the other side and near
our front-an indication we were sur
rounded and in the power of force to
which we were but a mouthful. All
we could do was to return the fire as
as we'll as we could and retreat as rap
idly as possible until we came to an
opening where we could form a line
and do something better to defend
ourselves. Soon our pieces were all
empty, and no chance to load up, and
the bullets continued to rain upon MS.
The worst of it was the tall corn large
~ hid the enemy from us. Fortunate
| ly we came to where was a gateway
into field to our left, through which
the head of the column entered and
began to form line That was soon
checked up with fallen men and horses,
making it difficult to get through.
After forming line we could see the
enemy to some extent. Less than
half our number were in the line, how
ever, the rest having rushed on as well
as they eoald to avoid the capture, see
ing it was folly to contend with such
force as came against us. Especial
ly the Loudoun Rangers, a force of
whom was with us, tried to avoid be-
ing made prisonsers, as they feared
the treatment of prisoners of war
would not be accorded them, owing to
the bitterness felt against them be-
cause of their being Virginians. The
only thing those in line could do was
to charge on the enemy with their sa-
bres and try to escape, their guns and
pistols being empty, and there being
no time to reload. So with drawn sa-
bres we charged as impetuotsly as we
could. hoping that some would get
through. In the charge my horse
was shot through the jaws, and, rear
ing, nearly threw me, but resuming
all fours he dashed on, and in the me-
lee I received several saber wounds
more or less serious but succeeded in
getting through. A comrade and /
rode ont into the highway together.
told him was wounded. He asked
me how. l replied that / felt as
though was shot through the body.
He looked at me, and seeing rent in
my cavalry jacket he remarked. Eyes;
see where the bullet came out /"
Just after getting into the road aud
fording stream which crossed it / be-
came faint and tried to dismount, but
fell unconscious to the ground and
knew no more for some time of what
was nassiuo around me During ffis