The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-06
WHO TOOK THE HORSES.
Mystery OF the Battle of Lacey's Springs
ClAared.

Shenandoah Valley under Sheridan, in that
eventful year, 1864. That great array o.
horsemen, $4,000 in numbers, was largely
instrumental in sending the rebels "whirE
ing through Winchester" subsequently
clearing the Valley of rebel troops so com.
pletely, and rendering that fertile region sc
barren of subsistence, that Gen. Sheridan
in his report to the War Department, stated
"a crow flying over would have to carry
his rationsn
Gen. George A. Custer, the division COM
mander, in a congratulatory order issued
soon after the battle of Cedar Greek, Oct ~
1864, said: The history of the war truth
fully written will contain no brighter page
than that upon which is recorded the chlv-
alrous deeds, the glorious triumph of the
soldiers of the Third Cavalry Division"
As a number Of the 1st VT. Cav, then
under the command of the gallant Maj
William Wells, of Burlington, reside In
this beautiful little city, not only can they
point with pride, but can claim share In
the above-recorded acknowledgment OF
| their deeds of valor on the hundred cavalry
batllefields where fought the LIST VT and
the other famous regiments of that bril-
liant army, whose blows brought about the
finishing touches that eliminated in the
surrender at Appomattox.
The following incident may throw some
light and clear up mystery. Those MEM
bers now surviving may know what became
of their horses, where they picketed them,
when cal ed up SO suddenly by the surprise
and stampede on that cold, bitter wintry
morning, Dec. 90, 1864.
Gen. Sheridan issued orders for the Second
Division (Gen. POWELL and the Third Di-
vision (Gen. Custer to make a reconnois-
sance up the Valley, the former division to
cross the Allegany Mountains, and the
latter division, in which the Vermont
Rough Riders were to go up the Valley
turnpike and highway of travel through
Staunton, at the head of this famous valley,
strike and destroy simultaneously with the
| Second Division, under Gen. Powell, the
Virginia Central Railroad; cut the COM
munications of the rebel Capital between
Richmond and the rebel armies, then in the
| field before Sherman.
On the day preceding this brief engage
ment, Dec 10, the division started from
near Harrisonburg, Va, on the march the
LIST VT. Cav. had the advance. 1t reached
| early in the afternoon Lacey's Springs, and
went into camp and on picket. The day
night became more so.
W clCiuSbtS Llllsy w Vie
comft the Union troops, the detachment of
rebel cavalry under Gen. RosseT, 600 strong,
were taking advantage OF that storm and
perfecting plans for another surprise. There
came into the Union lines rebel guerrilla,
strange to say, bearing the name of Lincoln,
who, with two other soldiers, who were
residents Of the Valley, one being son of
the owner of the farm ON which the Union
troops were eDcamped entered the camp,
went among the Vermonters in their
bivouacs, and deliberately, without any
trouble, united a number of horses, brought
them out of the Union lines and secreted
the captured animals in a thicket on the
Clark farm. They did the work so eau
tlously, and yet so boldly, that neither the
rebel troopers nor the unsuspecting Green
Mountain Boys knew of their loss until
boots and saddles" blew. The men rushed
for their steeds to find them not.
My informant, then hoy eight years old,
who / met two years ago in Missouri,
travelling man now, in speaking of this
occurrence, which came about by my men
tioning "Lacey's Springs" said that when
the Union troops came up that afternoon
this Charles Lincoln came to their house
with the two rebel cavalrymen on furlough
to get horses. His father, knowing the bad
reputation of the guerrilla marauder, re-
quested him to leave. Declining to do so,
the father, on the arrival of the Confederate
cavalry, reported to the rebel officers the
presence of Lincoln, who went among the
rebels, soon to be lost sight of by the family
during the night. The storm increasing in
severity, the rebel officials began prepare
tions for surprise. A detachment of their
troops being dressed in Federal uniform,
this I innnln md no MO y,alo Iad -,
obtaining overcoats, and knowing the
ground thoroughly commenced, about 10
p. m. up to a. M, taking horses, and con-
tinued until they had so many they did not
know what to do with them.
On the arrival of the Division Headquar-
tiers, Gen. Custer put up at the Springs
Hotel" The I'd n. Y, Harris's Light Cav
airy, to which the writer belonged, had
orders to be up and saddled Mt 3 a. IN. We
soon noticed a column of troops coming down
the turnpike, and thought the division had
orders 10 return to Winchester, congratulate
ing ourselves on speedy return to camp, so
we could 90 into Winter quarters When
they got within 90 feet Of us-we, seeing the
blue coats, never dreamed of their being
worn by rebels-they poured volley into
our ranks, one of the bullets striking the
writer Then with yell they made a dash
on Gen. Clusters Headquarters. The Cen
eral being awake jumped up, got out the
back way, mounted horse, and dressed
Custer captured the Headquarters wagon
of the rebel Gen. Rosser, and Rosser's men,
by a singular coincidence, captured Clusters
wagon. These two men, classmates at
West Point, both wore in this engagement
the hats and orercoats of the other like a
rebel officer, rode into the rebel ranks, gave
orders Right about-Gallop," then gall
Hoped over among the First Brigade troops,
who were soon in line for action.
The rebel troops, finding they were dis
covered, turned back, while the writer's regi-
ment and other commands poured voley
into their flying ranks. which had deadly
effect, 50 rebels being killed. Now, il seems.
the LIST VT. boys were approached on the
picket-lines, were relieved, some were capt
ured, others fell in with the detail, and some
made their way to camp, only to get ratified
in the general melee.
However, the battle was soon over. AS
daylight appeared the column was ordered
TO Winchester, where il arrived, went into
camp and began building Winter quarters.
On the way down men would be seen look
ing for their horses, unable to comprehend
what had became of them.
After the war was over this Lincoln who
had done so badly with the Vermonters in
confscating their horses was known TO muir
der four Union soldiers that belonged to this
command and throw their bodies IN pond.
Young Clark, my informant, said his father
and some citizens fished out their bodies and