Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01
aenaral Wickham occupied strong posi-

General Wickham occupied a strong posi-
ton at Milford, II miles south or Front
Royal, and Custer made repeated enorts
TO force him from the position, without
effect. About this time II was reported
to Captain Chapman. OF Mosby's COM
mand, that a large wagon-train was EN-
route from Milford to Winchester under
the escort of q small body Of men. He
Immediately made disposition for Its cap
ture at Front Royal. For this purpose he
divided his men into two parties. one
party was 10 attack the train al the point
where a cross-road from Chester's Gap
intersects the Front Royal and Luray
grade: the other under the immediate
command OF Chapman, was to fall upon
the front OF the train. about COO yards
from the town, where there Is hill on
one side and ravine on the other. IL
seems that Custer had OWNED In some
way the Confederate plans. and. instead
OF small train-guard. he had his whole
division behind the wagons. He
waited TIL the attack was made upon
the front, when he threw large force
upon the Manor grade. q road running
parallel with the Luray road. and took
possession OF Chester's Gap, Chapman's
line OF retreat. The latter promptly at
tackled the train. when he. in turn, was
attacked in his rear He Immediately
turned upon the force behind him. deter
mined to cut his way out. The Federals,
who had preceded him to the gap. had
thrown n strong line across a narrow de-
file. under the command of a captain
or major who stood upon foot in the
middle OF the road. Chapman formed his
men In column. and boldly charged
through this line. In the melee the Fede-
raj captain saw he would be captured or
ridden down. and offered to surrender
himself: but the pressure behind the
Confederates was too great for them TO
stop to parley with one man. and some
or those In the rear. not understanding
the situation, emptied their revolvers
into the captain. killing him Instantly.
The most of MOsby's men succeeded IN
getting away. but some had their horses
shot, and others were cut off Among
these were Anderson. Love. OVERLY. Car
ter, and Henry Rhodes, OF the Twenty
third Virginia Regiment. Custer deter
mined to wreak summary vengeance upon
these men. Rhodes was iasheI with ropes
between two horses, and dragged IN
plain sight of his agonzed relatives 20 the
open field north of our town, where one
man volunteered 10 do the KILLING. end
ordered the helpless, dazed prisoner 10
stand up in front of him while he er ptied
his pistol upon him. Anderson and Love
were shot IN lot behind The court house.
overly and Carter were carried TO a
large walnut-tree upon the hill between
Front Royal and Riverton, and were
hanged. The writer saw the latter
under guard in n wagon-lot They bore
themselves like heroes. and endured the
taunts of their captors with proud and
undaunted mien. One OF them was a
splendid specimen Of manhood-tall. we'll
knit frame. with n head Of black, wavy
hair floating I'm the wind. he looked Ike
q knight OF old. While | was looking AT
them, General Custer. at the head OF his
division, rode by. He was dressed IN n
splendid suit OF silk velvet. his saddle
bow hound in silver or gold. In his hand
he had large branch OF damsons, which
he picked and ate as he rode along. He
was a misunderstanding man. with his
yellow locks resting upon his shoulders.
Rhodes was my friend and playmate. and
I saw him shot from a distance. but did
not at the time know who 1t was.