The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-04-29
Hayes Thrilling Experience.

Here is a war story told by ext
President Rutherford B. Hayes at
Grand Army reunions and taken down
from his lips by a reporter of an ex-
change:
ri have been frequently asked"
said General Hayes, ito tell the most
thrilling experience that occurred to
me during my four years in the volun-
teer army. It was in 1864 that the
army of West Virginia tried to cap
ture Lynchburg. Va, but General
Lee rapidly sent a heavy force to drive
us back, and it was thought best to
fall back to the Kanawha valley,
where food and clothing could be had,
and then go by the railways to Win
chester again. General Jubal Early's
army was pressing forces at every
point, and I was ordered by General
George Crook, who commanded the
divisions, to check the enemy until
our wagon trains and artillery could
get out of the way.
"A gap was chosen In the noun
tains, two or three regiments were
ordered to build a barricade across the
road in the gap, one regiment was sent
up the mountain on the right and
another on the left of the gap to pro-
tect the tanks !; these regiments
selected were as accurate in firing as
rihemen could be. 1t was dark by
the time all these preparations were
made. General Crook was careful to
give his instruction that the point
must be held until the artillery and
long wagon trains were beyond the
reach of Early. Darkness, stiffness
and the mountains enveloped US.
Finally and order came to march, to
follow the army. General Russell
Hastings, my aid, was sent up to the
mountain on one side to direct the
regiment to come down and take the
pike in the rear Of the barricaie and
march rapidly after the artillery.
"Anoth ,r of my staff, Major Will
liam Mckinley, of Ohio, was ordered
to go up the mountain on the other
side and take the road in rear of the
breastworks. The duty was so peril
Gus and of such great Importance
that the instructions were repeatedly
given with great care mot to come
down the mountain in front of the
b~arricade,' as in the darkness our men
would fire into them. Colonel Devol,
who commanded the men behind the
breastworks, fully understood the
situation. It seemed hours while we
were waiting for the two regiments to
come down the mountain.
ri was walking from my horse to
the line of men lying down with guns
resting across the pike.&All at once
the clear, ringing command Of Colonel
Devol was heard Ready, aim ! A
thousand thoughts rushed upon me.
Our men were coming down the noun
tain, and in the darkness were march
ing in front Of the barricade. [ tried
to cry out to Colonel Devol; They
are our men Don't fret [ rushed
toward him and the line ready to grab
him and the men who were ready to
fire. My soul was on fire. I was too
choked to cry out 'Our men! Our
men Don't fire. Don't fre!' but |
was too late. Devol gave the order
'Fire!' and one vast volley Of guns
roared out in the darkness. Ctroans
and cries and curses followed.
ct jumped over the barricade, shout
ing to u men, loading their guns:
Those are our men. Don't fire !
But Colonel Devol and his men tried
to seize me, saying They are rebels,
colonel! Do not 60 over the breast
works 7 I hurried them off and seized
the first wounded or dead man, vel
ling, TO what regiment do you be-
long? No answer. I grabbed another
by the neck, turned him over and
shouted, what regiment?' The road
was full them, and the man was
wounded, but family answered, til
Virginia. Early's army Our men
had come down the mountain under
the guidance.of Hastings and McKin-
ley and~gone on after the army.
"Early' S army had left us and gone
toward Staunton, but the stragglers Of
his army had taken the wrong road
and followed us. Some of them were
killed and wounded, but I learned
afterward that it was a severe lesson
their men kept up with the column.
It was valuable to us in showing the
danger of moving soldiers at night