Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-02-04
SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON.
TuEspAY MoRNINe. FEBRUARY 4. Isae.
a brilliant cav aIry ExpIot.

The following interesting bit of war history
we copy from the Rockingham Register of
August 80, 1862, the writer being Mr.. II. D.
Beall, now of the Baltimore Sun editorial
staff:
HARR1soEBuRe, August 26, 1862
Messrs. Editors .-In letter written two
weeks ago, giving you m account OF the ex-
pedition of Baylor's Light Horse into
the town of Front Royal, l
promised that the company should be heard
from again very soon. am now seated to
redeem my promise, by furnishing you an ae-
count of our recent successful expedition into
the county of Jefferson-the land OF our child
hood and the beloved home of our ripper years
On Wednesday last, "Co. B, F" under COM
mand of 1t. Milton Rouss, was ordered from
camp at Harrisonbure to Mt jackson, for the
purpose of relieving Capt. Rinker's company
from picket duty. We eucamped for the
night on Rude's Hill, and arrived at Mt. Jack
son at an early hour on Thursday morning.
But our young officers could not brook the
idea of remaining so far from the enemy, and
determined to make q trip down the valley.
Leaving a sufficient picket force for the post,
under the command of a Sergeant, the balance
of the company, so men, with Its. kouss,
Baylor Cof Front Royal renown,) and Roland,
proceeded on towards the point OF destined
operations. Thursday night was spent in the
beautiful and hospitable village of Wood
stock, where all was done necessary to our
bodily comfort. Smiles and sweet notes OF
music from accomplished ladies nerved us Tor
the task undertaken, and we left woodstock
Mt noon on Friday in the best possible spirits
some say under the influence of rd'7ety OF
spirits. But, 'pon honor, ndt must be mis-
take. We reached strasburg in time to par
axe of bourtiful supper served up by mine
h ost, Mr.. Richardson, and at nightfan re-
sumeti our march. We reached the village OF
Newtown at 10 o'clock, and were met enthusi- :
stically by almost the entire population
men, women and children. Some refresh
ments were partaken of, and then towards
Yankee soldiers we again proceeded ut may
be proper here to remark, for the beneht OF
some of your readers that Newtown is on the
Valley Turnpike, miles from Winchester,
where the enemy's force consists of one bri-
gade of infantry, one company OF artillery,
and 800 cavalry. The pickets on this road are
posted one mile from Winchester.)
1t may be improper, for the purposes OF our
officers, that shouId discover TO your curious
readers the route we took from Newtown. II
may be possible that we camped for few
hours in H ampshire county, and it may be
that we did not But will remark that we
travelled nearly all night, in almost complete
silence, the only noise heard being that oc-
casioned by our horses proceeding through
brush and rock-breaks. We arrived, few
minutes before daylight, at the place selected
for our camping, and sunrise found us snugiy
ensconced in the bushes, in close proximity to
| the hospitable mansions of some of the most
| loyal men in the lower Valley. Here We
quietly remained, holding our position, until
the afternoon of Saturday, when we emerged
from our concealment, and proceeded in the
direction of the Winchester and Potomac
railroad. 1t. Rouss having determined to cap
ture the mail train, If within human possible
ity. The point arrived at was midway be-
tween Summit Point and Wade's Depot, ut
each of which places the enemy had q force
of so infantry and cavalry. The distance
between the two depots is miles, hence in
either direction we were only two miles from
the enemy At4o'clock the road was reached,
and in q few minutes the sound of the engine
was heard And now began the exciting
hour. The music of the engine fell with more
sweetest strains from lovely woman. Eager
ness was depicted upon every countenance
and proud anticipations were INDUCED in, In
view of the prospective reward. A quick dis
position was made of our forces, and obstruc
tions were at once placed on the track t'
bring the train to a halt. On came the train
and had now reached within 100 yards of thu
obstruc tion. The command was given TO hal
L. N<.,.n- tNACH M
the command. fire was at once opened
upon the speeding train from more than
do zen reyolyers, and in q moment tho OBJ
ctr rction was reached, and the train came u
a dea,. halt. The engineer was at once de
lthroned. and the cars entered. The frs
thing To he some was to secure the Yankee
soldiers on board, eight in number, who wer'
on their way to join their companies In hln
chester. The poor ere. Stnres looked tne PIC
ture of astonishment and despair ana sno
mitted with no resistance to .'oe 'feDe' ooys-
A few citizens were on hoard, bnt as ther'
was no possible use to which the coniu "
put, they we're permitted to go on their VIZ.
rejoicing only, guess, that their lives nae
been spared. The agent of Adams Express
Company, in an attempt to escape, was shot
at and badly wounded in the thigh. The ex-
press car was entered, and rich exhibition
unf olded itself to our almost famishing boys.
Baskets of champagne, boxes of delicious
peaches, apples, pears, oranges, lemons, &C.,
were discovered, and pitched into" Never
did men partake of good things with better
appetites. The boys drank to the health oi
everybody in general, and their sweethearts
in particular, and jollity and good cheer
reigned supreme. One individual of my &C
quaintance. uay near t1 me, having surfeitet
himself on champagne, compelled the alarmed
eugineer to tap 10 gallon keg of cider, holt
it up for him, and then with glsto he dranl
to the health of JEFF. Davis, the Southern
Coufederacy, and my stSestaeart only aJ1