Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-02-04
NEW SERIES. VOL. XXI, NO. 5.

rushing over US, for the old train had oeen the
medium of many happy hours and pleasant
communications between home and us felt
the force of there reflections sensibiy, but duty
dictated that all the damage possible should
be done our ruthless invaders. The old cars
burned magnifcently, and the fiery tongue of
the flames seemed almost to lick the lower
clouds. Good bye, old Winchester train, you
survive now only in memory-your uncouth,
but always pleasant form is now consigned to
the things of the past.
A full head of steam was put on the engine,
and with the furnace heated ''ten times hotter
than II was wont TO be, !" the old machine was
started in the direction of Winchester. No
tales could be told, for she was entirely unoc-
cupied. The progress of the engine up the
track, rs far as could be seen, was rich indeed.
The old thing went laundering along, and the
unevenness of the track caused s'der machine
to tumble up and down in promiscous man
ner. Hotc far she went, aud tohdt was thought
of her progress, do not pretend to say. The
engineer declared it was a ruined Institution,
and that the trip would exhaust all the vitality
the old thing had remaining in her. Fare
well, old friendI you have been blowing a long
while. but your career is now ended. The
USES 70 WHICH lOu 41uNG bCCu vi AaAS AhOANA'
put, have been to base, and your sate is a fit
ting one for your SHINING. You are now be-
yond the hand of Federal resurrection, or
| rather reconstruction, as the Yankees will have
1t. The telegraph pole was now ascended.
the wire disengaged from the pole, aud de-
stroyed for distance of more than 200 yards
At the time of cutting the wire message was
being sent over the line. A 'stop" was GER
tainly put to that proceedings stay in the
execution of some villainous design. And
now we determined to leave this point. but
not to beat a retreat towards the upper Valley
yet. 1t. Roland, with Is men, took charge
of the prisoners, and started back by the route
we came, whilst the II remaining men under
Its. Rouss and Baylor, determined TO pene-
trate farther into the encmy's country. The
track was eros sed, and ''for Smithfeld" was
the rallying cry. Smithfield is in the county
of jefferson, 6 miles from Charles Town, II
from Winchester. and miles in the direction
of ths Potomac from the point where the track
was crossed. Approaching the town in q slow
trot, we had arrived within about q half mile
of the place, when the blue uniforms of the
Yankee pickets were discovered. Our gait
was unchecked, and the pickets seemed not at
| all disturbed, thinking, of course, we were
a scouting party of their men. They did not
discover their error until we had approached
within 20 yards of them. The command to
charge was given and in an instant the three
pickets were ours, together with their horses,
equipments, &C, they not having time to fr,
shot at us. On questioning them, 1t was
found that the force in the town was fourteen.
The charge was ordered, aud laundering into
~. kf,s,h hos faV VanEaea
taken completely by surprise, only one man
having had time to mount his horse, and he
was speedily overtaken. They failed TO fire a
shot. and we had the extreme satisfaction Of
knowing that II Rebel cavalry had surprised
and captured IL Yankees of the same branch
of the service without having had shot fired
at them. The spoils at this point were II
horses, some of them very ine ones; 20 revolt
yers, Colts army aud navy pattern. Of the
finest quality, nearly new, 5 Sharpe's carbines
in splendid condition; 1S Yankee saddles,
brides. and other trappings, such as were just
necessary to make our company the best
equipped one in the regiment. also, large
number of gum overcoats, blankets, &c.
And now the time had arrived for us to
commence our retreat, II such 1t might be
called, as we were all louded down with Yam
kee prisoners and plunder. will not be in
| discreet enough to tell what hole We creeped
out of, for 1t might be stopped up should dc
~. ..rad. >, ,h., ,rs ,vsre not far from Win
chester, and ut midnight saw the camp fire
on Shultz's Hill, from which we were distan
a, 5ovnrs.t on,v 1--WE mile. from old Win
chester tovaras which place many of n
atrectsd ,ona;n. eve. and anr;ops thoughts
Rut we hone 10 be there soon. and viii nc
occunv onrselve. with useless repinipg. Th
treat was conducted with great discretion
and we arrived safely in camp with our boot
ON Monday rnornine. having travelled som
175 miIea in three days. and been in our sad
dies two nights.
It inferred that tie bolduess of our das
caused a auttering amongst the Yankees alop
- e, ~ Us Mis fa,- - nre.nms ,ba