The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-20
STORIES OF THE DAY.
Captain Wntrons Tells War Story
He Recently Uearu.

i
1t is not as easy to stir Captain W. H.
Beech to story telling as it should be, for
he always tells good ones. Those who
read that Lincoln Cavalry Exploit VIII
enjoy this one, which the captain told a
few evenings ago:
After Mliroys disastrous affair with
the advance of Lees army at Winchester,
June Ii, 1865 when IL was on the way 10
Gettysburg, the greater part OF ms conf
across the Potomac, some at Harper
Ferry, some at Mliiiamspor. and others
at Hancock The officers We're obliged 10
assume responsibilities and act according
to their own judgment. The enemy fol-
lowed closely. lieutenant Colonel Pierce
of the Twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry,
commanding the force al hancock, pro-
posed to go to Cumberland and join the
few miles we found that Cumberland was
occupied by the enemy. The only thing
to do was 10 strike for Pennsylvania. AZ
ter hard marching over rough roads we
reached Bedford. The weather was hot
The people opened their homes ana did
their best to supply the wants of the SOL
diers The tired, dusty, hungry and
thirsty men who partook of it can never
forget that generous hospitality.
'Quartermaster and commissary depart
ments mad TO be improvised. \ sergeant
of the Lincoln cavalry was sent out to-
hunt up supplies for his regiment. John
Cessna, an eminent lawyer and public
splri.ed man, gave the sergeant inforna-
ton as to where he should go. Free from
military restraint, and after long and Of
ten severe service, the sergeant found
this trip among the hills very enjoyable
He was entertained royalty among those
wel-to-do and hospitable people He
bought forage in abundance and sent it
to camp. He was especially aided by Mr.
Jones OF S.. C1airsVllle ana Mr.. Trout of
Mill Spring. One day he met a funeral-a
long line of carriages. The people had
been frightened at the report that the en-
envy was coming into PENNSYLVANIA The
procession stopped, and many anxious
questions were asked of the sergeant as
TO how near the rebels were and if the
procession would be in danger OF meeting
tlem.
Returning toward camp at evening, he
reached the farm of Mr.. Stuckey, two or
three miles from Bedford Mr.. Stuciey
insisted on the serseants staying with
him instead OF going on to his regiment
that night. A nights rest in a comfort
able bed was a luxury not to be declined.
He slept soundly, but long before dawn
he became dimly conscious Of an unusual
rumbling along the stone pike. But he
continued in his restful half-awake con-
dition, all the while aware of the rum
bling, but not thinking or caring what it
might mean. All at once he heard loud
voice calling: Mr.. Stuckey MIR Stuckey,
Get up and look to your horsesl The reb-
els are in Bedford, $1,000 strongr In a
few seconds the sergeant was out of bed,
clothed and in his right mind. In few
seconds more he was at the barn with his
horse saddled. Vehicles of every sort,
hastily loaded with furniture anu goods
| of every description, were being hurriedly
driven along the pike. People of ali
ages, whole families, were clinging to the
tops of the loads, while the drivers were
urging on the teams to their utmost
speed as il some avenging fury was close
upon them. The sergeant asked one of
the drivers the news. The man barely
a II,
Bedford, $4,000 of then, and hurried
along.
THE stream of wagons kept coming.
| The sergeant thought 1t hardly the part
| fleeing caravan. He faced his horse to-
ward Bedford Riding along. ne OCCASION
ally asked of the fleeing citiZers the news.
At first there were 1900 of the enemy in
Bedford then 10000; then 5000; then they
| were not in Bedford yet. but coming in
| strong force. Before sunrise the sergeant
I rode into Bedford and found multitudes in
! the streets anxiously discussing the news.
4 Then it was reported that the advance of
| the rebels was at Bedford Springs, two
I or three miles from town. Finally it was
! learned that some union scouts had been
I at the Springs and had been mistaken for
rebels.
! This is a minor instance of the excite
ment caused by Lees invasion. We re-
| member how the streets of Harrisonburg.
Baltimore and other cities were barri-
]
! OF the southern army. We remember the
! feelings of relief wT1en that invasion had
! been checked at Gettysburg
I This is a fair specimen of the stories
i that could be told by thousands Of men
under Hooker and Meade in the memo
I rable march through Maryland and Penn
syivania on Their way TO the greatest
bafEle of the war At times the roads
were blocked by dear, innocent souls,
/ flying from Ccnfederates, who We're two
days away and not then moving in their
direoti.c1. The army was sorry for them.
4 but their own serious duties, few miles
ahead. so absorbed their attention that
they could not lend them a hand or stop
TO give them words of sympathy. What
times of trouble those vere-thoSa OF
thirty-three years ago. May their like
! never return to our now united country
Colonel j. A. Watrous in Chicago Times
Herald.
In some dioceseg of the Episcopa