Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-02-06

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ton on Cole S cavalry. who was much
ont Of place. figured again az this
iuncture, as he had done back at
Woodstock Hearing the shrieking
shells over our heads, he quickly or
dered the skirmish line to close and
fall back. The men turned back very
leisurely, seeing which the enemy fol-
lowed Just at this tineithe writer Of
this sketch, whose position in theline
was on the pike. was encountered BY
an officer OF Hunters stafl-a French
man who had ridden up furiously,
and who asked me in broken English,
.'For Why you fall back?'' replied,
Because we were ordered to do so, "
who ordered you to do sos" gasped
the irate Freuchman. Major
over there in the field, said / point
ing to the right. He jumped his
horse over the low fence III that di-
rection, shouting at the top Of his
voice, MAORI for why you fall backs"
why, they opened on Us with artil-
lery" yelled the Major. oh, you
sail hear dc artillery many a time.
Move your men up This officer was
General Duffie, gallant FrenchInan,
who came from France to fight forthe
Union, and did good service. We be-
came better acquainted with him
afterwards and liked him and he us.
But he was a military man and a strict
martinez. The Major did move up
his men and the enemy soon faced
the other way. AT dark, however, we
fell back to town to camp. While
here some one or more of our men
found in pryiug Ground in different
hooks barrel Of peach brandy, and
did thriving business for awhile in
selling drinks TO all WHO had the
money. Being contraband, however,
it was soon reported and seized, and |
suppose headquarters got the rest Of
it.
The fact here became known that
the enemy was strongly entrenched
on the pike between us and Stanton,
and our expedition made a flank
movement to the left, and about a
mile below Port Republic went into
bivouac on the night Of the 4th Of
June. Early in the evening request
was made at headquarters, by a citi-
of great importance who had a flour
ing mill and large plantation on the
river about mile below our camp,
for detail Of soldiers to gard his prem
Uses during the night, as the several
female members of his family were
frightened at the thought Of so large
an army OF Yankees so near them.
That is not the way he put it but that
was what some of our boys thought.
He admitted that his feelings were
Southern and that it seemed an inn
pertinent thing for him to ask for a
guard to go SO far outside Of their
lines in an enemy country aud III APP
parent danger of capture, but he
would give his sacred word of honor
that the men should not be molested,
and he would give the assurance that
they should be well treated and allow
ed to return in safety to their camp in
the morning. Owing to some in
fluence he had at headquarters his re-
quest was granted. AS the usage Of
war prevented any men being order
ed on such duty away from their camp,
volunteers were called for among the
cavalry, and some twenty men
agreed to go, of which number the
writer OF this was one. He led us to
his home. which was large stone
mansion, and near by it a large brick
mill. Arriving. we dismounted, ar
ranged and set our pickets, and those
not on duty he invited into the
house, where table was spread with
a bountiful provision for all. We met
the several ladies of the house, who
treated us very courteously and con-
versed freely. One engaged me in
conversation, and at length asked,
'.Is not Porte Crayon' with yourex-
pedition'" Ir4plied that / understood
he was on the staff Of General Hunter,
but that had not the honor Of his ac-
quaintance. She then said, We'll,
when you return to your camp, try to
see him if you can and tell him that /
say that am very sorry he is with
the enemies Of his country" She
told me her name. inferred from
some things she said that she must
have been one Of Porte Crayon 81