Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-02-09
NEW SERIES, VOL xxxII, NO. 6.

ing effect upon the fair old town ard
country and fortunes sank and heroes
fell in the effort TO stay its fury. AT
last about the middle of March, 1892,
the walls of the old town echoed back
the sound of cannon from the vicinity
of the yellow house, and Stephen
sons Depot, where Ashby's cavalry
was contending with the van of
| Genl. Banks overwhelming invading
army, then pressing for the first time
upon the old town, its people thrown
into excitement and confusion, won-
dering whether a battle was 10 be
fought in its defense of that it would
be evacuated. Jackson's little army,
encamped near by full of expectancy,
soon received orders for s. forward
movement and had scarcely formed
in column, when a solitary citizen
from the devoted town might have
been seen with Sharp's rifle upon
his shoulder, walking with that quick
aud energetic step that he was always
wont to do in calmer moments, and
align himself in the front rank of
Co. g, I'd Va. Infantry, from
/
to the name of Chas. b. Rouss. Be
ing a member of that Company /
felt the inspiration of his patriotism
nerving my own determinatio TO
spend or he spent upon that promis
| ing field of battle. After an advance
as far as the Welltown road, three
miles from town, and an anxious
awaiting for the coming enemy, to-
wards night it was evident that the
gage of battle would not be accepted
and indications began to point TO an
evacuation of the town; our illus
trious and self-appointed citizen
soldier returned to his store, packed
his goods and at daylight had them
loaded in wagons and well out of
town.
Our next meeting was at Chlmbora-
20 no spital. Richmond, Va. about
the 1st of December, 1898; where /
found myself wounded soldier in
company with d. VIM. Timberlake,
Horace Gallaher, Dan, Moler, Charley
Tabb and Newt. Sadler, who shared
n like fate in the LATHE of Mine Run
(Nov. 9th. 1889 Then. as soon
as the list of wounded in the various
hospitals was published and the names
of those mentioned were discovered,
came benefactions of various good
things to eat, tobacco and cigars
along with your kind words of sym
| pathy To sUlace us in our discomforts
these all are still fresh in my mem
ory, as we'll as your generosity to the
poor of Richmond at that time-no-
tably, salt that was then selling at
$50 per sack was sold by you TO the
poor only at So. or at cost. Suffi-
cient salt for food was then and con-
tinually thereafter, TO the close of
the war, factor much needed TO
make savory the coarse and meagre
ra tion Of the soldiers and citizens.
Later on, about April 1, 1864.
found myself at Waynesboro, just
landed from the train with pair of
crutches in hand to measure the dis
ia nee 10 the camp of Co. b, of the
18th Va. Cavalry, TO visit the boys in
mess Happy Family" which camp
/ supposed was near at hand instead
of three miles away. My disappoint-
ment can well he imagined when
realized the impossible task of making
so long a journey on my sticks. But
hold, l see mounted cavalier upon
q sturdy black with flowing name and
tail land rs he approached l recogniz-
ed him as the young merchant of
Winchester-the man of "singular
methods in business"-the patriotic
citizen who left his all 10 meet the in
vading foe then threatening the town.
When made acquainted of my desire,
he quickly and kindly offers me n
seat behind him and my problem is
ended for the expedition. AS dis
appointment is the lot of man in
general, so likewise was it his, for he
had ridden from the camp that j
sought TO obtain from the news
agent Richmond daily paper, with
out success. /, however, having OBJ
tanned the last copy upon the train
was able to supply at once the object
of his trip, as he also to supply mine.
IL was then that / was made aware Of
your remarkable memory, for was
greatly surprised to hear you when
you reached camp repeat an address
from Genl. Buckner to his army and
the people of Kentucky on entering
that State with his division, which
was published in that paper.
Now finally greet my young hero
of years ago, as comrade, friend and
genius in the arts of peace, writing
the name of Charles Broadway Rouss
in the encircling halo of fame's fail
temple, while floating above is the in
centive motto: Excelsior Permit ms
TO congratulate you in this New Yea
of 1897, for the fruitions of sue
cessful life, not by genius alone. bu
, by an energiziDg force as of elec
tricity that is always prompt to ac
ard speedy 10 the mark in spite o
> grades or opposition. sincerely
! hope that YOU may soon be able t,
set MANY of your burdens upon will
ing and younger shoulders by induct
ing your son Peter Winchester int
, the science of trade so indubitabi,
solved by your elaborate mind, S
, that when he may put on the Who'll
. armor of his heroic sire and in emu
= lation of his deeds of greatness an
goodness keep afioat upon the highes
pinnacle the inspiring motto, Exec
| siOr. Sincerely Yours.