Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-10-28
FIFTEEN DAYS ON DETACHED SERVICE

The Baylor Light Horse, Co. B,
Twelfth Virginia Cavalry,was organ
lied in April, 1862, and was composed
largely of men who had enlisted at the
outbreak of the war, and served one
year in the ranks Of the Second Vir-
ginia Regiment of Infantry, in the fa-
nous Stonewall Brigade. It's mem
bers were principally sons Of farmers
Of Jefferson county, Virginia, mere
school boys, who had not attained
their majority or completed their ed
ucation. AS l now remember, there
were only three married men in the
company. The Orderly Sergeant, Seth
Timberlake,a "a brother-in-law Of Charles
Broadway Rouss, was widower, and
called by the boys Uncle Seth, on
account of his seniority, though then
quite a young man. In It's ranks were
youths who today stand in the front
in various occupations of civil life.
There was ex-Postmaster General
William L. Wilson Charles Broadway
Rouss, the merchant prince and phil
anthropist of Broadway, New York !;
Charles Henderson, general manager
Of the Reading Railroad; Hon. W, D.
English, of California Thomas D.
Ransom, a prominent lawyer Of the
Staunton bar; William S: Thompson,
a leading member of the Atlanta bar;
H. D. Beall, of the Baltimore Sun;
Julian Hutchinson, a capitalist and
member of the city council Of Atlanta;
Undertakes, eight in number, and all
gallant soldiers, Washingtons, Man
nings, Alexanders, Craighill, Frazier,
Mason, Sadler, Strider, Mcclure and
many others, whose names in Virginia
suggest pride, proves and parentage.
My father, Robert w. Baylor, was
chosen captain, but served only short
time, having been severely wounded
and incapacitated for further service
in cavalry engagement at McGaheys-
vile, on the 9th of April, 1862.
Lieutenant Milton Rouss, brother Of
Charles Broadway Rouss, second in
command, brave officer, was wound
ed near Charlestown in September,
1862, and shortly afterwards taken
prisoner and not released until the
close OF the war. l was the second
lieutenant and B. C. Washington, a
at-grand-nephew of the immortal
George Washington, was promoted for
gallantry to junior second lieutenant.
No arms or equipments were fur
nished the company by the Confeder-
ate government; the men owned their
horses, and Uncle Sam very kindly
provided us the very best pistols, sa-
bres, saddles and brides he had in
stock. Everything but ourselves was
branded L. S. For the carbine we
had no liking and no use. Early in
the conflict we recognized the fact that
the Federal officer was our equal, and
that our chief strength and superiority
lay in our rank and file. If we fought
our opponents at long range, we gave
the officers opportunity to bring to
their aid discipline and authority over
the actions and conduct Of their men.
When we came in close contact they
lost control, and the men, lacking in
dividuality, became sheep without
shepherd, while with us every private
was a general and needed no direction
or guidance from his officer. In the
camp and in the field the Confederate
was ruled by affection and example
and treated as an equal and not an in
ferior. Especially so was this the case
in our company, where we bore the re-
lation of brother, cousin, schoolmate,
neighbor and friend.
Being young, active and adventur-
Gus, we were often selected for de-
tached service, though the company
bore its part in most of the great bat
ties of the Army of Northern Virginia.
In 1862, after the battle of Cross Keys
and Port Republic, when Jackson
Joined Lee, it was left in charge in the
Shenandoah Valley, and by its fire.
quent raids and dashes upon the out
posts of the enemy and breaking his
line of communication, it aided mate
rally in causing General White to
evacuate Winchester and retire on
Harper's Ferry, where he shortly after
surrendered with General Miles to
General Jackson.
In the campaign of 1868 it served
in the cavalry corps under General
Stuart and won at Warrenton Springs,