Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-22
A HORROR OF THE WAR.

tdlheu VI IAt tHI444IHS e'SHIS OA 'A4S--
lives on the frontier, they did not fail
to recall the names of those who had
fallen in the fight, but especially the
six soldiers, who, after being taken
prisoners, had been made the victims
of the implacable ferocity Of General
George A. Custer, ofSheridan S cavalry.
The story of this tragedy is thus told
in the Warrenton True Index, by an
eyewitness:
After the defeat of General Early
at the battle of the Opequon on Sep
tember 19, 1864, his command fell
back up the Valley. The brigade of
cavalry, under General Wickham, oc-
cuped strong position at Milford,
twelve miles south of Front Royal,
and Custer made repeated efforts to
force him from the position without
effect. About this time it was report
ed to Captain Chapman, Of MOsby's
command, that large wagon train was
en- route from Milford to Winchester
under the escort of a small body of
men. He Immediately made DISPOSE
tion for its capture at Front Royal.
For this purpose he divided his men
into two parties. One party Was to at
tack the train at the point where a
cross road from Chesters Gap inter-
sects the Front Royal and Luray grade.
The other, under the immediate COM
mand of Chapman, was to fall upon
the front Of the train about six hun
dred yards from the town where there
is a hill on one side and a ravine on
the other. 1t seems that Custer had
OWNED in some way the Confederate
plans, and, instead of small train
guard, he had his whole division be-
hind the wagons. He waited till the
attack was made upon the front, when
he threw a large force upon the Man
or Grade, road running parallel with
the Luray road, and took possession Of
Chester's Gap, Chapmans line of re-
treat. The latter promptly attacked
the train, when he in turn was attacked
in the rear. He Immediately turned
upon the force behind him, determin-
ed to cut his way out. The Federals,
who had preceded him to the gap,
had thrown strong line across a mar
row defle under the command ofa cap
tain or major, who stood upon foot in
the middle of the road. Chapman
formed his men in column and boldly
charged through the line In the me-
lee the Federal captain saw he would
be captured or ridden down. and Of
fered to surrender himself; but the
pressure behind the Confederates was
too great for them to stop to parley
with one man, and some Of those in the
rear, not understanding the situation,
emptied their revolvers into the cap
tain, killing him instantly. The most
of Mosby's men succeeded in getting
away, but some had their horses shot
and others were cut off, Among these
were Anderson, Love, OVERLY, Carter
and Henry Rhodes, Of the Twenty
third Virginia Regiment. Custer de-
termined to wreak summary vengeance
upon these men. Rhodes was lashed
with ropes between two horses and
dragged in plain sight of his agonizel
relatives to the field north of our town,
where one man volunteered to do the
killing, and ordered the helpless, dazed
prisoner to stand up in front Of him
while he emptied his pistol upon him.
Anderson and Love were shot in a lot
behind the courthouse. OVERLY and
Carter were carried to large walnut
tree upon the hill between Front Roy
al and Riverton, and were hung. The
writer saw the latter under guard in
the wagon lot. They bore themselves
like heroes, and endured the taunts Of
their captors with proud and undaunt-
ed mien. One of them was splendid
specimen of manhood-tall, well-knit
frame and head of black, wavy hair
floating in the wind, he looked like
knight of old. While l was looking
at them, General Custer, at the head
of his division, rode by. He was dressed
in a splendid suit Of silk velvet, his
saddle bow bound in silver or gold.
In his hand he had large branch Of
damsons, which he picked and ate as
he rode along, his yellow locks resting
on his shoulders. Rhodes was my
friend and playmate, and I saw him
shot from distance, but did not at the
time know who it was.
Early in November Captain A. E.
Richards, with ten men, was sent to
the rear of Sheridan army, then "
ing between Middletown and Stras-
burg. From position near the turn
pike, in course of the day, he captured