Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-01-11
Go. OBJ" in the Banking business.

Several days after the Stone Bridge
fight / learned through reliable source
that a bank had been established at
Sharpsburg Maryland, and there was
considerable deposit of funds in the in
stitution. The news had the effect of a
Klondike craze on our impoverished men.
Go. / must. With our fifteen men we es-
sayed to cross the Potomac, some thirty
miles in rear of the enemys lines, and re-
move this deposit further south, where
it was sorely needed and could be more
easily circulated. The enemy at this
time occupied Winchester, Summit Point,
Charlestown, Halltown, Harper's Ferry,
and stations along the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. By passing through this line
at night we would meet no obstacle in
crossing the Potomac at Buffers Ford,
ascending the river, crossing the canal on
bridge opposite Shepherdstown, and after
a short ride, reach Sharpsburg, seize
our coveted booty and return to the Blue
Ridge before daylight. The scheme
seemed feasible, the prize alluring and
our hearts were in the enterprise.
We crossed the Shenandoah near Man
ning's Ferry just after dark on the night
OF the 18th of December, passed safely
through the enemy's line between
Charlestown and Ha1ltown and proceeded
safely on our way When near the Ter
rill farm weran upon some Federal in
fantry engaged in the not very 1audable
%, 4,.,,;,., Sc ,.+,,1i.,,r rI,aa,, We tabloid
with them, (feigning to belong to the 18th
Penn Cavalry, which we knew was sta
toned at Charlestown) giving them some
sound ethical views on violation of the
Eighth Commandment and then pressed
on to Buffers Ford, where we crossed the
river and started up the towpath towards
! Shepherdstown in order to get across the
canal. A short distance up the towpath
we met several canal boats loaded with
grain on the way to Washington. Aswe
passed the mule drivers, to the inquiries
of what command. we responded, 18th
Penn. Cavalry.
Leaving them behind, we were soon in
few feet of bridge over canal, when
suddenly we were halted by half dozen
soldiers, standing near North abutment
of the Potomac bridge. This was not in
our program and to say we were surpris-
ed, puts the matter very gentle. To their
inquiry, who comes there? ?" respond
ed, friend, " and in a few moments the
Sergeant was at my side, with his hand
on my knee in the most friendly manner
Fortunately the night was dark and little
fakes of snow were falling. Our enc
mics We're soon at case and a good
deal easier than we were. But the men
behind me were still as a mouse and their
silence somewhat oppressed me. We in
formed the guard that we were scout
sent by Gen1 Stevenson, Commander at
Harper's Ferry,) to arrest some disloyal
citizens at Sharpsburg, and we belonged
to the 18th Penn. Cavalry, but had not
been given the countersign and were not
aware that we had to pass through any of
our troops. The Sergeant very courte-
ously responded that they belonged to
the 9th Penn. Cavalry and had been sent
to that post on that day; that he would
call the officer of the guard, who, no
doubt, would pass US through and bepro-
ceeded to make his call. We then, for
the first time, recognized the cavalry
camp on the North bank of the canal,
and our better judgment called for re-
treat as we were largely outnumbered
The officer, a captain, was soon fully
satisfied of our genuineness, leaned up
against my horse and kindly offered to
pass us through and back. But the risk
was too great. Visions of rope floated
before me. The boys, in making a run
on the bank in Sharsburg, would likely
create some disturbance if their checks
were not promptly honored, and the
troops at Shepherdstown, receiving no.
tice, would probably bar our retreat and we
would all, most likely, be hung up before
morning. In order, however, to further
allay suspicion, l informed the captain
that did not like the business intrusted
to me land to his honor be it said he
didn't either and would rather he would
decline to let me pass, as then I could go
back and report to GenI Stevenson that
he had failed to give me the countersign
and we could not get to Sharpsburg To
this he readily assented, and l ordered
the boys to face about, which movement
was responded TO in double quick time,
and soon we were retracing our steps
down the towpath.
We had been foiled in our monetary
enterprise and it was sore disappoint-
nent, but we soon determined not to go
home emPty-handed. Ouickening our
gait we soon overlook the canal boat we
had passed on Our trip up, and mules be-
ing the next best currency, we proceeded
to lay hold of these, all the time asserting
we Were the r2th Penn, Cavalry and were
impressiug them for government service.
We gathered up some IS or 10 and took
with Us the drivers to help bring them off.
The boats We're loaded with contraband. |
but mothers and children were on board |
and orr hearts were too tender to turn |
them ont on that rough night, so they es-
capped destruction. We recrossed the
river with our booty and with quiet steps
were soon in the neighborhood of our
friend VIM. Beall's farm, when we dis
charged the drivers, telling them that we
could now safely take the mules into
Charles Town and they could return to
A ,,-, ,,.,,.r,