Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-03-08
Off For Prison.
BY cart. eEoRGn BAYLOR.


Eternal Spirit of the claiuless mind!
Brightest in dungeons liberty. thou art
BYRON.
In the winter of 1868, our brigade,
then under command of Cen WIN.
e. Jones, WAS cncampcd near New
Market, and after living idle there
several weeks some of. our BOYS be-
came very restive and loagcd to he
on the move. Permission was asked
of Gen. Jones for the company 10
make scout in the lower valley, and
the request was refused. Plans were
then SGT on foot hy a number of the
man, including Lieutenant Rouss
and myself, to outgeneral the gen.
era!. The camp-jlch, n disease pc
cuIiar to soldiers living on hard tack
and mess pork, was then prevalent
in our brigade. Taking into our
plot our regimental surgeon, DIR.
Burton, one morning about dozen
of us appeared before the surgeons
tent and made application to be sent
to the hospital at Harrisonburg to be
treated for this disease, ard certifi-
Gates were accordingly granted US.
Reporting to surgeon in charge of
hospital, DIR. Waddell, our certifi-
Gates were presented and we were
booked as patients at that institution.
Without critical examination, some
amounting ointment was furnished
each of us and permission granted to
stay with friends and acquaintances
in the neighborhood, with directions
to report occasionally. Having now
arranged our program satisfactorily,
the following morning started down
the valley, determined to try our
hand on the yanks in this section,
assured that success would be suffi-
cient excuse for our little deviation
from the line of military rectitude.
Our little band, of some bakers
dozen, was composed of Lieut.. Rouss,
John Chew, Billy Manning, Charlie
Henderson. Charlie Crane, John
Yates, John Coleman, George Cray
ton, Billy Gibson, Up. Manning, Joe
Crane, Duck English, and myself.
The 18th of February found us at
Summit Point, where information was
received of small scouting party of
the 18th Penn. Cavalry, numbering
21 men, passing a short time before
our arrival. going in the direction of
Middleway. Off we started after
them. Passing g Happy Retreat,
the abode of one of our sweethearts,
were urged not to pursue, as the en-
emy was too many for us; but we
had travelled about sixty miles in
hunt of a fracas and nothing could
dissuade us. In fact we were spoil
ing for fight.
AS Middleway is approached from
Summit Point, there is a straight
stretch of road just before entering the
town. Here the enemy was in full view,
slowly sauntering along, nearing the
hill just south of the place. Our
gait was now accelerated, our pistols
made ready, and we struck the rear,
with the head of their column just
over the hill. So intent were they in
conversation and so unmindful of our
presence, that the rear file was shot
down ard we were pressing into the
column before they were aware of
danger
No resistance was made, but pell
nell down through the town they ran,
with our little band, yelling like
hyenas, in close pursuit, suffering
mostly from their mud-pelting, and
closed the race at the toll-gate just
north of town. AS the result of the
fight were killed, 8 wounded, and 4
prisoners, II horses and equipments
captured. No casualty on our side.
The dead and wounded were left on
the field, and with prisoners and
horses started back to Summit Point,
thence down to Locke's shop, where
stop was made to let Rouss have
his horse shod. Fatal stop! The
smith was completing the job when a
body of yankee cavaIary was seen
approaching from the direction of
Charlestown. Prisoners, with horses
and small guard, were hurried down
| Locke's lane, and with handful of
men dash was made on the advance
of the enemY's column, to hold it in
check a few moments, to give pris-
oners, captured horses and guard, a
little start. The movement was more
successful than anticipated, the head
of the column was broken and thrown
into confusion. In this charge Chew
and Charlie Crane displayed conspic-
uous galIantry. The prisoners and
horses had now gotten pretty good
distance in advance. We then fell
back in good order, down by Locke 5
house, through the Griggs place,
striking the public road leading east
to Feagans' mill and west to Summit
Point turnpike. Here the advance,
instead of turning east as it should
have done, followed road westward
until reaching angle in rear of Slifer
place, attempted to rectify mistake
by striking across the Slifer farm
At the first cross fence the yankee
horses refused to jump and the enemy
pressing US from the rear, the yankee
prisoners and horses were recaptur-
ed. Learning, no doubt, from the
recaptured men the paucity of our
numbers, they pressed US more vigor-
ously.
AT the next fence AIannings horse
,, fell, pini0ning him to the ground
/ and he was captured. A short dis
tance further on, ,Colemau's horse, il
5 like manner fell, and he was taken
/ Having passed across the Slifer farm
the retreat was continued dowr
: throuoh tho DovaDhar,rar ,,Io.o