Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-02-01
SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON.
The Loudoun Rangers.
BY CAPT. GEORGE BAYLOR.

RSSR vel AtAtAASil 4OAlOW CNl WIN
more genial skies, and the armies be-
gan to stir. Sheridan moved from
Winchester with two divisions of
Cavalry via. Staunton and Charlottes-
vile to the James, and joined Grant
in his movements around Richmond.
Hancock succeeded in command at
Winchester and lower valley, and
made new arrangement of military
posts.
On March 18th, with seven men,
crossed the Shenandoah, then very
much swollen, swimming our horses,
struck the Berryville pike, about a
mile and half south of Charles
Town, about 10 p. M, and moved
cautiously in the direction of the
town, then garrisoned as Federal
post. At the old to1l-gate, then To-
Gated within the present corporation
limits, we were halted by the picket,
a single soldier, who demanded:
g who comes there?'' to which we
responded 'friends toAbe Lincoln. !"
The picket then directed :" advance
one and give the countersign. Adj
vancing until within few feet of him
1 discovered he was covering me
with hi carbine. Was riding at the
time little sorrel horse, I" Jeb," a
perfect cavalry steed, and would rear
whenever wanted. Saw something
must be done to disconcert picket's
attention, so uprose Jeb on his hind
legs, and as he did so I shouted:
foLya down vonr cruD wa, friorhto,,
my horse" Down it went, and in a
second my pistol was at his head,
with demand, g surrender, you son
of a gun" This was my favorite
salute to the yankees on such occa-
sions, and was as near swearing as
reached by me during the war, and
believe it had as much effect as
something stronger. Down dropped
the soldiers gun on the ground and
up went his hands. My comrades
now coming up, the countersign was
demanded of the prisoner and given
us without hesitation. Death was the
penalty threatened if it proved to be
wrong. The prisoner then directed
us to the next post westward, where
the countersign proved genuine. and
that picket was gathered in. The
circuit of the town was made and all
the posts relieved without trouble,
until the last was reached. This post
was just east of the one first taken,
on the hill in rear of the Academy.
As now remembered, there was with
me, on this occasion, Douglas Mason,
Howard Kerfoot, (now the distin-
guished Baptist divine Jim and
Shannon Gallaher, Ike Anderson,
Bob North and Willie johnson.
The pickets. up to this one, had
been relieved by me without trouble.
Doug. Masonrequested and was grant
ed permission TO relieve this last fell
low. To the picket's demand Mason
responded " friends with counter
sign" The usual demand of advance
aud give the countersign was then
made, and Mason moved forward,
until in close proximity, when picket
ordered him to dismount. This fell
low was evidently more cautious than
the rest, and we were a little fearful
Mason would have trouble, and
awaited the outcome with some sus-
pense. Suddenly two shots stimuli
taneously rang out on the night air.
Dashing up we found Mason and the
yankee living on the ground, Mason
shot through the shoulder and the
yankee through the stomach. No
disturbance had been made until the
capture of this picket, but now the
alarm was given, and we had to hurry
off. for the reserve would soon be
after US. Putting Mason on his
horse we started up the BerryvilIe
pike. Mason, prisoners and small
guard in front, and some three or
four in rear to protect them. The
enemy pursued only short distance,
and very cautiously. Hating at
each favorable point we gave the adj
vance a little VolIey, which seems,
from the enemy's account, not to
have been without effect. After pass
ing Roper's hill the pursuit seems to
have been abandoned, and we took
Mason into Mr.. Milburn's house, on
the Frame (now Burns) farm, and
dressed and bound up his wound
We then moved back into Clarke and
Warren counties, and sent prison ers
to GordonsvilIe. The enemy's report
of this affair is very meager, and is
contained in the following dispatches {:
HEADQU Observation-Disclosures DIVISION
March Is, 1865.
GEN. STEVENSON. Harper's Ferry
Gen. n.Hancockwishes to know whether there
is any truth in the report that the guerrillas at
tackled some of your pickets the other night,
killing one of Reno's men.
G. II. MORGAN. Brevet Brig.-Geu.
HARPER's FERRY. March 10. 1865.
BRIG.-GES. MoRGAS. Chief of staff:
On the evening of the 18th inst. a party Of
gucriillas attacted one of Reno's picket posts,
killing one man and woundiug two others.
JOHN d. STEVENSON, Brig Gen.
The Streams continuing swollen.
little or nothing was done for SOM
weeks. On the 5th of April, at North
Fork Church, IN Loudoun county,
Mosby organized another company,
Go. H,) and the following officers
were elected: George Baylor captain,
Edward F. Thomson 1st Lieut., Jas.
G. Wiltshire End Lieut., and b..
Frank Carter 3rd Lieut.. The com
papy numbered about fifty men, and
as soon as organized Col. Mosby di-
rected me to take them on scout
into jefferson. We disbanded for
/ the day to meet next morning at
/ SnickersviIIe. Meeting took place
] .,.,l;,, +o or6er fhe GOmDanV