Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-01-25
:. Co. B - Takes to Merchandise and
RaiIroading.
BY CAPTAIN GEORGE BAYLOR.

command, then encamped near Swope's
Depot, some FIVE miles west of Staunton,
and, with sad hearts, bade adieu to our
friends in the lower valley and joined our
regiment, where we found neither suffi-
cheney of food for ourselves or our horses.
The weather was bitter cold, and the
ground covered with snow. After hun
gering and shivering in this camp some
three weeks, were again ordered to the
lower valley,
General Sheridan was still at Winches-
ter, and his name always recalls to my
mind Byron's Corsair:
He left Corsair's name to other times,
Linked with one virtue and thousand
crimes"
The character of warfare waged by this
commander can be best told by his own
orders, a few of which we publish below:
KERNsTowN, VA, Nov. 20, 1864.
MAJ.-GEN'L H. w. HALLEcK:
will soon commence work on Mosbv
Heretofore l have made no attempt to
track him up, as 1 would have employed
ten men to his one, and for the reason that
have made scape-goat of him for the
destruction of private rights. Now there
is going to be an intense hatred of him in
that portion of the valley, which is nearly
desert. l will soon commence on Lou
doun county and let them know there is
God in Israel. Mosby has annoyed me
considerably, but the people are beginning
to see that he does not injure me a great
deal, but causes a loss to them of all they
have spent their lives in accumulatinp
Those people who live in the vicinity of
Harper,s Ferry are the most villialous in
this valley, and have not yet been hurt
much. If the railroad is interfered with
l will make some of them roor Those
who live at home in peace and plenty
want the duell part of this war to go on,
loss of property and comic is they will
cry for peace. P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major General.
This cannot be excelled by Weyler, and
was written after laying waste not only
the valley but Fauquier and southern
Loudoun with fire and sword. He did
not frighten, but drove us to desperation
and retaliation. On the night of the 23d
of January, having received information
that several stores were operated in Shep-
herdstown, under Federal permits, with
some thirty men, we entered the Town,
sacked the stores, bringing off many ar
ticles useful and necessary for the men,
their families and sweet hearts. AS these
stores would not sell to rebels or rebel
families, and were barred to us and ours,
they were legal subjects of capture and
confiscation. General Sheridan heard of
this raid, and on the 25th wires General
Stevenson:
Zone of my scouts from Shepherds
town reports that forty rebels entered that
place few nights ago and robbed two
stores. Have you any facts in the case,
and is it best to allow stores to be opened
there"
And General Stevenson replies:
"a party of rebel soldiers and citizens
did rob store at Shepherdstown of a
small amount of goods. saw the party
robbed, who promised to furnish me the
names of the parties engaged. Myinfor-
nation is that the robbery was committed
by some rebel soldiers and citizens. and
not by party organized for raid There
are but two or three stores, and with
small stocks
This dispatch from Stevenson seems to
have stirred the wrath of Little Phil, ("
for he Immediately wires Stevenson:
:" If you find any citizen harboring or
abetting these robber bands in your dis
trict, drive off all their stock, and burn
all their grain. There are certainly some
such people about Shepherdstown and
its vicinity"
Suffice it to say the goods were safely
brought through the enemy's lines, and
served to gladden. the hearts and homes
of our lady friends. However we regret
to mention that this raid cost comrades
Sadler and F. J. Manning, after the war,
under radical justice, about $500 each
dear pay for their portion of the sack.
Resting for a few days, we were ap-
prised by one of our scouts that a Federal
paymaster would pass west on the B. & o.
express on the night of February 3rd, and
as our boys had not received any pay for
some time, thought this golden oppor-
tunity to get little remuneration.
Gathering together about thirey men
we crossed the Shenandoah at Keyses'
Halltown andHarper'sFerry,a and reached
the line of the B. & o., just east of Duff
fields, about 10 p. m. Our horses were
fastened about 500 yards from the rail-
road, and we proceeded on foot to the
track to make preparation. The rails of
the B. & o. at that time were bolted to-
gether with wooden pieces, or stringers.
and not being possessed of wrentch,
found it impossible to separate them, so
prised up one side of the track, STAYED it
with ties, and laid down to await the ex-
Pected train. A good soft place had been
selected, to minimize the damage to life
on the train as much as possible
A few moments after finishing our prep
arations a guard came along, and
was taken in without trouble or noise, as
troops were stationed at short distances
on either side. Our waiting was not
long, the rumble was heard in the dis
tance; nearer and nearer it came, until
the iron horse, with his fiery nostre1s ap-
peared in full view All were eager and
excited. The prize seemed in our grasp.
The engine struck the obstruction, a
great crash followed and the train stop
ped. But, alas it was only special
freight, running on express time Our
financial hopes were again blasted The
train was ransacked, abundance of wine.
champaign, beer and other drinks, with
cakes, candies, cofees, sugar, oysters
| 80 .t.-s.- - ,,-ae fo,trd and taken