Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-03-24

place, striking the public road going
east to Feagans' mill and west to Sum-
nit Point turnpike. Here the ad-
vance, instead of tuning east as it
should have done, followed road west
ward until reaching angle in rear of
the Slifer place, attempted to rectty
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
recaptured. Learning, no doubt, from
the recaptured men the paucity Of our
numbers, they pressed us more vigor-
odsly.
At the next fence Mannings horse
fell, pinioning him to the ground, and
he was captured. A short distance
further on, Coleman's horse, in like
manner fell, and he was taken. Hav-
ing passed across the Slifsr farm, the
retreat was continued down through
the Dovenberger place, across IN d.
rection of Porters factory. was rid
ing my fathers horse, Bony, fine
runner and jumper, and keeping in
rear with few well-mounted men to
protect those with weak and less agile
stseds, when coming to ditch in the
field, my horse bounded over, slipped
on the ice and fell, throwing me. In
an instant Bony was up and gone,
and poor me, at the mercy Of fast
advancing foe. Just south of me |
spied a rail fence, which in an instant
l lqaped and, while the Yankees were
pulling it down to get over, made the
best run of my life, across a wheat
field, with bullets knocking dirt over
and around me. Before they got
through the fence l reached he Keerl
house, NOW belonging to my friend
Levi Porter ran in the front door and
out of the rear, down into the garden
aud fell, exhausted, undera gooseberry
bush.
Soon eyed the yankees in the yard,
around the house, and before l could
recover breath for another run, they
rode into the garden, spied me under
the bush, (poor protection in Febru-
ary,) and took me prisoner. My
horse carried off my pistols and sabre
and bore them safely back to camp.
With the posse that captured me was
a Lieut.. Hill, an exceedingly gentle
manly fellow for yankee, who, learn
ing my name, treated me with much
kindness and consideration. While
standing in the garden talking with
the party, up rode a big lager beer
Dutchman in an excited manner leap
ed off his horse, and giving me good
Dutch cursing, placed his carbine to
my breast and said xiii the damned
rebel. Just then Hill, pointing his
pistol in the Dutchman's face, said :"If
you shoot him I'll shoot you. This
brought the cowardly scoundrel to his
senses, and he sneaked off like a sheep
killing dog. The attacking party was
a squadron of the 14th Pennsylvania
cavalry, under Major Gibson.
The further pursuit Of our men was
abandoned at this point, and Lieut..
Hill and five Of Lis men took charge
of me, taking me to Porters pump to
allow me to wash some of the mud of
of my face.
Col. Porter, learning l was pris-
oner, kindly came down with bottle
Of Old Rye, offered ne drink, which
was declined. then offered one to nv
captors, which they accepted. Thoughts
of escape then entered my head, and
gave Col. Porter the wink to offer
them another drink, which he did,
but they all declined.
Not having an extra horse | was
placed on blanket behind one of the
Yankees, and the party started for
Charlestown, by way Of Feagans' Mil,
and the Summit Point and Charles
town road. When TIE gate opposite
the Isler house (now Carrells) was
reached we met Tom Rockenbaugh,
neighbor, going home. Spoke to him,
and was about TO request him to tell
my mother I was prisoner, but not
hurt, when, putting whip to his horse,
started in a full run. Ny guard shout
ed halt and fired a couple shots, but
he never slackened pace When I
saw him next inquired why he had
acted SO strangely? why, said he,
"If I had recognized you they would
have killed me sure
Charlestown was reached about +
p. N. I had entered this place SO
often as victor, felt my humiliation