Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-03-08
NEW SERIES, VOL. XxxIH, NO. 10.


and was placed on a very dilapi-
dated steed much like Don Ouixote's S
Rosinante, which bore me in humble
style to Harper's Ferry.
When captured I was wearing q
pair of spurs, presented to my father
by his friend, Hon. Henry Bedinger,
and purchased by him in Denmark,
while minister there. l recognized
them as legitimate prize of war,
but, riding along, Lieut.. Hill asked
me if would like to part with them.
Told him their history and said
while 1 wished to retain them, was
aware he had right to them Well,
said he, if you wish to keep them, do
so, take them off and put them in
your pocket, which did, and brought
them safely back to Dixie, At Har-
Per's Ferry L was put in charge of a
Lieutenant of infantry, whose
name cannot now recall. He took
me to an oyster saloon and filled me
with oysters, which were heartily en-.
joyed. After eating this the Lieu
tenant informed me there was ball
in the Ferry that night on he would
take me to his quarters for the night,
as he disliked to place me in their
guard-house, but could only re-
spond with thanks for his courtesy
and expressed my willingness to go
to accommodate him. He then took
me to their guard-house under the
Presbyterian church, and have been
afraid of Presbyterian churches ever
since. Heaven and hell are too close
to each other. appreciated that
night Gen'l Charles Lees request,
not to be buried in any Presbyterian
church yard, or within one mile of
any Anabaptist meeting house, as he
had been forced to keep so much bad
company during life that he wished
to avoid it in death. He advised me
if had money or valuables, to place
them in the hands of the officer of
guard, is my fellow prisoners were
hard set and might rob me. l took
the advice and handed over my gold
watch and $40, with a vague sus-
Picion would never see them again.
In this miserable den, found COM
rades Manning and Coleman, and
crowd of yankee deserters. Was
much pleased to see my friends, for
misery loves company. Sleep failed
to weigh our eyeIids down that night
Our couch was mud and dirt and our
associates the vilest of the vile.--
Morning was welcomed, our names
were called, and as we passed out
my watch and money was handed to
me, much to my surprise. A guard
then took us to the b. & o. station,
where we boarded the cars for Balti-
more, arrived there about noon, and
were taken to General Schenck's
headquarters.
The Federal account of our little
raid is found in report of General
Schenck to General HaIIeck:
BALTIMORE, Mp, Feb. 1S, 1868
| have received the following dispatch from
Brig. Gen. Kelley:
HARPER's FERRY, VA, Feb. IS, 1863.
yesterday, about p. m, squad of Bay
lor's rebel cavalry attacked a small party of
the 18th Penn. Cavalry from Kearneysyille,
near Smitlticld, killing 4, wounding ., and
capturing men and several horses. About
p. IN. my scouts here fell in with same party
n few miles south OF Charles Town, and after
Running fight of several miles recuptured
our men and horses, and captured Lieut., Bay
lor and of his men and several horses.
B. f. KELLEY, Brig. Gen.
have the honor to be very respectfully,
RoBT. e. SoHENCK, Maj. Zen. Com.
After being interrogated by Gen'l
Schenck as to where l was when he
chased Jackson up the valley, and,
informing him 1 was at Cross Keys
and Port Republic, we were taken to
the Provost Marshall's office. MY
comrades and self being more of the
stature of David than Saul, and boy
ish in appearance, were pointed out
on the streets of Baltimore as living
evidence OF the fact that Jeff. Davis
was robbing the cradle for soldiers, if
not the grave.
While in the Provost's office lit
tie orange girl, seeing we were pris-
oners, her little heart burned with
sympathy and quickly approach
ing us, while the guards attention
was turned, slipped each of us an
orange, and when offered pay, re-
fused TO accept. How much good
there is in the world we wot not of.
Her little act was more than a SER
mon. This little waif of the street
had made us feel the kinship of all
men.