The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-10-12
From pnblIc Opinion.

and man of more than ordinary
intelligence, has passed away at
that ripe old age to which, ac-
cording to the Psalmist, one may
attain by reason of strength. He
was quiet man, somewhat re-
served in disposition, but a capa-
BILE and entertaining talker with
persons who enjoyed his perso.
nal acquaintance. In the com
munity at large his influence for
good was felt more from his up
right christian life, than from
what he said, but he always found
voice in any crisis or time of need
TO array himself on the side of
peace, morality and good order.
His life experiences present %
rather interesting and curious
cluster of anomalies. While he
instinctively shrank from the
publicity of Office or honors, yet
he was called upon frequently to
assume the duties of local govern
ment. He was at various times
Justice of the Peace, town coun-
Gilman, burgess and school direc-
tor. Diligent in the pursuits of
peace, he found himself Captain
of the Home Guards and in com
mand of the defences of the town
at the outbreak of the civil war.
He never committed a public
crime and yet he was publicly ar
rested at his own place of bust
ness, kept in the custody of arm
ed men and taken away from his
own State into Virginia where
without trial he was cast into
prison and compelled to undergo
term of Imprisonment which in
volved greater hardship and pun
ishment than is now meted out to
the worst criminals of the nation.
Always a staunch and uncom-
promising Union man, he found
himself on one occasion quietly
seated in Confederate camp
partaking of an evening meal,
and in pleasant conversation with
no less parsonage than General
Wade Hampton.
The following brief account of
Mr.. Rupley's experience at the
time of the first Rebel raid into
Southern Pennsylvania, was re-
duced to writing and is the sub
stance of an interview with Mr..
Rupley himself who afterwards
pronounced it a correct statement
of facts.
The morning of October 10th,
1862, was rather cool and cloudy,
and late in the afternoon driz-
zling rain set in and continued
far into the night. Captain Rup-
ley of the Home Guards, and
Burgess of the borough, was at
work in his tin shop The mer-
chants were quietly attending to
the wants of their few customers
who were unusually few owing to
the threatening weather. Daniel
Shaffer had taken down his
trusty rifle to shoot Il chicken for
IL late dinner which he expected
to enjoy with his family.
Gen. j. E. B. Stuart with the
flower of his famous cavalry
crossed the Potomac that morn
ing at McCoy's ferry above Will
iamsport and proceeded to make
a raid around the army of Nc
Clellan, such as he had made once
before while the army of the Po-
tomac was nearer Richmond in
the memorable Peninsular cam
paign. Both raids were success
full, and the latter one was prob
ably the most profitable to the
bold cavalrymen, at least as far
as the gathering of forage and
horses was concerned. The num-
ber of troops has been variously
estimated, one writer putting it
as high as $500 mounted men
and six pieces of artillery. They
advanced rapidly through the
Blair's Valley road into the
Corner" About half past II,
just when most of the good peo-
pie Of Mercersburg were quietly
seated at their dinner tables, a
few cavalry soldiers made their
appearance in town. This un-