Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-01-19
WHO REMEMBERS 1T?

The Stamford Con. Telegram prints
the following story relating to the civ
il war; AS it refers to Staunton peo-
ple>we give it for what it may be
worth. Who in Staunton remembers
it? and is it a true story?
"While the friends of Governor
Roosevelt, of New York, are so eager
ly seeking a Congressional Medal OF
Honor for him, it recalls the fact that
man who was born and lived until a
few years ago in Stamford is the hold
er of such a medal, which is only
granted for "an action of such con-
spicuous character as to clearly distin-
guish the man for gallantry and intre-
pidity above his comrades. and that
involved extreme jeoparv of life or the
performance of extraordinarily hazar-
dous duty" and which carries with
it the thanks of Congress. During
the whole period of the civil war less
than one hundred were so honored.
"At the battle of Cedar Creek in Oc-
tober, 1864, after Gen. Sheridan had
driven Gen. Early's army over the
creek, Early placed the Staunton, Va,
regiment at the Pike Road on the ris-
ing ground south of the creek and with
the rest of his army fell back some
distance and encamped.
"The ConfederateS on t. Pike road
were exhausted from marching nearly
all the previous night and fighting all
day and began to lie down in the fields
on the side of the road so that in a
short time only the standard bearer
was standing in the road holding the
flag which was a silk standard pre-
scented to the regiment by the ladies of
Staunton.
About shutdown Gen. Clusters bri-
gade of cavalry proceeded to fording
place and crossed the creek for the
purpose of night attack on Early's
camp.
"Whie the brigade was crossing and
forming in the fields Regimental Quar-
termaster Sergeant David H. Scotield,
of the Fifth New York Cavalry. made
his way to the Pike road and riding
forward saw the flag. He fired and
shot the bearer and rode forward to
capture the flag. AS he seized it the
Confederates were aroused and crowd
ed around him. In reply to their de-
claration that he was their prisoner be
coolly informed them that they would
soon be his prisoners because -FOUR
cavalry corps is all on this side of the
creek, Custer holds the Pike road and
we have got your whole army"
1.-THE Confederate officers were de-
claring it to bea Yankee lie" las it
was in fact,) when the head Of Clusters
column appeared close at hand in the
rapidly increasing darkness and heed
| ing Scofield's declaration that sit is
all right boys, don't fire. the Confed-
crates surrendered without giving an
alarm, thus leaving the road to Ear
ly's camp unprotected. Within an
| hour Custer had made his dash into
Early's camp which made him famous
and Was declared by Secretary of War
Stanton to have been the greatest cav
airy feat of the war.
1.-The next morning General Custer
sent for Scofield and after hearing his
statement sent him with letter to
General Sheridan, who laughed hearth
ly over Scofeld's story and ordered
him to get ready to so with him to
Washington and to bring the flag,
"Scofield rode to Winchester in an
ambulance and from there with Sheri.
day and other officers and men on a
special train to Washington where he
and others in the party were address
ed few days afterwards by Secretary
Stanton at the War Department, at
which place Scofeld gave up the cap
tured flag and where it now remains
with his name written on it in India
ink. Congress awarded Scofield gold
medal for his services.