The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-02
HAYES WAR STORY.

A Thrilling Night Advcnture--folley
in the Dark-Fcars of Terrible
Mistake Were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ley on Duty.
From the Chicago Tribune: The
following incident OF the great evil
war was related BY the late Presl-
dent r. B. Hayes while en- route from
Chicago to indianapolis in the fall OF
1870:
Il have frequently beer asked" said
General Hayes, ITO tell the most thrill
ing experience that occurred to me DUR
ing the four years In the volunteer
army. 1t was in 1864 that>the army OF
West Virginia tried 10 capture Lynch
burg. Va. but General Lee rapidly sent
heavy force to drive us back. 1t was
thought best to fall back TO the Ka-
nawha valley. where food and clothing
could be had, and then SO by the rail-
way to Winchester again.
General Jubal Early's army was
pressing our forces at every point, and
I wa sordered by General George Crook.
who commanded the division, to check
the enemy until our wagon trains and
artillery could get out of the way. 4
gap was chosen In the mountains. two
or three regiments were ordered to build,
a barricade across the road in the gap,
one regiment was sent up the mountain
on the right and another on the left OF
the gap 10 protect the tanks: these reg
iments selected were accurate In firing
as rihemen could be.
at was dark by the time all these
Preparations were made. General Crook
vas careful to give his instruction that
the point must be held until the artil-
lery and long wagon trains were beyond
the reach Of Early. Darkness. stiffness
and the mountains enveloped US. FL
nally an order came to march. 10 follow
the army. General Russell Hastings,
my aide, was sent up to the mountain
on one side to direct the regiment 10
come down and take the pike in the rear
OF the brigade and march rapidly after
the artillery.
Another Of my staff, Major William
Mckinley Cthe Presidency, was ordered
TO 20 up the mountain on the other side
and direct the regiment to come down
carefully and take the road In the rear
OF the breastwocks. The duty was so
perilous and OF such great Importance
that the instructions were repeatedly
given with greatest care not TO come
down the mountain in front of the barri-
cadc. as in the darkness our men would
FIRE into them. Colonel Duvol. who COM
manded the men behind the breast
works, fully understood the situation.
Il seemed hours while we were waiting
for the two regiments 10 come down
the mountain.
Il was walking from my horse 10 the
line OF men lying down with guns rest
ing on the pike. All at once the clear.
ringing command OF Colonel Duvol was
heard Ready. Aim A thousand
thoughts rushed upon me. Our men
We're coming down the mountain and
in the darkness were marching in front
OF the barricade. tried to cry out to
Colonel Duvol. They are our men. don't
frc!' 1rushed toward him and the line,
ready to grab him and the men who
were ready 10 fire. My soul was on
fire. l was too choked to cry out, Our
men, Our men, Don't fire! Don't fire.'
but / was too late. Duvol gave the or
der TO fire and one vast volley OF guns
cries ard curses followed. jumped
over the barricade. shouting to our
men, loading their guns. Those are our
mcn-don't fire. But Colonel Duyo and
his men tried TO seize me, saying. They
are rebels. colonel. Do not go over the
breastworks.' 1 hurled them off and
seized the first wounded or dead man,
yelling. To what regiment do you be-
long, No answer. l grabbed another
by the neck. turned him over and
shouted. What regiment The road
was full Of them and the man was
wounded, but family answered. ---th
Virginia; Early's army Our men had
come down the mountain under the
guidance OF Hastings and Mckinley
and gone on after the army.
'Early's army had left us and gone
toward Staunton. but the stragglers Of
his army had taken the wrong road and
followed US. Some of them Were killed
and wounded. but I learned af;erward
that 1t was severe lesson. their men
not keeping up with the column. twas
valuable TO us in showing the danger OF
moving soldiers at night"