Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-08-02
SHEPHERDsTowy, w. Va
January 20. 1900.

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SHEPHERDSToWY, w. VA,
January 20, 1900.
GEN. T. T. MUNFoRD,
Lynchburg, Virginia.
DEAR GEyERAL:-Having read sew
eral accounts Of General Rossers raid
to Beverly in January, '65, one writ
ten by Rosser himself, in which he al
most entirely ignores the detachment
from your brigade, and knowing how
proud you were Of your brigade and
the service it rendered during the late
war, l concluded to give you my rec
objections of the raid in question, which
are as follows:
When we reached Mcdowell l was
put in command of the detachment
from your brigade. Colonel Morgan
commanded Rosser's brigade, and a
few men from the 10th Virginia were
commanded by Colonel Cook. I ap-
pointed lieutenant from the Second
Cavalry as my adjutant, but whose
name l have forgotten. Think, I how
ever, he belonged TO Company A,
Bedford Troop. The morning we
left Mcdowell he reported ninety-six
men for duty, including officers and
| privates. General Rosser says his
entire command. numbered less than
two hundred and fifty men, so you see
that instead Of few volunteers from
your brigade, the detachment of your
command numbered more than one
third of his entire command. After
leaving Mcdowell we halted but once
until we reached Beverly. The march
was an awful one; the snow in many
places was knee deep. When we ar
rived there, which was after night,
my command led the advance. We
left the main road, took by-roads and
cattle-paths until we came up in the
rear Of the enemy's camp. 1t was a
terrible night. The men were wet to
the skin when we reached Beverly, as
it rained and hailed nearly the whole
night. When we halted, the enemy's
camp was in full view. We quickly
dismounted and formed in line My
command was placed on the right,
Morgan's in the centre and Colonel
Cook men remained mounted. We
We're ordered not to fire until we
reached the enemy's camp. l placed
the officers in front of my line to keep
the men from firing until we reached
the camp. All was quiet and still as
death. Not man was to be seen,
except one sentinel, who was captured
without giving alarm. The time for
action was now at hand. There in
full view lay more than 800 Federal
soldiers, asleep in their warm blank
cts. General Rosser, mounted on his
prancing charger, rode in front Of his
line, giving orders quietly and in a
low tone. His voice and manner in
dicated that the supreme moment had
come. Officers and men standing in
snow knee deep, officers with drawn
sabers, men with carbines at trail, i'm
patient at delay, like the tiger ready
to spring upon its prey-a scene new
er to be forgotten by those who stood
with that little band on that cold,
dreary January night. In a whisper
the command was given, forward" "
guide right" "march !" The line
moved out in splendid style. Did
ever man. witness a grander sight /!
Hungry, wet and cold, yet not a man
/ faltered. No wonder YOU were proud
of the old brigade. We had about
three hundred yards to 90 before We
reached the centre of their camp.
When within hundred yards Of their
camp Morgan's men commenced fr-
ing. This gave the enemy time to
form line at the extreme end Of the
camp. They poured volley after vol
ley into our line, but not a man falt-
cred, on they charged. When we
came in sight OF their line the men
leaped forward with that well-known
"rebel yell, their line broke, many
surrendered, while others retreated to
the town. We. followed them up
quickly and took possession Of the
bridge crossing the stream which ran
through the town. captured near
ly the entire command. You can i'm
agine how proud our little band was
when we marched our prisoners, num-
bering more than six hundred, through
the town of Beverly. We remained