The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-08-09

his first query.
ITO Moorefield. sir" was my ans
wer.
ANY business there?"
mo, SIR"
II want you to get that artillery
over. Ride down the stream about
so yards and see if there is not a bet
ter fore. "
A ducking, then, was to be my pun
ishment, as General Jones knew per-
fectly well there was no ford at that
point. Of course, l dared not DISC
bey, and, with my teeth set l spurred
Sam into the rushing stream. In an
instant nothing but my head was
above water, and both horse and rid
er were carried swiftly along in the
current. l slipped off my horses
back and clung to stirrup strap so
as to allow him as much freedom of
action as possible in our swim for
life. In this way about hundred
yards was covered, when we lodged
in the branches of q tree that fortu-
nately had been blown partly across
the stream. Letting go of my stirrup
strap climbed into the tree, and
finally worked myself to the bank.
My well-trained horse, freed from me,
reached the bank about the same
time. Although chilled to the mar
row as mounted my horse, deter
mined that the old General should
not chuckle over the punishment he
inflicted. Riding up to where he sat
ON his horse l saluted him as though
nothing had happened and said:
There is no ford there, SIR"
81 hardly thought there was when
I directed you to look for one," he re-
piled. Perhaps now you will be
more successful in finding your COM
mand. Good day, sir"
Next morning the sun came out in
all its splendor and quickly dried out
our clothing, which had been soaked
for three days, and then the in
fantry was marched into town.
Every house was thrown open and a
royal reception extended them, and
such feast of good things they had
not partaken of for many day. The
people of Moorefeld and Moorefield
Valley were loyal to the South with
few exceptions. Everything they
could possibly spare was brought
forth from hiding places and put into
our wagons, until they were full to
overflowing.
Cutting loose that morning from
his infantry, artillery and wagon
train, General Jones made for the
Potomac river. There he encountered
his first difficulty, as he found the
river SO high and rapid from the
heavy rains that it was out of the
question to cross at that point, and
he was compelled to move down to
Petersburg, 13 miles off. At this place
the prospects were little better, but
the General determined to make the
attempt at all hazards. For hours,
until his 5000 troops had crossed, the
scene presented was fearful in the ex-
treme. Hundreds of men and horses
were struggling in the swift waters
at one time, and when at length a
crossing had been effected many gal
liant men were missing, having, with
their faithful horses, been carried
down the stream and drowned. That
evening the command went into camp
but a few hundred yards from where
it had hoped to cross in the morning,
having ridden 26 miles.
The march was resumed next morn.
ing, and, if possible, General Jones
was to encounter still greater OBJ
stacle before the sun vent down than
that of the previous day.
At place called Greenland GAP
there stood a stout log school house,
so situated that it commanded thenar.
row defile through which the troop.
ers must necessarily pass. This school
house was garrisoned by two com.
panies of Indiana infantry, who re-
fused to surrender when summoned
to do SO. General Jones had no ar.
tillery with which to batter the place
down, and there was no alternative
but to charge with his cavalry. Sew.
eral times that was done, but each
attack met with a bloody repulse
many officers and men being killed
and wounded, especially in the Sew
enth Virginia and First Maryland
Cavalry. Colonel Richard Dulaney
of the Seventh Virginia; Major Ridge
ly Brown, Captain George w. Booth
Captain r. Carter Smith and Lieu
tenants Pue and Beatty, of the First
Maryland, were among the officers Sc
verely wounded. There was nothing
that could be done before nightfall
when men on foot stealthily ap
preached the house, bearing bundles
of combustible material, and tn,
building was quickly set on fire. No
until the school house was envelope(
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