The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22

The valley from the battlefield Of Port
Republic to Elkton La quite narrow, and.
as the road for miles travsrsss the base
Of the range on the east, crossing spurs
and ravines in an almost impenetrable
forest, we encountered some Of the rock
lest, toughest driving imaginable. In
many places for rods at q time our track
was across stony beds from which not only
every trace Of earth had vanished, but
the smaller stones, as well, by reason Of
the mighty torrents during heavy rainfall
in that section.
In Port Republic we were warned that
if we attempted to reach LuraJ BY driving
down the east side Of the river, our light
buggy would be wrecked ere we had tray-
eled Eve miles. However, as this route
was our line of march In 1862, none other
was to be considered, and l am pleased to
state that no accident befell US, but, cours-
ing along over hill and dale, at times
! plungirg into the rocky beds Of flowing
streams, and following down the same
many yards, we Unexpectedly found a
way out and proceeded on our journey.
| The comrades who trayersed this route
during the war will appreciate what say
| about the condition Of this road when L
state it has not improved since they were
| there.
Reaching Elkton after sunset, we met
Mr.. Jarman, presented our credentials
! from Mr.. Lewis, and were cordially wei
coined and entertained for the night. One
OF the attractions of this town is large
| and commodious hotel, well patronized
and greatly appreciated as a Summer re-
sort, by reason of the ithia springs found
there, as well as the tne fishing and
glorious mountain scenery.
After an early breakfast we bade our
newly found friends good-by, and drove to
Luray for dinner. Here we had the pleas
ure of 4 short visit with Mr.. w. 9. Lauck,
of the Page News, as well as with the
Rev. Mr.. Booton and his estimable wife,
| Of whom We had heard much through
their daughter, Mrs. Henry 5. Benson, Of
| Maryland.
Our visit had been all too short when
we resumed our journey, and encountering
our first rainstorm since leaving home,
reached BeHtonville for the night. We
were now within Ii miles Of Front Royal
| by direct route, but were informed that
| bridge over an important stream had
! been washed away and that our best route
was by way of Browntown, several miles
east.
In the morning we pushed out to
| BrowntowD, where, to our great surprise,
We found yawning abyss where the
bridge at that point used to be. We
viewed the roaring, foaming torrent, some
80 feet in width, plunging through its
canal-like bed, with rocks the size of large
pumpkins cropping out everywhere, and in
the absence of every semblance of q ford
ing place, wondered what we should do.
As there was no other way out, and We
did not have time to wait for the freshet
TO subside, Comrade Firmin took to the
foot-bridge and left me to my fate.
Gathering whip and reins in a firm
grasp l slowly and gently worked down
the steep and rocky bank into this raging
cataract, reached the opposite shore safe
ly and scrambled out, to the admiration
of the assembled rustics who 'reckoEed"
could make that span do anything but
climb tree"
FRONT ROYAL.
We now drove along through Chester
Gap, getting lovely view of the valley
and distant ranges, until we reached Front
Royal for dinner. At this point Jackson
picked up some of our forces in May,
1852, belonging to Banks's command, and
also lost a part of his garrison when
Shields's Division came in from Freder-
icksburg, while the great mass of Gen.
Lees army passed through here going and
returning from Gettysburg.
In the village cemetery is modest, yet
neat and substantial shaft, erected to the
memory of a party of Mosby's Rangers,
who were executed by our troops, as well
as the graves of quite number of other
Confederate soldiers.
After dinner We drove out through
Manassas Gap to Delaplane, where we
were cordially welcomed and well cared
for by Mr.. Ashby, a cousin of Col. Tur-
ner Ashby, the famous Confederate cav
alryman who was killed in battle near
Cross Keys in June, 1862.
MIR. Ashby's father was arrested by our
troops in 1862, and with other citizens of
that section carried to and fro on the
Manassas Gap Railroad to prevent the
hiring into and derailing of trains, and
was killed by our men while thus pris-
oner. This son later on joined Mosby's
command, and did what he could to
aYenge his fathers death, and get even
with the Yankees. He was captured and
furnished board and lodging gratis for
some months by Uncle Sam. For years
he has been q Postmaster and railroad
agent at DeIaplane, where he has a de-
llghtful mansion and an interesting fam
lily. We enjoyed our stay with him very
much, and hope to get out there again
In the early morning we drove to Up
peryille, where one of those famous colt
shows had been given the day before, but
we saw tally-hos, carts, carriages, buggies,
pretty, stylish, short-tailed horses, and
sporty owners and groOms galore. Push
ing on to Middleburg, we remembered
that this was Mcsby's headquarters dur
ing the war, and reaching Aide, halted
for dinner.
SCENE OF CAVALRY FIGHT.
Here we recalled the great cavalry fight
on the 10Th to 21st of June 1868, while
both armies were enroute for Gettysburg,
and how they fought from Aldie through
Nliddleburg and Upperville up into and
through Ashby's Gap, when Longstreet
put McLane's Division of infantry in to
stiffen j. 10. b. Stuart's lines and forced
Pleasonton's cavalry back.
l remembered that Capt. William Ster-
ling, Of my regiment, who was then on
duty with Gen. Hooker, was sent with
messages to Pleasonton, but stopping at
the house of Mr.. Almon Burch, on the
Little River pike, near Aldie, to get din
ner, was captured by Mosby in person and
carried off to Richmond.
After dinner we drove to Fairfax Court
House, passing over part of the second
Manassas battlefield, and thought of Gen.
Kearny when We reached Chantilly. The
next morning we were RECALLED by mine
host with stories of the war, among them
an account Of the taking of Gen Slough
ton while in command of Fairfax Court
House, from his bed at night, by Mosby,
and we were shown the house from which
he was taken.