Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-05-02
A War Incident Recalled by the
Mckinley Tree Dirt.
EDITOR l. xINGToN GAZETTE

noticed in your last issue an article
10 referen e 10 he little fight at Lexington
between Hunter forces andMcCausland's
commund 1t reminded me OF CONVEX
saiion nnin entionally overheard few
years ago In Baltimore. Some gentlemen,
entirely unknown to me, were talking in
the hoie. raror about the war. One was
from California, another from ONO, ana
the others may have been Baltimoreans.
One OF them said he was in Hunters
army, and that In a small fight at Lex
ington. in woods near town, the col
onel of his regiment and private were
killed that he assisted in giving them
the best burial he could, nterring them on
the summit OF the hill; that when he
buried the colonel he took his sword,
which was very handsome one, and
stuck it up the hollow Of big tree, near
which he was buried. came home, and
the first time | saw Mr.. Joseph Tolley,
whose home is now on the roadside near
this VIZ O Is. asked him II he had ever
heard anything Of the finding Of this
sword He said he had, that Mr.. TOmlin
who hal lived on Professor Nelson farm
for some years. had cut off this timber and
had found sword in tree, and did not
understand 1t, and that 1t was nice one,
and fairly well preserved. Mr.. Tomlin
now lives in Roanoke and may still have
this sword.
Learned from Mrs. Torley, who was Miss
Shaner, and who saw them carrying the
dead men off the field, that one wasColonel
Tank and the other a Mr.. Shafer, both
from Ohio. Their bodies were taken
away after the war by the government.
Another Federal soldier, Mrs Tolley told
me, was wounded In their yard, where
Mr.. Joseph F. Shaner now lives. He
was standing behind a big oak tree, firing
at McCausland's men across the river.
They soon saw him, and put bullet In
his right arm. Other Federal soldiers
were In their house firing from the win
dows. The Confederates returned the
fire in the windows, cutting in two the
rim OF large spinning wheel, and driving
them out. Another fellow was behind
the rain barrel. A shot went through
the plank, splitting it, and he left. Gen
eral Hunter had crossed the fields with a
part OF his forces, and gone up the river,
thinking he could cross at Leyburn's
ford, and get around McCausland. But
In this he was mistaken. Many Of Nc.
Causland's men were Rockbridge boys
and knew every foot OF ground well.
Hunter told young Mr.. George Shaner
that General Sullivan opened fire too
quick on McCausand or he would have
captured him expect McCausland
opened first, and was not to be caught SO
easily as he supposed.
General Sullivan made hlsHeadquarters
Hunter was up town lin MIR. Shaner's
yard. during the encampment Of the
Federal forces In Lexington. He gave
some protection to their home and farm,
wing one field Of wheat for them, from
destruction. He, however, was fond OF
mutton, and took all OF Mr.. Shaner's
lambs, about forty, and cooking them
over MIR. Shaner's fires, enjoyed tn I'm
with his fellow officers. suppose this
was one OF the necessary things Of war,
and to be expected.
think it was General Sullivan. though
| am not sure that II was he, who was
very kind to ne. | was boy living at
Fairfield. My mother and myself were
alone. He sat on our porch for several
hours, receiving messages and sending
orders, during the passage OF the troops
through the village. While the men were
drpledatlng In every house and garden in
town, he never allowed one to modest us.
Two guards were stationed with US with
instructions to remain until the last, then
ItpOiI w hiih' NY JV"h6 "S@A' "~S
touched very much by one thing. A Con-
federate prisoner was brought to him as
a captured Confederate scout. lie did
have lot OF mail with him for the
soldiers. | was afraid they were going
to kill him. His faded and dusty uni
form, and anxious and desolate appear
ance, were appealing, and in strong con
trast with the official glamor ano triumph
with which he was Immediately sur
rounded. The porch was then full OF
staff officers, all well dressed. He was
given some cold biscuit, and pickle, and
cold water, the best we had to offer, and
taken on with sad and weary heart, but
apparently being kindly cared for, He
told me good bye IN the most kindly
manaer. Perhaps he was thinking OF the
boy. the mother, and the home he was
lighting for, and righteously, periodically
and properly so, as he believed, and saw
1t. This boyish loyalty and parting
scene moved the general to compassion.
lie gave me the prisoners horse.and gun
which my mother would not allow me to
take. for fear OF trouble. The horse was
then put In drove with otheIs, and the
gun broken on the rocks In front OF my
home, after being examined to see 1t was
not loaded. They were afraid OF Con
iederate gun even when no man was
with it. He then gave me the saddle.