Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-06-09
Imboden's Capture Of Charles Town.

Hoto Charles Toacn Boy Paid of a Yankee
Coptain for His 7reatment to the Ladie, Of
the To,ca.
IFor the Spirit of Jefferson.l
An article in recent Staunton paper
IN regard to the capture of Charles Town,
brings to my mind the fact that but two
Charles Town boys were present and
took part in the capture Maj. VIM.
Locke. a member of Imboden staff, and
the writer. ! had been on a successful
flank movement to the home of relative
near town, and was returning to camp.
Meeting Imboden's command at Berry
vile, ! joined him and took an humble
part in the capture. | was amply re-
warded, for besides meeting the loved
ones at home. ! was greeted warmly by
the fair and loyal women of the old town.
Besides captured in the cavalry camp
ia the yard of the Baptist church one of
the finest horses ever saw, and supplied
myself from suffers wagon with large
supply of fine flannel shirts, buck
skin gauntlets, necktes, &c, that made
me for while the dude as well as
envy of the mess. The yankees, including
the cavalry, took refuge in the court
house. A few we'll directed shots from a
piece of artillery placed in front of the
house now occupied by DIR. Luke de-
cided their fate, and they were not long
in hanging out the white flag. The en-
thusiasm Of the ladies knew no bounds,
and fair hands We're soon handing out
lunches to the hungry men. Several
ladies' pointed me out an old captain
among the prisoners that had made him.
sely particularly obnoxious to the cit
izers especially the ladies, and was in the
habit of speaking of them as dmn Sc
c.sh heifers." They asked me to see
that he got no privileges, and faithfully
,rrled out the promise. That evening
overlook the prisoners near Berryviie
and hunted up the old captain | found
him riding by the side of the driver of an
ambulance, and proceeded to introduce
myself to him as Charles Town boy and
told him what / had heard of him. He
denied it most enphatically, but told
him preferred the word Of our ladies to
his. lordered him 10 get down and walk
which he proceeded to do The present
of handsome pair of gauntets and a
striped shirt to the officer Of the guard
made me solid with that individual. and
sure the captain walked the balance of
the way to headquarters. The next day
| pushed on to camp and again cncoun-
tered the captain trudging along in the
mud. He presented a woebegone APP
pearance. He told me he was a native of
Frederick CO., Md, and had enlisted in
the home guard, never expecting to so
south of the Potomac. and as soon as he
was exchanged, intended to resign.
have often wondered il he ever saw again
the green hills of Frederick. He must
have been at least fifty years or more old
then, and as we were exchanging pris-
oners then very slowly it is doubtful
if he ever left the walls of old Libby
alive, While | would never do bodily
harm to prisoner of war. felt that in
some respects / had retaliated for the
insults heaped upon the women of. 20 me
the fairest and dearest spot on earth.
There are many bright spots in the life
of a soldier. and to me one of the bright
est is the humble part took in this raid.
can well imagine T. D. r. S anxiety to
reach the scene, after he had located II.
and am sure no grass grew that day
under the feet of old stocking Legs .
Old Stocks was model cavalry horse,
and his rider an ideal soldier. While I
have no evidence to sustain it, | have
always thought that the whole affair was
planned by Maj Locke, aud that the num-
Der and position of the enemy was fur
nished him by his sister. via the under.
ground route. The loyal women of old
Jefferson were always on the ebert and
could furnish you the exact number oil
any party Of the enemy that you might
be following. and many of them now liv
ing can tell thrilling tales Of narrow es
capes and episodes of those dark ant
trying days. Coles Cavalry followed u.
few miles on the road to Berryville
and then returned TO town to annoy ant
mistreat the women and children, 70
there were no men in Charles Town, ex
cept few old ones. and say that II,
county in Virginia of the size gave NOR
men to the cause for which Lee Tough
and Jackson died than did grand ans
loyal old Jefferson, and am proud t.
say. in the language OF old Gen. Juba
Early. but few have g deserted since th
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