Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-08-26

men fully born cut by the following
account of the death OF Mr.. Charles B.
Wiltshire and the incidents leading
up to it from the History of Mosby's
Rangers, a record of the operations
of the 43 I'd battalion. Virginia cav
airy by James J, Williamson of Com.
pauy A. of said battalion.
On pages 500 and 36r will be found
the tollowingnarrative.
Among those who had attracted
the notice of Colonel Mosby in the
fight al Hamilton by their gallant
bearing was Charles B. Wiltshire,
veteran in the regular service. He
had been wounded on three occasions:
first, at Manassas. then at Kearnstown
and again, with General Rosser, in
West Virginia. The last was disat-
ling wound, and he was retired. When
he joined Mosby he came with one
crutch. which he broke over the head
of Federal cavalrymau on the Val
ley pike while on scout.
A bout the latter part of March,
Mosby told Wiltshire of his intention
to make him lieutenant in Com
pany H. which he proposed soon TIC
organize, and at The same time order
ed him to take few men for scout
in the Valley, on the Winchester and
Potomac Railroad. Wiltshire ac-
cordingly started on the goth of March
with John Orrick, George Murray
Gill and Bartlett Boiling, to fulfil his
mission On the road he met Philip
and Robert Eastman C'Bob Ridley")
who were on their way with mes
sage to Colonel Nasty, then in Lou
donn.
Leaving Philip Eastman TO deliver
the message, Robert Eastman Joined
Wiltshire and his little party. They
went by way of Berryville, near which
p ace Eastman and Boiling stopped at
a house to make some inquiries,
while Wiltshire, Gill and Orrick rode
OIL head When Eastman and Boil
ing reached the top OF hill, in view
of the residence OF Col. Daniel Bon
ham, they saw their three companions
dashing off at full speed toward the
house, while two Federal soldiers, one
of whom they afterwards lea ned was
Lieut.. Eugene Ferris, of the Thirtieth
Massachusetts Infantry, were running
from the house to the stable. Spur
ring their horses, they galloped on,
but before they reached the gate
which led to the stable they heard
pist oil shot and saw Charles Wiltshire
fall. He was at the stable door. with
his pistol pointed in the door. Then
several shots we've fired in rapid sue.
cession, and as they went through the
gate they met Gill and Orrick, both
of whom were wounded. Ferris had
come out from the stable. and uu-
harmed by the shots OF Eastman and
Boiling, mounted Wiltshire's horse,
while his orderly, ia obedience to his
command, mounted and leading Fer
ris's horse, the two started for the
gate. BY this time Billing also was
wounded, but he with Eastman star
ed to follow the retreating Federals.
In the road Boiling seized the orderly
and pulled him from his horse. Ferris
turned on Eastman. who fired, tn
fllctins slight wound aud then raised
his pistol to knock him from his horse
but Ferris avoided the blow and set
off in the direction of his camp, fol-
lowed by Orrlck and Boiling. East
ham underworld to cut him of by
getting around in his front, but ne
made. his escape. Eastman went back
to look after Wiltshire, but was told
he was dying, and young lady
landed up his belt and holsters Just
then Orrick and Boiling came riding
up, shouting, "Get out quick, Ridley;
the Yankees. are coming!" Come on,
old, Steamboat: we must get out
oil this" said Eastman as he gave
a touch of the spur 70 his gray horse.
to which his comrades had given this
title, and the three Rangers started on
the homestretch.
Wiltshire fingered until the 4th Of
April, when he died.
George Murray Gill was a Balti-
morean. who had entered the Confed-
crate army in the early part of the
war and had served both in the in
fautry and cavalry before his trars-
fer to Mosby's command where he