The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-02

:. Il
TETE 11NIES TSP IC
It is based oil, & study OF the records.
He gives us credit for great activity IN
obstructing movements and defeating J
nlans, but he;l,as no word OF criticism OH 3
our military conduct.
That Alleged Capture.
And now. about the Tscurteenth Penn
sylyania's achievement lngcaptulaig my
,a,larteiinaster * Major Gibson was the 4
commander OF the expedition. Ills re-
pOrt Is in the War Records. Series ],
Volume 4e. Part !. Rerorts. page 4es.
1T seems that on the night of FEBRUARY
lis, 1866, Major Gibson, Will, n desertcrS
as a guide, crossed the Blue Ridge to-
make a rnid on our territory. He cap
tlred my ql,attertnaste md few SOL
fieds: also some horses and mules. Hc
had 12S men and three ulcers OF the
Fourteenth PENNSYLVANIA Cavalry. Cap
tain Martindalo and lieutenant Baker
of the staff of tile cavalry corps, With !
ak Jessie scouts, went along. The Jessie
scouts were organized for special service.
E(See Sheridan's N1cn,oirs) They dressed
iii Confederate uniform, ana We're sent
In advance to deceive and act as decoSs.
Major Gibson's total force WAS 1885 OF cers3
and men. Early In the morh rims ne
-
camp. He expected to enjoy the 3hotiors
OF Triumph. Major Dolly Richards,
with thirty eight nlcii}fCf my command,
went III pursuit or him. lilo overlook
the raiders honcward bound nt the sum
nit OF the Gap; lie ordered his men 70
charge. Their cheers echoed and re-
echoed from peak TO peak. In railroad
4langua &c, there was renr-end colilson
and wreck. II Byron had witnessed
that cavalry combat in the snow above
tho clouds, he would have been inspired
to write OF 1t as he did OF the storm, on
the Alps.
let me be
a sharer in thy fierce and far delight.
portion of the tempest and OF stnec'il
Major Gibson's Report.
Major Gibson's report is very honest
account Of his disaster. He says
II had with me 15 men and three off
GERS OF the Fourteenth PENNSYLVANIA cav "
nlry - Tho expedition was ac-
compa MED by Captain Martindale and
Lieutenant Baker, both OF the staff Of the
major general. commanding the cavalry
corps. Captain Martlndalc was accom-
panied by, six scouts. Up to this time
had captured is Of the enemy. including
Nlosby's quarternaster and one lteuten-
ant of the line, together with about fifty
horses. At arriving at a point In the ROAD
from Paris to Berry's Ferry. where the
road to Shepherds Ford turns off, It be.
came necessary. to march the command
by file, owing to the narrow passage
through the rocks OF the path known rs
the road to Shepherds Ferry. Il hn tied
3fhe& command to put everything IN the
best order lest We should be attacked
while In the path. I" 49,. I had placed
Captain Duff in charge OF the rear guard,
which consisted Of forty men. The adj
vance and main portion consisted of fifty
men. The prisoners and led horses, uil
der the guard of twenty-five men, were
in advance OF Captain Duff's portion OF
tho command and in rear OF the nam
body. I made my rear-guard so strong IN
to the size OF my command ow-
ing to the enemy's repeated and vigorous
attacks on it. I was at the head OF the
column turned around In order 70
observe the order Of the column and look-
ing In the rear, which had not entered
the new direction, l observed several men
holding up their hands and making ges-
lures, which supposed was TO inform me
that the rear was attacked. 3553 y Immediate
~ ordered the command Right into line,
ordered the prisoners and led horses 70
be led forward quickly into the path and
to follow the extreme advance, which
! did not recall. No sooner had I issued
these commands than I saw Captain Duff
and his party at the rear of the small
parry =,
lea ra5a, :, y, ,nc
and in the rear OF his party charging!
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