The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-02-22

horses. Late IN the evening we
started on a night march toward
Fairmont. By this time we had
gathered a considerable drove of
cattle and horses, and could not
move so rapidly as before we had
gone i'll the live stock business.
At Fairmont it looked as if there
was to be a brisk fight, for con-
siderable body Of troops, consist
ing of a New York regiment and
bunch of militia, were drawn up
in battle array on the south side of
the town, and we had information
that reinforcement were on the
way from Grafton. As we came to
the top of the hill above town, on
the road from BarraCkville, we en-
COuntered the skirmish line, which
retreated before us, and drove
them through the main street un-
til they fell back on their main
body. In this dash through the
town we witnessed the remarkable
scene Of the women rushing to
their piazzas and even into the
street, cheering the combatants,
and they seemed to be about equal
ly divided in their loyalty to the
Federals and Confederates. Some
had flags, others waved handker-
chiefs, and I recall seeing one lady
who had taken off her apron and
was tossing itwildly over her head
and yelling at the top of her voice:
"Hurrah for Jeff Davis" A little
ways up the street another lady
defantly answered her neighbours
war cry by shouting: "Hurrah for
Abe Lincoln And all regardless
Of the bullets that were chipping"
up and down the street.
When we reached the southern
extremeties Of the town out on
the Clarksburg road, we found the
Federal forces drawn up in line OF
battle in field at the top of the
river bluff. Gen. Jones realized
the necessity of disposing of these
people before the Grafton reen-
forcements came up. SO he
lost no time in arranging his plan
Of attack. Get your regiment on
the other side of Them" he re-
marked to Col. Lomax, of the nth
Virginia Cavalry, and then we
will charge them from both sides.
Be quick in your movements. j"
The only way for a quick move
ment to the other side was to dash
down a lane under full fire from
the enemy, who were drawn up in
line paralleling the lane two
hundred yards distant. Col. Lo-
max, who had been an old Indian
fighter in the regular service, or
dered his men to lie close to their
horses necks, inclining to the OPP
posite side from the enemy, and
when the command "Forward" was
given to apply the spur and ride
like old Ned. At the signal the
regiment dashed down that lane
like an arrow sped from a bow TN
der hot fire and what seemed to
be a hailstorm of splinters the en-
emy's bullets were ripping from
the fence rails. While a few men
and their horses were wounded it
has always been mystery to me
that none were killed, Every man
was in line when we halted and re-
formed for the charge from the
other side. We were in line with
sabers drawn waiting for the bug1e
to sound the charge, when the enc.
my ran up the white flag IN token
Of surrender andstacked their arms.
A little later a railroad train with
requirements from Grafton halt
ed on the opposite side ofthe river
and gave us an artillery salute; but
after firing few shells i'll our di-
rection, they backed out and re-
tired faster than they came. We
paroled our prisoners and left them
in possession of their camp after APP
propriating their ammunition and
destroying their arms.
After a few hours rest at Fair
mont, enjoying a social visit with
our prisoners and taking luncheon