West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-02-15


through the town we witnessed the
remarkable sceue of the women
rushing to their front piazzas and
even into the street, cheering the
combatants, and they seemed to be
about equally divided in their loyal
ty to the Federals and Confeder,tes.
Some had flags, others waved hand
kerchiefs, and l recall seeing one
lady who had taken off her apron
and was tossing il wildly over her
head and yelling at the top of her
voice: "Hurrah for jeff DAVIS" A
little ways up the street another lady
dehantly answered her neighbours
war cry by shouting, "Hurrah for
Abe Lincoln" And all regardless
OF the bullets that were tipping"
up and down the street.
When we reached the southern
extremity of the town out on the
Clarksburg road, We found the Fed
eral forces drawn up in line of bat
tie in field at the top of the river
bluff. Gen. Jones realized the
necessity of disposing of these peo-
pie before the Grafton reinforce.
ments came up. So he lost no time
in arranging his plan OF attack.
"Get your regiment on the other
side Of them" he remarked to Col.
Lomax, of the nth Virginia Cavalry,
"and then we will charge them from
both sides. Be quick In your move
ments." The only way for a quick
movement to the other side was to
dash down lane under full fire
from the enemy, who were drawn
up in line paralleling the lane two
hundred yards distant. Col. Lomax,
who had been an old Indian fighter
in the regular service, ordered his
men to lie close to their horses
necks, inclining to the opposite side
from the enemy, and when the COM
mand Forward" was gwen 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 under a hot FIRE and what
seemed to be hailstorm of splinters
the enemy'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 bugle
to sound the charge, when the enc
my ran up the white flag in token of
surrender and stacked their arms.
A little later a railroad train with re.
endorsements from Grafton halted
on the opposite side of the river and
gave us an artillery salute; but after
firing few shells in our direction.
they backed out and retired faster
than they came. We paroled our
prisoners and them in possession of
their camp after appropriating their
ammunition and destroying their
arms.
After few hours rest at Fair
mont, enjoying a social visit with
our prisoners and taking luncheon
with them in their camp, we moved
on in the direction Of Clarksburg.
Every one realized that Gen. Jones
was now in perilous position. He
was inside of the enemy's lines with
their troops in active movement and
in every direction trying to cut him
off and effect our capture. We had
large drove of cattle and horses
to protect and as the cattle were
slow msrchers our progress was i'm
peded. Still, the rank and file had
the utmost confidence IN their com
mander. Gen. Jones had been in
command of the brigade for more
than a year, and the men knew his
mettle. He was brave, without be.
ing foolhardy; was alert, cautious,
and good strategist. Aside from
Stonewall Jackson, do not believe
there was another general officer in
the Confederate army whom the
men Immediately under his com
mand would have been more ready
to follow blindfolded than William
r. Jones. He was a fine discipiin.
arian, yet without the least manifes-
tation Of harshness. He was an old
army officer, bachelor, and lit
tle-crustY at times, but very demo
cratic. When off duty, he mingled
with the men in a social way, and
thus acquired great personal popu.
iarity. Ia battle he was as a lion,
and always rode in the front rank.
Yet we knew him to be a man Of ex.
cellent judgment who never exposed
his men to unnecessary danger for
the sake Of a little cheap notoriety