Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-03-06
Grove HenkIe's Bravery.

a former Confederate comrade of tn
late D. G. Henkle. of this county, con
tributes to the Shepherdstown Registe
an account of an incident of conspiciou
bravery on the part of Mr.. Henkle
which took place at the time of Hunter
raid up the Shenandoah Valley and oil
to Lynchburg. The writer says;
Grove, as he was COMMONLY called
was at tile time member of Captain
Kearney's company. D. Iath Va. Cavalry
Rosser's Brigade. AT the time referred
to he had only partially recovered from
a flesh wound received in previous en-
gagement. When l met him, both bein,
absent from our commands. we decided
to go on raid, Finding nothing small
er to devour, we made an attack on (
regm -nt of Federal cavalry. near Was
keys Mills. in the county of Ro'stourr
and in dong so we found re-. minute.
later that we had stirred up a hornet.
nest.
After firing a number of shots into
their ranks from hilltop close by
wounding some men and horses, we were
forced to retreat by detail of twenty.
FIVE horsemen armed with repeating rifles,
who by the command OF their colonel
had been thrown out to ride US down.
This resulted in a running fight. in
which we were greatly hampered by our
position among rail fences. thus enabling
the enemy to gain on US rapidly. follow
ing through the gaps that we had left
down. But the real crisis came when
we reached creek some IS feet in width
with its bed filed with a deep. black
muck, and its overhanging banks rising
some four feet above the water. while
our pursuers were pressing down close
upon US, sending shower of bullets into
our midst at every jump of thar steeds.
Grove at this juncture was more for
tunate than the writer. Having struck
a place where cattle had made a break
in the banks. he crossed with but little
difficulty while the writer, little lower
down, was vigorously using a pair of
Mexican spurs on a fine but reluctant
horse, with responsiveness so effectual
that he sought to jump the entire stream.
landing himself and his rider in the mud
and water some eight feet short of the
opposite bank. He could not extrrcate
himself from the mud. thus making it
necessary for the rider to part with his
faithful horse and equipments with no
time for hesitation.
Mr.. Henkle had crossed meadow
some hundred yards ahead. and throw.
ing off top rider Of rail fence. turned
his horse, the famous sorrel Bill known
to many older citizens around Halltown
for his running and jumping qualities),
that he might have run TO jump fence,
Ia doing so he discovered that the wrifel
had abandoned his horse and was climb
ing up the creek banks with what seem.
ed hopeless effort to escape. In facI
the writer had lost all hope, beng press
ed SO very closely by the enemy; and
defenceless against such numbers, was
almost on the point of surrender. which
under the circumstances would have
been certain death.
II was a critical moment, and feeling
the conclusion of the bullets as they
passed rapidly by my head and my pur
suers closed at my heels. called to Grove
to save himself. that they had me, Blu
be was equal TO the occasion, can ses
him now as he rose in his saddle, ant
with stentorian voice replied: moi
will be ID if they have" and putting
spurs to old Bill, with pistol IN hand, h.
opened fire on the gang across the creel
and came to me, while ran to meet hin
midst shower of leaden hail. aud
snatched me from the very jaws Of death
thus risking his life to save friend il
need
Il think. sir. that you will agree witt
me that there is conspicuous courage
and daring in such an act. that not oni,
endears us to our fellowmen but place
them far ahead of the ordinary average