Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-02-22
A FRIEND IN NEED.
BuENA VISTA, Va.
February s, 1905.

var, W. Va. Mr.. Henkle was my
lifelong friend and frequent compan-
ion. and we'll worthy of the friendship
of those who knew him best. 1t Is OF
him as a gallant Confederate soldier
cut off from his home by the Federal
army, that l ask space in your paper
to contribute to his memory colnci-
depce of the war in which the writer
was a party participant and personal
observer of his reckless daring and
gallantry, for which l am gratefully
indebted to him for my life at the risk
Of his own. This was at the time OF
Hunters raid up the valley OF Vir-
ginia and on to Lyncbburg.
Grove, as he wss commonly called
was at the ii ne member of Captain
Kearney's company. D. 18th Cavalry
Rosser's Brigade. At the time re-
ferred to he had only partially recov-
cred from flesh wound received IN
previous engagement. When l met
him, both being absent from our com
mands, we decided to go on a raid.
Finding nothing smaller to devour'
we made an attack on a regiment OF
Federal cavalry, near Waskey's Mills,
in the county of Botetourt. and in do
ing so we found few minutes later
that we had stirred up "a hornet 8 nest
After firing a number Of shots into
their ranks from hilltop close by,
woundiug some men and horses we
were forced to retreat by detail of
twenty-five horsemen armed with re-
peating rifles, who by the command
of their colonel had been thrown out
TO ride US down. This resulted In
running fight, in which we were great
ly hampered by our position among
rail fences, thus enabling the enemy to
gain ou US rapidly, following through
the gaps that we had left down. But
the real crisis came when we reached
a creek some 25 feet in width, with
it's bed filed with deep, black muck,
and its overhanging banks rising some
four feet above the water, while our
pursuers were pressing down close up
on US, sending a shower OF bullets into
our midst at every jump OF their
steeds
Grove at this juncture was more for
tunate than the writer. Having
struck a place where cattle bad made
break in the banks, he crossed with
but little difficulty; while the writer,
a little lower down, was vigorously
using a pair of Mexican spurs on a
fine but reluctant horse, with per-
suasiyeness 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 op'
posite bank. He could not extricatt
himself from the mud, thus making II
necessary for the rider to part witt
; his faithful horse and equipments witt
no time for hesitation.
Mr.. Henkle at this juDcture haC
crossed a meadow some hundred yard
ahead, and throwing of top rider o
a rail fence, turned his horse, the ia
nous sorrel Bill (kDown to many old
er citizens around Halltown for HI
running aud jumping quali:ies). tha
he may have a run to Jump the fence
In doing 30 he discovered that tn
T writer had abandoned his horse an
was climbing up the creek banks WIT
!, what seemed hopeless effort to Ell
= cape. In fact, the writer had lost a
= hope, being pressed 80 very closely b
r the enemy; and defenceless again'
=. such numbers, WAS almost on the poir
of surrender, which under the circuu
stances would have been certain dealt
e 1t was a critical moment, and Zee
. inc the concussion Of the bullets
!. they passed rapidly by my head an
a my pursuers closed at my heels
called to Grove to save himself. tn
in they had me. But ne was equal
!: the occasion. can see him now
:. he rose in his saddle, and with ste
=. torian voice replied: mo | will
: d if they have" and putting spu
- to old Bill. with pistol in hand,
ne m opened FIRE on the gang across I
:. creek and came to me. while | ran
- meet him, midst shower Of lead
:. hail, and snatched me from the We
=. jaws of death. thus risking bis life
/, save a friend in need.
N 1 think, sir, that you will agl
a, with me that there is consPicuo
courage and daring in such an q
that not only endears US to our feiic
men but places them far ahead OF
ctQ l La,rDu