Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-11-09


where we found the Confederates driv-
Ing our men through the Valley We
were soon trying to stem the tide, but
we were in turn routed, making a final
stand at Harper's Ferry. The battle
of Winchester, Sept 10, gave us some
prestige, but not complete control I'M
til after Cedar Creek, Oct 10, 1864,
when Gen. Early's victory in the fore
noon was turned into an ignoble defeat
In the afternoon by Gen. Sheridan COM
ing up from Winchester, twenty miles
away
Gen. Early's stupidity was mani
fest that day by allowing his army to
break ranks and feast on the Yankee
commissary supplies captured early in
the morning. Sheridan's army rested
on their laurels after that wonderful
victory. Our base of supplies was Win
chester, that quaint and historical town
whose inhabitants witnessed eighty
four changes in the occupancy of the
place as the Union and Confederate
forces successfully came and went
from it's precincts during the four years
Of the war"
Comrade Rodgers next describes how
he became the beau of a pretty 'Se-
cesh'' girl at Winchester by represent
ing himself to be a Southern scout.
The girl had two brothers in the rebel
army. Once while paying a clandes-
tine visit to her home he was chased
by Union provost guard, and the fam
lily secreted him in a hiding place with
a real rebel Colonel who was hiding
there. He was deeply in love with the
young Virginia woman, and his COM
rades could not understand his love
sickness and called him dreamer"
Soon, however, the scene shifted, and
the Union army, to which he was at
tached, moved up the Shenandoah Val
ley.
1.-THE second day out" he says, while
our brigade was on picket, we received
an early morning attack from the enc
my on Nov. -, 1864, and after a spir-
tied engagement near Wiseganer Mill
lot of us were captured by the John
MES. Ny hope was that our captors
would take us back by way of Win
chester, as 1 would then be happy.
Our captors proved to be Gen. Tom
Rosser's Cavalry. Rosser was a fine,
handsome, youthful and gallant sol
der, but he had some rough, dare
devil subordinates. A Colonel in par
ticular we had cause to we'll remem-
Der, for in thunder tones he yelled,
Line up, Yanks, and be quick
about it.
HE accelerated some Of our slow
movements by the expert handling of
his sword. We failed to learn that
Colonel's name. In fact, we were afraid
to open our mouths in his presence.
His early piety had evidently been sad
" neglected, as he could pile up more
adiectives-not Scriptural-than any
soldier 1 have ever heard. What that
big, raw-boned, cock-eyed, red-headed
professor of profanity did not sting
with his tongue he would slash with
his big saber. He would have made
Spanish Gen. Weyler No. 2. He was
not an American, either, and could not
therefore lay claim to being either
Northerner or Southerner.
1--WE never met him after that day
when I resolved mentally if my life
was spared to again take part in a
cavalry charge there would be a Yam
kee Sergeant looking for that Colonel
with two reyolvers.
"Our captors promptly relieved us of
our horses, also our overcoats, blank
cts watches and money. The swearing
Colonel rode off on the fine horse Of
T,ieut Blough without a word Of
thanks. My gray charger was appro-
nriated by little private whom could
have knocked out in the first round if
I but dared. Mounting my horse with
grin. he said. in a drawing tone,
Fine boss, Sarjint.' Soon after these
nreliminaries and reception by the
Johnnies we were lined up and ordered
to sForward-March!' We were pris-
oners of war and now on our way to
Richmond.
son our way up the Shenandoah Val
lev toward the Confederate Capital we
saw many of Col. Mosby's guerrillas,
who invariably impressed us with the
fact that they were never bothered with
prisoners. This truth was more fully
Immersed upon us by knowing that
farther ND the Valley, in thicket,
could be seen a dead Yank hanging by
the neck. while five others had been
shot and were still unburied. Our first
davis hard march ended between Mount
Crawford and Harrisonburg and our
sumner consisted of fried salt pork,
bareback and water, the Confeds drink
ing our genuine coffee instead of pea
nut Juice" their substitute.
.Sergt. Hoover, my messmate, whls-
nerad that he intended to make break