Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-07-13
A WAR INCIDENT.

A WAR INCIDENT.
The death of Mr.. A. Lynn King,
which occurred on the 4th of July, re-
calls an incident of the civil war. His
father, Clinton King. one of the most
popular of Waynesboro's young men.
and one of the handsomest. was the
first lieutenant In the WaynesbOrO
company which was with Stonewall
jackson in his memorable Valley cam
paign. as one of the companies, think,
up the SD regiment. The reg
iment was in all the hard fought bat
ties in the Valley. 1t was In the battle
at KernstOwn, where an overwhelming
force fell upon Jackson and where the
nearest approach to route and defeat
ever suffered by that intrepid leader
and mastery military genius was met.
and from which he was saved by dark
ness. 1t was in that rout and annihi-
lation of Banks army when nearly
a 900 prisoners and nearly all of his
stores, ammunition and artillery were
captured. 1t was with jackson
when Fremont and Shields, the one in
the main valley up the Winchester
pike, the other in the Luray valley.
each with force outnumbering jack
son, so holly pressed him to recoup
the losses suffered by Banks. In this
position that wonderful army found
itself in the latter part of May, 1862,
defending a great wagon train, guard
ing these 1000 prisoners, and disputing
every inch of ground as it sullenlY re-
treated before Fremont. Then it was
that every moment almost of day and
night found these men in actual COM
bat. The sound of musketry if not
cannon was heard almost necessarily.
At last jackson reached Harrisonburg.
The prisoners had been hurried for.
ward to Waynesboro and were safe,
his wagon train with good roads on
which to move. had been pushed to-
ward Staunton, and at HarrisOnburg
he turned to the east in the direction
Of KeezIetown and Port Republic,
hotly pressed by Fremont. Here
Ashby was killed, and the next day at
Cross Keys, about miles north of
Port Republic, battle was fought.
All the day before news came of this
one and that one being killed or
wounded, but there were sad hearts
and deep gloom when it became known
that Ashby was dead. On Sunday
morning, the 9Th of June, 1862, the
battle of Cross Keys began, and all day
until late in the afternoon the battle
ragged. Then Fremont e forces began
to retreat and later his rout became
precipitOus. jackson could not follow
him because Shields was pressing to-
ward Port Republic and would soon
be in his rear. That night he retired
to Port Republic and the next morn
ing was attacked at daylight by Shields
and that day, June 9, 1862, was fought
the memorable battle of Port Republic.
This depression is only made to show
how terrible were those days. In the
battle of Cross Keys Lieut.. Clinton
King was killed. His regiment had
been in the thickest of the fight, and
had sacrificed him and others of it's
brave men to the cause. William Par
emit, member of his company, who
was near him when be fell succeeded
in bringing away the body, and placing
it in little one-horse wagon on some
hay, with an army blanket over it,
Travelled all night on his way to Way
nesboro. At daylight he reached the
home of my grandfather, Col. Geo. G.
Robertson, two miles south of New
Hope. Here be stopped, and was
given breakfast and bis horse was fed.
and he told us of the battle, and in
the wagon we saw the body of Lieut..
King. This was the first Confederate
soldier had ever seen dead. There
had been no time to prepare the body
for burial, but wrapped in his own
blanket with his sword lying by his
side, was the young hero, who had
poured out bis life's blood as libatiOn
on the altar of his country. The incl
dent, as he lay there cold in death.
made a deep impression on us all and
has been ever since fresh in my MEM
DRY. 1t was an introduction to scenes
brought home to US year or two
later with increasing frequency, but
never more tOuchingly. After resting
q short time Mr.. Parent, the faithful
friend pushed On to Waynesboro, sew
en- miles away, and delivered bis charge
to the family. was not at the fune-
raj, but heard of the deep gloom it
cast over that community where he
was much beloved, and where there
was feeling of personal loss in every
household. Lieut.. King had married
Miss Reeder, daughter of Mr.. John
Reeder, who was then and for years be-
fore postmaster of the town, and 1t
was to his house the body was taken
and from 1t buried, followed by his
young wife, three infant children, of
whom A. Lynn King was one, and he
only about three years of age-and
almost every citizen Of the town then
at home. 1t was among the first fu-
neraIs of the boys who went from Way
nesbOro into the army, but of all
which occurred in those eyentful days
none was sadder, and none was held
over a nobler type of Virginia man.
hood.
VIM. Parent who carried the body
from the battle field, was the son of
blacksmith, Sam1 Parent. who died
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