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

the NOuteOetdte veteran.
The cavalry brigade of the Con.
federate army, commanded by Brig.
Gen. William E. Jones, had been
in winter quarters at Knotzer Spring,
about SIX miles northwest from Har-
risonburg, Va. The brigade was
composed Of the following organi-
cations: The 9th Virginia Cavalry
Commanded by Col. Thomas S.
Fiournoy). the 7th Virginia Cavalry
(Col. Richard Dulaney), the nth
Virginia Cavalry (Col. Lunsford l..
Lomax), the 18th Virginia Cavalry
Col. A. w. Hartman), Browns
Maryland Battalion, and Chew's
Battery of Horse Artillery.
Early in April, 1868, the brigade
broke camp and started on march
westward across the North Noun
tains in the direction of the South
Branch of the Potomac. Possibly,
with the exception of the comman'
der, no one had knowledge of the
brigade's destination, but there was
every indication that an important
movement was in progress. Another
big battle on the Rappahannock be-
tween Lee and Hooker was antici-
pated, and it was the general surmise
in our brigade that we we're going
TO strike the b. & o. railroad at
some point so as to intercept rail-
road communication and prevent
reenforcements from going to Hook
er. This surmise was strengthened
by the fact that a train of pack
horses loaded wiihe powder kegs
was sent along with US. We had
no wagon train, SO we knew that
celebrity was to be feature of our
movement.
We crossed the mountains in a
heavy rain; and when we reached
the South branch at Moorefeld, we
found the stream at food tide and
out of banks. We camped overnight
at Mooreheld, and the next morn
ing Gen. Jones was informed that
there was wider ford at Petersburg
ten miles above. So we were
marched up to a point opposite
Petersburg (now in Grant county,
w. Va. and did effect a crossing
with great difficulty and some loss.
But the water was so deep and swift
that Gen. Jones was compelled to
leave his artillery and powder tram.
In making this crossing, we had one
man and twenty seven horses
drowned. We occupied most Of the
afternoon in getting the cavslrymen
across, and we camped that night
on the west bank OF the South
Branch, about opposite our camp Of
the previous night. While we had
made a days march and a most
perilous fording OF the river, we had
progressed only about two miles.
The next night we encountered
our first opposition from the enemy
in Greenland Gap; and, while they
were not in large number, still they
we're so we'll fortified that il became
difficult matter to dislodge them.
1t was battalion of Mulligan's
command who had fortified them
selves in an old log "mee,inghouse"
which stood by the roadside at a
point in the canyon where the pass.
way narrowed down to about fifty
or sixty yards in width, with steep
mountains rising on either side. II
we had brought our artillery with
US II would not have taken long to
dislodge them. But the cannon
were not there, and there was no
opportunity for cavalry operations.
When a demand was made for their
surrender, they o1aughed US to
scorn." From a loophole in the
chinking between the logs they we're
banging away at us, with no chance
for our reyolvers or even carbines
to inAict serious loss upon them.
Our men dismounled and took to
the mountain sides and opened
siege. Now and then we put through
the cracks and crevices Of the los
structure a chance ball that did fatsi
work. Several of the enemy we're
killed and wounded. About mid