The National tribune., 1907-06-13
THE MOOREFIELD RAID.
Severe Hetribution Visited Upon Nc.
Causlnna fer BURNING ChaE,hersburG.

Editor National Tribune: l have
ing of Chambersburg, Pa, on July 80.
1864, by McCausland and Bradley
Johnson's commands. and their pur-
suit and capture Aug. s, 1864, az
Mooretield. Va, by Gen. w. w. AVereli,
commanding two brigades of cavalry,
First and Second Brigades. The Sec
ond Brigade, TO which l belonged, was
composed of tire ST. 20 and Sd West
Va Cav, and was commanded at TINS
time by Gen. ". II. Powell. After the
battle of Winchester, Or Kernstown, in
the Shenandoah Valley. on July "a,
1864, in which battle Gen. Crook S
army was defeated, we rctreated down
the Valley and on July ?6 were driven
across the Potomac at Williamsport
Md Here Gen. Crook divided his force
to guard the several crossings OF the
Potomac, to prevent TIE rebels from
invading Maryland and Pennsylvania
Gen. Averell, with Poweli's Brigade
camped at Hagerstown. Md. fiv" miles
from Williamsport, on July %. Gen.
McCausland's command crossed the
Potomac west of Williamsport, near
Clear Springs, driving back the pickets
at that place. Chambersburg, Pa.
lies about % miles northeast of Hagers-
town, and to this place McCausland d.
rected his command, riding into the
city early on the morning of the 3Oth,
demanding of the city a ransom of
S5OO.rUO in currency or 100000 in
gold In their failure to meet his de-
mands the city was to be burned. 1t
being impossible for the city to pay
this amount, and McCausland knowing
that we were not many miles away and
10 time to lose. ordered the torch APP
piled, which was quickly done, burn
ing the entire city. Leaving the city
in flames, ne hastily marched TO Nc
instant Averell discovered that there
was a force, of the enemy passing
GROUND our right flank, and we with
drew from Hagerstown onto Il parallel
road leading to Greencastle, Pa. Al
this place the First Brigade Joined US,
it having been picketing the river in
our right Early on the morning of
the 30th we were in the saddle and
going toward Chambersburg. We had
only gone a short distance when we
saw heavy columns of black smoke in
front of us Knowing that the rebels
were burning something, we were or
dered forward at double quick. We
soon came to groups OF women ana
children and men in the road and
fields, lowering over the few articles of
household effects they saved from the
fire; most of them wringing their
hands, almost distracted over the loss
of their homes. E 1t would be hard TO
describe the feeling that this scene
had on our boys, making them more
determined than ever upon the suppress
sion of the foe and the upholding of the
grand old Stars and Stripes Putting
spurs to our horses We dashed through
the streets of,.the burning city after the
enemy, overtaking them near McCon-
nellsburg, quickly putting them to rout,
and starting them over the mountains
for the Potomac. We thus saved, no
doubt. several other towns which they
would otherwise have burned, it being
impossible for the people to pay the
ransom required of them.
On July 81, McCausland attempted
to cross the Potomac at Hancock, but
we We're in close pursuit and, getting
our artillery on a hill commanding the
ford, we formed lines of battle and
soon put them to flight up the Mary
land side of the Potomac River.
On Aug l, McCausland tried to cap
ture Cumberland, but was defeated by
Gen. Kelley, commanding the garrison
at that place. At Old Town, on the
I'd. he crossed the Potomac into Vir-
ginia and withdrew to MoOrefeld We
rested at Hancock until the morning
of Aug. 4, when We crossed the PotO-
mac and by forced march passed
were in the saddle all the night of the
9Th, and just at the break of day. Aug.
I, dashed into the camp of Gen. John
sons command, completely stampeding
and capturing nearly all of them, in
Guiding Johnson, who afterward made
his escape. McCausland's command
was camped on the opposite side of the
river. and had time to form into line of
battle on the bank of the river, but
Powell's Brigade, led by the Sd w. Va,
charged in columns thru the river un-
der hot fire, quickly putting the enemy
to rout, chasing them for miles and
capturing everything they had and all
of them who could not out run us
They had quite a large wagon train,
heavily loaded with goods from the
stores in Chambersburg and other
towns they had looted. but we recoY-
cred all the goods. also captured four
pieces of artillery, all :hey had. as well
as 500 head of horses, several hundre d
stands of small arms. and most of their
| battle flags; in fact, it was a complete
clean up. But the victory was not won
| without sacrif ce, for the Sd w. Va
lost quite heavily; among the killed be
| ing Col. Conger and Capt. Clark. We
took the wounded and prisoners and all
captured property back to New Creek
Station, on the B. & O. r. r.. and
| turned them over. We also loaded oul
\ horses into DoS cars and FOUND FOR our
selves places to ride on top of the cars
and started for, the Shenandoah Valley
Thus ends the Moorefield Raid
| ! have not attempted to give a de.
tailed account of The fighting. or of al
| the events that happened during the
raid. but just the outlines and dates
which / feel are not far from beine
| absolutely correct. | would like fol
some of the boys belonging to the ole
Virginia Brigade to give a sketch of oul
| service in the Shenandoah Valley cam.
paign in 1864. and in doing so ask then
not to forget the part we played after
| Gen. George A. Custer took command
/ of our division Also the campaign o
1865. from Winchester to Appomatto,
Court House. and what they saw at tn.
battles of Winchester. July 20, 1864
Kernstown July 24 Moorefeld, Angus
IL: Opequon or, Winchester, September
10; Fishers Hal, September %: cedal
Creek. October 10; Mount Crawford
| February 81, 1865; Waynesboro, Marcel
| 2: Dinwiddie Court House, March 81;
Five Forks, April l; Sailors Creek
| April 6; AppomattoX Station. April 8
oh. my, that is not half of them, for W,
| have over 40 to our credit Dom
forget. however that it was our di
vision that received Gen. Robert E
Lees flag of truce at the surrender ot
the proud Army of Northern Virginia al
Appomattox Court House. on April Q
1865. Wake up. boys, if you can writ.
half as well as you shot; The world vii
soon kHow that Clusters Third DivisIor
never lost a flag or gun or quailed he
fore the fOe.--L. E. Root, Co. X, 81
u w Va Cav Newman III