Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-01-21

merited tribute to an hnnoraoie ana
former comrade in arms.
which we are pleased to give to our
readers:
The death of Seth Timberlake. Decem-
Der 18th. brings to mind his many good
qualities. l had known Mr.. Timberlake
since way back in the fifties. He was a
neighbor of ours then; was an excellent
neighbor and friend. In 1861 when the
great war came on, Mr.. Undertake
Joined the Bolts Grays, Company G.
Second Virginia Regiment. He was
badly wounded at the battle of Manas-
sas. At the reorganization of the army
in 1862. he joined Company B. Twelfth
Virginia Cavalry, known as Baylor's
company, and was made orderly ser
geant of the company. and served in
that capacity to the close of the war. He
was a splendid soldier; none better,
friend that you could rely on; soldier
that did not fear danger. With all my
intimacy with Mr.. Undertake, never
heard him speak bad word of any one,
His motto was, IF you cannot speak
well of any one, say nothing" and do
not believe he ever had an enemy. He
was SO we'll liked by his company that he
was called Uncle Seth" Not for his
age; others in the company We're several
years older than he. but because he took
interest in every one. He was a chris
tian. never heard him make use of
bad word. The worst / ever heard him
make was "by grit" Between Clarke
aud Warren counties our company was
down inside the enemy's line on scout.
We came upon company of Union cav
airy and short fight took place, in
which we routed them; ran them about
four miles and captured a number of
prisoners and horses, and in the long
chase got very much strung out; some
Of the fast horses being good ways
ahead of some others. Uncle Seth
thought we had gone far enough
in that style. We would get at a good
place and form the company for protec-
ton in case the enemy's reserve would
come up. So he halted, and as the men
came back he formed them on the side
of the road. We soor heard horseman
coming up the road as hard as he could
come. Uncle Seth road out into the
road and commanded. ''halt! halt ("
The man ripped out vicious oath. get
out of the road. damn you; if you can't
run let some one run that can rum" and
by he went as fast as his horse could take
him. Uncle Seth was mad. He said,
"by grtts. did you ever see the like; l
ought to have shot him." We saved our
booty, but we lost this man. He did not
belong to our company. At the advance
of the enemy from Harpers Ferry
through Charles Town in 1862. our COM
pany was on the skirm ish line. Just
west of Charles Town Uncle Seth was
wounded and was taken to Captain R.
w. Baylor's house. Singular to relate.
the next year, on the same field, our
company was again on the skirmish line.
aud Uncle Seth was shot in precisely the
same place and carried to the same
house. Uncle Seth was wounded num-
Der of times, but when he was well
enough he was back at his post. 1t made
him fight the harder. At Front ROYAL
IN 1862, when our company was con-
fronted with regiment of infantry and
$50 cavalry, Uncle Seth was in the hot
test of the fight. He just wanted to do il
all. AT Jacks shop, when our brigade
was surrounded we had to fight our way
out Uncle Seth had command of the
company. and he showed what he could
do and did it well. When the enemy
was falling back before the second bat
tie of Manassas, our regiment was on the
left. with orders to move forward and
report often of the enemy's movements.
We came up through a woods in the
road. We could distinctly hear the enc.
my's cavalry officers giving command.
Their bugler sounded the orders when
1--we came to the edge of the woods. The
grandest sight ever saw; 1000 cavalry
retreating in regular order, with their
bright uniforms all in perfect order.
They were moving in columns about zoo
yards apart Some of their videttes
spied us and came up within speaking
distance and inquired to what command
we belonged. Our answer was to come
up and see. He whirled and left as fast
as his horse could carry him. Uncle
Seth begged the Colonel commanding to
charge the whole lot. No doubt in the
world we could have stampeded them
But that was not our orders. We sent
orders back soon, and then the fun COM
menced. could name a hundred places
where U ncleSeth showed what fighter he
was He feared nothing. Always ready,
he was off as soon as orders were given.
and you had to do your best to keep up
with him. He was man of good judy
nent and treated his prisoners kindly.
His old company will always remember
our Orderly Sergeant. Uncle Seth Tim
berlake. las. H. CoNKLYN.
Senator Elkins Nhas introduced war
claims bills in Congress as follows: Es-
tate of James w. Myers, $3.50; estate OF
James Watson, 3d. 900; estate of Moses
W. Burr. $I,7oo; Joseph r. Howell
$4oo; estate of Sarah j. Ronemous. S2,-
$40; estate of George W. Bromley. So
ll73 SO.