The National tribune., 1908-01-16

liant commander, Maj. Henry A. Cole.
with one member of his command, had
made his way thru the enemy's lines
to Maj.-Gen. Mcclellan, then at Fred
erick, commanding the Army of the
Potomac, and fully advised the General
of the status Of affairs, the topography
of the country, etc, and had been di-
rected by Mcclellan ito return and ad-
wise Col. Miles that he" Mcclellan,
would relieve the beleaguered Union
troops" Maj. (afterward ColoneD Cole
was on his way back to Harper's Ferry
when he learned Of the exploit of the
cavalry.
Mcclellan needlessly delayed his
movement for relief which could have
been accomplished by 19-mile march
from Frederick to Harpers Ferry by a
portion of the Army of the Potomac
then at Frederick City.
Coles Cavalry had just prior to this
affair at Harpers Ferry made splen-
did fight at Leesburg, Va, Sept. 2, 1862,
against an overwhelming force of the
enemy's cavalry, then on their way to
invade Maryland, and suffered serious
loss. Coles Cavalry were not of the
material TO surrender on demand. At
Loudoun Nights, Va, when attacked at
midnight, Jan. 10, 1864, by an over
whelming force, composed of Mosby's
men and volunteers from Lees army
Cthen upon the Rapidan), who antici-
pated an easy victory, not only refused
to surrender, but drove back with seri-
Gus loss not only Mosby's men, but the
volunteers who accompanied him, and
received letter of congratulations from
the General-in-C n-Chief of the Armies of
the United States for this gallant ex-
ploit
This gallant body of men were com
posed of the loyal sons of the border
land from Maryland Virginia and Penn
sylvania, farmers sons, who owned their
own horses to great extent, were good
riders, good shots and thoroly CONVEX
SAINT with the topography of the coun-
try, which became the scene of some of
the principal events of the civil war
Subsequent to the battle of Antietam
when the Confederate cavalry made a
raid around McClellan's army, and
boasted that they never lost a man.
Coles Cavalry kept them constantly in
view, attacked his column, captured
seven of them belonging to Hampton's
South Carolina Legion). advised Gen.
Stoneman, commanding the Federal
cavalry, of their actual and probable
explained the topography o.
the country and where the raiders could
be intercepted, and implored him to at
tack, disperse and capture the raidinG
column.
During all of the campaigns in the
Valley of Virginia their services and
knowledge of the country were gladly
and satisfactorily awaited of.
In a conversation had with Gen. Long
street, c. S. A, on the battlefield of
Antietam, during the ceremonies Incl
dent to the dedication of the monu-
ments erected by the State of Maryland
to its gallant sons, Gen. Longstreet re-
marked to some of Coles Cavalrymen
THAT the capture of his ammunition
trains, as heretofore described, crippled
him very much during said battle of
Antietam," and was doubtless of great
value to the Union cause.
1t Is no more than simple justice to
this gallant body of Union cavalrymen
from the border land that credit should
be given them when it is due and /
therefore respectfully ask you in their
behalf the publication of this article in
its entirety.-Geo. w. f. Vernon, Lieu
tenant-Colenel. Coles Cavalry, Md
Vols, Baltimore. Md.