Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-11-12
Civil War Stories
Personal Experience.

I was a private In Colonel E. Mos
by's command, and early earned the
title of hard case" How l got that
undesirable, and in my case undeserv-
ed character, will tell you.
In May, 1854, we we're lying at Up
perville, Va, and started for Charles
town to see my girl. found that town
full of Yankees. Being well mounted,
I resolved not to be captured. Such a
race as ensued I started for Smith
field with a whole brigade of Yankees
in chase. In a couple Of miles Lieu
tenant Stone Joined me, and in cou-
pie of miles more two other graycoats,
the younger of these being married but
one hour before he had to fly. They
pressed us so hard that we had to take
to the woods. Soon after we encoun-
tered deep ravine at full speed. /
shut my eyes, felt my horse spring and
sail through the air, and land on the
riders piled up in that ravine, my
companions with the rest. I rode easy,
resting my horse until I arrived at
Goosetown, when I heard the Yanks
yell within two hundred yards What
a horserace we had with them for a
couple of miles. The greater part of
the Yanks stopped in Goosetown, but
two following. In a few moments l
saw General Early's train moving from
Winchester to Gordon's Springs.
Now I concluded to capture my Yam
kee pursuers, so ran my horse behind
a blacksmith shop and waited. In a
moment they dashed by and I after
them. I cannot explain nor under
stand how, but In some way I got
mixed after the Yanks got to the train,
and ordered the wrong trooper to sur
render, and he in turn called guard
and captured me. He had on the blue,
hence my mistake. Well, I told them
my story, confident of immediate re-
lease, when to my surprise I was in
formed that none Of my cursed Yam
kee tricks would go down. Talk avail
ed me mott was held prisoner.
After little General Early sent, at
my request, for General Rhodes, and
I was released. Meanwhile, I had
learned that in losing my Yankee I
had taken after Major General Har-
mon.
General Rhodes and I started
out together. On the way I told
him about my race. He told me
I was certainly mistaken about the
Yanks being at Goosetown, as his
pickets were on that road and, to con-
vince me, he, his brother and I rode
back. Goosetown is in basin-like
valley, and we let the General ride
ahead as we approached the top of the
hill. No sooner was he at the hill top
than a shower Of lead greeted him.
There was a regiment camped there.
The General decided at once to at
tack them from front and rear He
went for his men, but all but four hun
dred Of the Yankees got away before
the surround could be made.
I, being one of Mosby's men, owned
whatever plumber was captured by me,
which was forty-six horses, saddles,
and equipments. I had to get two of
the prisoners to help me with my cap
lures.
When 7 arrived at Mosby's camp I
found my regiment all ready for a
move after a wagon train. | was in
formed that I must take my prisoners
to Winchester and turn them over.
This I could not do and go with my
regiment. It soon came dark. I told
my prisoners that the best thing for
them to do was to take a couple of
halters, go over where General limbo
den's horses were In pasture, get two
good ones, and git. We shook hands,
and they did So
When I rejoined my regiment the
boys asked, What did you do with
your prisoners?" ooh, I left them out
in the woods" was my response. They
believed that I had killed them, and
so believe yet.
Could they have witnessed the recep-
tion which those same boys gave me
June 5, 1865, in New York City, they
would have thought differently. And
that, Mr.. Editor, is how I came by nv
hard name.