The National tribune., 1909-05-27
RECALLING WAR MEMORIES.
CayaIryman's Experiences in the
Shenandoah.


A Cayalryman's Experiences in the
/ Shenandoah.
Editor National Tribune: On the
morning following the battle of Gettys-
burg the cavalry was set in motion to
harass the rear of the rebel army. Their
retreat was We'll conducted, but we cap
tured many prisoners, arms and wag-
ons. In a few days we were rejoined
by several men whose horses had played
out on the long march and the almost
continuous fighting and SkirmiShing
from Culpeper to Gettysburg. Among
those who rejoined our regiment was
Joseph Woods. Schoolmate of mine.
We had enlisted together, he at II and
1 at 16r years of age. He felt keenly
disappointed at not having been in the
battle, but was proud of the good horse
he had drawn. One of our Sergeants
had his horse disabled, and the Captain
wanted the Sergeant with us, and he
gave orders to have one of the new ar
rivals give his horse to the Sergeant.
Woods,s horse was taken from him in
spite of his earnest protest. He was
mad all thru, and even cried in anger
over what he considered an outrage.
Some one told Capt. Swan that Woods
was feeling very sore over losing his
horse. IF that is so he shall go with
U.s." said the Captain. He is the kind
I want. / will find some ore else TO
give his horse to the Sergeant" And he
soon did.
July 15 swe crossed the Potomac at
Harper's Ferry, and started to strike
the rear of the rebel army, then resting
along the Opequan. About d mile from
Shepherdstown we came TO a lane lead
ing to the left, log house standing in
an angle formed by the lane and main
road. Here an order came to the Cap
tain to send Corporal with four men
IN IN u
one of the men sent. In few minutes
our brigade got orders to dash with all
speed into Shepherdstown. We had
scrimmage there with the 18th Va. Cav,
and took their Colonel and several 9TH
er prisoners Corpl n. P. Buckland
was ordered to take four men, myself
among them, and go cut on one of the
roads leading from the town. We halt
ed at a church yard. I was placed
short distance farther on, where had
q good view of the road for several hun
dred yards. In short time I saw three
men riding towards me. 1 was sure
that they saw me, and was surprised at
them continuing to advance at walk.
When they came within Is or 20 yards
Of me / halted them and demanded
their surrender. They looked at my
leveled carbne. then glanced at each
other in surprise, and one sGatched a
revolver from his belt and threw it into
a asdense thicket OF. tall weeds on the
opposite side of the road. A threat to
shoot prevented the others from doing
the same. 1 then took them to the
rear, where they were disarmed. One
said he was a scout. one Captain. the
other a member of the Louisiana Tig-
ers. They were coming to Shepherds
town to get their laundry left there a
day or two before. and were quite sure
the rebels still held possession OF that
place. They were fairly well mounted.
L. - l,a1 en- N
better than mine that / proceeded to
exchange saddles | was then ordered
to take the prisoners to the regiment.
Unfortunately for my exchange, Maj.
Fry, of our regiment, chanced to be
with US that day, and was in command
during short absence of Lieut--Col.
]. K Robson. He saw the horse was
riding, wanted him, and again / had to
exchange saddles. Then / heard the
sad news that Woods had been killed by
one of the enemy's pickets in the lane
spoken of. The horse he was riding
continued on at gallop into the enc
my's lines after Woods fell off of him
dead Weodss body was taken back
and buried near the main road / was
ordered to take my prisoners back to
Halltown,S which was about two miles
back on the road to Harper's Ferry.
With the prisoners on foot We started
Soen we. met Lieut-Col. J. X. Robson
Fastening to rejoin his regiment. He
halted long enough TO tell me to sheath
Esy saber, draw my revolver and hold
IL ready for USE When We came in
sight of the log house that have noted
. very heavy rain came on, and near
the house we found cayalryman with
E one prisoner. They were taking shelter
under a large tree. The rain had by
this time become pour-down. The
prisoners wanted us to take them to
the house, and after eXacting promise,
to which their appearance gave weight,
wes went to the house, and while the
prisoners took shelter under a porch
roof I watched at the front and my
comrade at the rear of the house. One
of the two or three women there went
10 cave near by and returned with a
ham. and asked privilege to give the
prisoners lunch. The ham was soon
fried and good lunch given to the
rebels. While the prisoners were eat
ing lunch of ham, bread and butter
was given to my comrade and me as we
sat on cur horses. Let me remark that
II tasted good. After remaining there
half an hour, and the rain having
ceased. we started on our way to Hall
town. When near that place we met
some of our men, and the Louisiana
Tiger called to one of them, and asked
what he was doing with that uniform
on. The two shook hands, and I learned
that they had been intimate friends in
New Orleans before the war. Having
duly turned over our prisoners to prop
er authorities, my comrade and j left
there to reioia our commands. When
we came within sight of the log house
at the lane we saw a number of rebel
cavalry standing in the road. and after
making detour of half mile we
reached our brigade. The brigade COM
prised the 4th nd 10th Pa. Cav. 1st
Me. Cav and 10th n. Y. Cav. When we
reached them they were engaged with
four brigades of Stuarts Cavalry who
were endeayorinE to capture the bri-
gade entire. We fought all afternoon,
and our brigade will not soon forget
Shepherdstown. But the rebels lost
more heavily than we did, and we got
away all right. II my comrade OF thai
day or any of the men whom we had as
prisoners see this, I would hike to have
them write to me-. w. Boyle. Co. c
18th Pa. Cav, Unity Station, Pa.